Religious Workers

Need Help with Your Religious Work Visa or Green Card Near Staten Island, NY?

Certain people who work as ordained ministers, in a religious occupation or in a religious vocation can obtain an R-1 religious worker visa or Special Immigrant Religious Worker Legal Permanent Resident status (Green Card) through Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing. If you have been planning to apply for an R1 visa, get in touch with the Cherny Law Office P.C. today! We can help R visa applicants gather the proper documents and file within an appropriate amount of time. We will go over eligibility, benefits, and more. Call our firm today to begin discussing your circumstances with an experienced lawyer!

Who Can Apply for an R-1 Visa?

An employer who is a bona fide non-profit religious organization that has its own individual Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) letter; a non-profit religious organization that is recognized as tax-exempt under a group tax exemption; or a non-profit religious organization that is affiliated with the religious denomination and was granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) can file a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker for a religious worker who meets the following criteria: 

 

  1. The religious worker is a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for at least two years immediately before the filing of the petition; 
  2. The religious worker can demonstrate that he is qualified to perform the duties of the offered position; and 
  3. The religious worker will be employed solely as a minister or in another religious vocation or occupation at least part-time (an average of at least 20 hours per week). 

 The R-1 visa is initially granted for up to 30 months and can be extended periodically.  The religious worker’s total period of stay in the United States in R-1 classification cannot exceed five years (60 months). 

Who Can Apply for a Special Immigrant Religious Worker Legal Permanent Resident Status (Green Card)?

An employer who is a bona fide non-profit religious organization that has its own individual Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) letter; non-profit religious organization that is recognized as tax-exempt under a group tax exemption; or non-profit religious organization that is that is affiliated with the religious denomination and was granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) can file a Petition for an Immigrant Worker for religious worker who meets the following criteria:

  1. The religious worker will be employed full time position (an average of at least 36 hours per week) solely as a minister or in another religious vocation or occupation;
  2. The religious worker is a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for at least two years immediately before the filing of the petition;
  3. The religious worker has been working continuously, after turning 14 years of age as a minister or in another religious vocation or occupation, either abroad or in the United States, for at least two years immediately preceding the filing of the petition; and
  4. The religious worker can demonstrate that he is qualified to perform the duties of the offered position.

Once the Petition for an Immigrant Worker is approved, if the religious worker is in the U.S., the religious worker can file for Adjustment of Status. Please refer to the Adjustment of Status page for more information. If the religious worker is outside the U.S., the religious worker can file for an Immigrant Visa. Please refer to the Consular Processing page for more information.

Derivative Relatives

The spouse and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of the religious worker may receive an R-2 visas and may apply for Legal Permanent Resident Status (Green Card).

Get Legal Assistance with Your R-1 Visa Application Today

Are you looking to hire a religious worker, or you have a religious work visa and want to know if your spouse or child is eligible for an R-2 visa? Reach out to our lawyer in the Staten Island, NY area today to learn more about the process of applying. Cherny Law Office P.C. has been assisting immigrants and temporary workers for many years now. You can rely on us and our experience to provide you with honest and reliable assistance. Our firm focuses on putting the clients’ needs first. We will listen to you and tailor our counsel to you. Call now! 

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The information contained on this website is presented for informational and marketing purposes only and is not to be understood as legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice respecting your individual needs. Cherny Law Office P.C. looks forward to speaking with you about your particular needs. Please note, however, that the mere act of contacting our firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. As a result, you should never send any confidential information to our office until a Representation Agreement has been signed by both you and Cherny Law Office P.C.