Texas R1 Visa Lawyers

The R-1 religious worker visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals in religious occupations to enter into the U.S. and perform the duties of a religious worker.

1. ELIGIBLITY:

You must be a foreign national who, for at least the two years immediately preceding the time of application for admission, have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S.

2. CRITERIA FOR RELIGIOUS WORKER:

To qualify for R-1 visa, you must be one of the following:

•  Minister of religion;

•  Working in a professional capacity, either in a religious vocation or occupation;

•  Other religious worker working in a religious occupation or in a religious vocation.

3. PRIVILEGES ON R-1 VISA:

On R-1 visa, you may:

•  Engage in full time study in the U.S.

•  Travel freely in and out of the U.S.

•  Receive payment for services performed

•  Apply for Green Card

•  Apply for R-2 dependent visa for your spouse and unmarried children below 21 years

4. LIMITATIONS ON R-1 VISA:

On R-1 visa, you may:

•  Receive payment only from the religious organization through which the status was obtained

•  Take your dependents with you to the U.S. but they may not work

5. DURATION:

You may stay in the U.S. on R-1 religious worker visa along with your spouse, and unmarried children under 21 years of age for an initial period of up to 30 months.

Visa processing can be difficult and confusing. If you would like the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney, please contact the firm by e-mail or call our offices. Bertolino LLP maintains offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. To reach an immigration law attorney in the Austin office, call 512.476.5757. For the San Antonio office, call 210.223.5553. For the Houston office, call 713.225.7474.