Religious Workers

Some of our most enjoyable clients are churches seeking to bring foreign religious workers to the United States, or seeking to help members of their congregations normalize their status in the U.S.

Members of a religious denomination having a genuine non-profit religious organization in the United States may be admitted to work for the U.S. organization for an initial three-year period. A two-year extension is available for a total of five years. The following requirements must be met:

• The applicant must have been a member of a religious denomination for two years immediately preceding the application. A religious denomination is a community of believers having some form of church governance, a statement of faith, a form of worship, a code of doctrine and discipline, religious services or ceremonies, established places of worship, religious congregations, or similar indications of a legitimate religious organization.
• The religion must have an organization in the United States, which qualifies for nonprofit treatment under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• The applicant must be coming to the United States to serve in one of three categories: (1) an ordained minister or equivalent under the religion's practice; (2) a religious professional performing duties for which a U.S. bachelor's degree is usually required; (3) other religious workers performing a traditional religious function, such as liturgical workers, religious instructors, cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, and missionaries. Fundraisers, as such, are not included.

Applications are made directly to a U.S. consulate. A person in the United States may apply to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) for a change of status.