USCIS updates R-1 visa rules for religious workers

USCIS has updated guidance for R-1 religious worker visas, clarifying eligibility, filing procedures, and documentation requirements for applicants and their employers. R-1 status is initially granted for up to 30 months, with extensions possible up to a five-year maximum stay. After reaching the limit, workers must leave the US but no longer face a minimum one-year wait before reapplying, per a rule effective January 16, 2026. Applicants must have been denomination members for two years and work at least 20 hours weekly for a qualifying nonprofit. USCIS may conduct unannounced workplace inspections, and workers can later pursue permanent residency through a separate special immigrant route.