Immigrant Religious Workers
There are two categories of visas avilable for the religious workers.01. Temporary or nonimmigrant "R" status
02. Legal permanent resident or immigrant "SD" status.
Here you can find some information for the legal permanent resident or immigrant "SD" status visas.
Religious workers category includes ministers of religion whom are being authorized by a recognized denomination for conducting religious worship and perform other kind of duties, normally performed by members of the clergy such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent. This term will not apply to lay preachers.
Religious workers including nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters means calling them to religious life, witnessed by the demonstration of a lifelong commitment, by taking of vows. Religious works means working in
traditional religious functions.This will inclde the following as liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters.
Following works can't be catogarized in the religious workers list. Janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fund raisers, solicitors of donations, or similar occupations.
In the United States a religious worker is a person who has served as a member for past 2 years in a religious denomination that is beaing a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization there.
The religious worker must have been worked for the last 2 years in the following and and seeks to enter the U.S. to work solely for
As a minister of that denomination; or
In a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation for that organization; or
In a religious vocation or occupation for the organization or its nonprofit affiliate.
Petition:
If any one meets religous worker criteria he/she or any other person can file a Form I-360 petition with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. After the petition is approved by the INS, the applicant will be sent instructions on how to apply for a fourth preference special immigrant visa for religious workers.
Additional Documentation:
The I-360 petition must be submitted with th following documents.:
01. A letter from the authorized official of the religious organization establishing that the proposed services and applicant qualify as listed above;
02. A letter from the authorized official of the religious organization attesting to the applicant's membership in the religious denomination and explaining, in detail, the person's religious work and all employment during the past two years, and for the proposed employment; and
03. Evidence establishing that the religious organization, and any affiliate which will employ the person, is a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S. and is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Furthere infomation:
It is necessary to submit the following things.Valid Passport
Birth certificates (Original with endorsed translation if necessary)
Police clearence certificates
Other Civil documents.
Certified evidence that they will not become public charges in the United States.
Applicant must pass the medical fitness certificate at a medical centre designated by the consular section at the applicant's own money.
Visa Fees:
Non refundable visa application fee US$260 for application and US$65 for issuance. There may be additional fees for filing petitions form the INS.
Fees must be paid once requested only.
Numerical Limitations:
When there are more applicants than the available visas, it will be issued in the chronological order in which the petitions were filed. There may be a waiting period of several years before a priority date is reached. Check the Visa Bulletin for the latest priority dates.
Immigrant religious worker's spouse and unmarried children of under 21 years of age can be granted derivative immigration status.