A foreign national, who has been a member of a religious denomination for at least two years immediately preceding application to the U.S., who is coming temporarily to work for a bona fide, non-profit religious organization in the U.S. in one of the following categories may qualify for an"R" nonimmigrant visa. The categories include:

1. As a minister of the denomination;
2. As a professional capacity in a religious vocation for the organization. Positions in this category require that the individual have a baccalaureate degree or equivalent.
3. In a religious vocation or occupation for the organization of one of its affiliates. Examples of positions in this category include those who take vows, such as nuns and monks, and may include others such as religious instructors, liturgical workers, counselors, cantors, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators and broadcasters. The category, however, does not include such positions as janitors, maintenance workers, and clerks.

R visa applicants may apply for the visa directly to a U.S. Consular Officer, or the U.S. employer may file a petition with the INS Regional Service Center that has jurisdiction over the area where the alien will be employed. In either case, the following supporting documentation should be submitted:

1. A letter from authorized official of the religious organization establishing that the proposed job position and the alien qualify as above;
2. A letter or letters from authorized officials of the religious denomination or organization attesting to the alien's membership in the denomination, explaining in detail the person's religious work and all employment for the past two years, and the nature of the proposed employment; and
3. A copy of the tax-exempt certificate showing the religious organization, and any affiliate which will employ the person, is a bona fide, non-profit organization in the U.S. and is exempt from taxation in accordance with Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

An R visa may initially be granted for a period of three years. The INS may grant subsequent extensions of stay in increments of up to two years, however, the total period of stay may not exceed five years. An R visa holder who reached for five year limit must reside outside of the United States for a period of one year before he/she may be readmitted in R status.

The spouse and unmarried minor children of the R visa holder are also entitled to R visa status. They are subject to the same period of stay as the principal alien, and may not be employed in the United States on a R visa.