Religious Visas (R-1 and R-2)

All applicants for visas to perform religious work in the U.S. are scheduled for appointments for an interview on Monday through Thursday afternoons., except Polish and American holidays. They can make this appointment by following the procedures outlined in the How to Apply section of this site. They must have the electronic application form DS-156 filled in on-line.

Applicants must present the documents described in Basic documents and photographs.

R applicants must be prepared to present to the consular officer any or all of the following documentation to verify that the applicant and the religious organization qualify for R status:

(1) Proof of religious organization’s tax-exempt status or eligibility for tax-exempt status

(2) A letter from an authorized official of the specific unit of the employing organization certifying:

1. That if the applicant's religious membership was maintained, in whole or in part, outside the United States, the foreign and United States religious organizations belong to the same religious denomination;
   
2. That, immediately prior to the application for an R visa, the alien has been a member of the religious denomination for the required two- year period;
   
3. The arrangements for remuneration, including the amount and source of salary, other types of compensation such as food and housing, and any other benefits to which a monetary value may be affixed, and a statement whether such remuneration shall be in exchange for services rendered;
   
4. The name and location of the specific organizational unit of the religious denomination or affiliate for which the applicant will be providing services; and
   
5. If the alien is to work for an organization which is affiliated with a religious denomination, a description of the nature of the relationship between the two organizations:
   
6. Evidence of the religious organization's assets and methods of operation;
   
7. The organization's papers of incorporation under applicable state law.