RELIGIOUS WORKERS
To qualify as a R-1 religious worker the foreign national must be a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S..
The religious denomination and its affiliate are exempt from taxation, or the religious denomination qualifies for tax- exempt status.
Also, the foreign national must be a member of the denomination for two years immediately preceding admission to the U.S. The foreign national must be entering the United States solely to carry on the vocation of a minister of that denomination, or, at the request of the organization, the foreign national is entering the United States to work in a religious vocation or occupation for the denomination or for an organization affiliated with the denomination, whether in a professional capacity or not.
Religious workers may include the following:
1) Ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy;
2) A foreign national who has taken a religious vocation such as a calling to religious life, evidenced by the taking vows;
3) A foreign national who is employed in a religious occupation which relates to a traditional religious function.
