What is the R-1 visa?

The R-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa available in the United States that allows religious workers to temporarily live and work in the country. The visa is intended for people coming to the U.S. to be employed by a religious organization, such as a church, temple, synagogue, mosque, etc. The R-1 visa is primarily for religious workers who are ordained ministers or those who are performing religious work in a professional capacity. In New York, these include, but are not limited to, cantors, Christian Science nurses, missionaries, religious instructors, and liturgical workers. The duration of an R-1 visa is initially granted for up to three years, and can be extended for an additional two years. To qualify, the religious worker must have been a member of a religious denomination for at least two years prior to applying for the visa and have a prearranged offer of employment from the U.S. religious organization. Furthermore, the religious worker must also demonstrate that they have the qualifications to perform the duties of the job and provide evidence of the salary or other compensation they will be receiving from the religious organization. In New York, specifically, there are also some stricter requirements for R-1 visa applicants that must be met, such as having a sponsor who is either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. Additionally, the religious worker must prove that the religious organization and their role within it can carry on a “bona fide” religious mission.

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El R-1 es una visa de trabajo temporal para aquellos que buscan ingresar o permanecer legalmente en los Estados Unidos para fines religiosos. Esta visa es para los profesionales religiosos o trabajadores que están asociados con una religión reconocida, con el propósito de prestar servicios religiosos en religión organizada. Esta visa permitirá a los profesionales religiosos de todo el mundo venir a los Estados Unidos para prestar servicios de manera temporal. Los R-1 requieren que los solicitantes sean miembros en buena posición de una religión reconocida por mucho tiempo. Además, el trabajo religioso que el solicitante desea realizar debe ser reconocido por su religión organizada y estar de acuerdo con los principios de la misma. Para la aplicación de la visa R-1, deben presentarse documentos extendidos para demostrar que el solicitante cumple con los requisitos anteriores. Los titulares de visa R-1 reciben permiso para trabajar legalmente en los Estados Unidos durante un período de hasta cinco años, pero esta visa no se puede renovar por más de cinco años. Esta visa también se puede utilizar para permitir a los familiares de los titulares de visa R-1 venir a los Estados Unidos con una visa R-2, que les otorga el derecho a trabajar. A pesar de que los titulares de visa R-1 no son elegibles para la residencia permanente, su visa puede ser un paso importante hacia la obtención de una visa de inmigrante.

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What is the R-1 visa?

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