Fulfill Your Faith Mission with an R-1 Visa

Serve Your Calling in the U.S.

Welcome to the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram’s R-1 Visa video for Religious Workers! We’re thrilled to guide you through this unique visa, empowering foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. while advancing their faith-based mission.

What Is the R-1 Visa?

The R-1 visa is tailored for religious workers of any faith, enabling ministers, professionals, and others to serve in U.S. religious organizations. Designed to meet the unique staffing needs of faith-based institutions, it supports roles like ministers, theology professors, or missionaries that don’t fit standard work visas.

R-1 Visa Requirements

To qualify, you must:

• Be a member of your religious denomination for at least two years.

• Be sponsored by a U.S. nonprofit religious organization.

Three R-1 Classifications

1. Ministers of Religion: Ordained clergy authorized to conduct worship and perform duties like those in the Anglican Church. Only ministers can later apply for a Special Immigrant Green Card while in the U.S.

2. Religious Professionals: Faith members with degrees (e.g., theology professors, religious counselors, or nurses in faith-based clinics) serving specialized roles.

3. Other Religious Workers: Missionaries, translators, or religious order members in faith-based vocations, no degree required.

Religious Occupation vs. Vocation

• Occupation: Roles directly advancing the religion’s creed (e.g., religious translator), not administrative tasks like clerical work.

• Vocation: A lifelong commitment to religious life (e.g., taking vows), proving 24/7 dedication to the faith’s beliefs without needing to show the role advances the creed.

Family Benefits with R-2 Visas

The R-1 visa, valid for up to 30 months and renewable once for another 30 months, allows your spouse and children under 21 to join you in the U.S. on R-2 visas for the same duration, keeping your family united while you serve.

Navigate the Process with Ease

The R-1 visa process can be complex, but our expert team ensures your application shines, meeting USCIS’s flexible criteria for all bona fide religions. We’ll guide you every step to secure your U.S. religious mission.

Start Your Journey Today

Ready to serve your faith in the U.S.? Contact us for a free consultation to assess your R-1 visa eligibility and explore your options. Let’s make your spiritual calling a reality in America!