Religious Minister or Religious Worker Visa

A bona fide tax-exempt non-profit religious organization may petition for a foreign individual who has been a member of its religious denomination for at least 2 years to work in the U.S. as a religious minister or religious worker. This role may include incidental administrative duties or be limited strictly to religious vocations or occupations, either professional or nonprofessional.

Religious ministers or workers may hold this visa for up to 5 years. They cannot work outside the religious capacity but are allowed to work for multiple petitioning employers.

Requirements

• Petitioner must be a bona fide tax-exempt non-profit religious organization
• Beneficiary’s religious denomination must match that of the petitioning organization
• A religious minister must be fully authorized and trained to conduct worship and perform duties typical of clergy in their denomination
• Religious worker duties must primarily involve traditional religious functions, clearly related to promoting the creed and beliefs of the denomination, and must not be primarily administrative or support roles