Qualifications for Religious Worker?

[MedTech 0]

I was wondering what specific qualifications there are and the procedures for a Religious Worker visa because the ones on the official website is a little bit confusing to me.

Info about my religion:

-Christian

-Been going to church since childhood

I'm not sure what more to add but if there are more stuff you need to know then please ask. Thank you.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It would be if a church wants to send you abroad for a mission, or if you are a pastor, or something like that, not for being a Christian and having a job...

Why doesn't your bf go to college in Aus?

Edited August 24, 2011 by Harpa Timsah

[MedTech 0]

My boyfriend and I chose together for him to not come here to Australia for college for all the extra fees and other personal reasons.

So the only way for me to get a visa from church is to be a pastor or something like that? My friend and her whole family went to America through a church granting them a green card and they weren't pastors or anything. They were just Christians.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I don't believe your friend's story. You cannot get a GC for being a Christian.

[MedTech 0]

The church gave them green cards to move from Korea to America. Did the visa qualifications change since 9/11?

[Anh map 2,098]

I was wondering what specific qualifications there are and the procedures for a Religious Worker visa because the ones on the official website is a little bit confusing to me.

Info about my religion:

-Christian

-Been going to church since childhood

I'm not sure what more to add but if there are more stuff you need to know then please ask. Thank you.

What type of visa are you truly seeking? You have asked about fiancee visas, employment visas, and now religious worker visas.

[Inky 1,111]

The church gave them green cards to move from Korea to America. Did the visa qualifications change since 9/11?

Churches cant/don't give out green cards.

[CC90 90]

The church gave them green cards to move from Korea to America. Did the visa qualifications change since 9/11?

The R-1 issuance process has traditionally been pretty lax. I believe your story, but your friends most likely exaggerated a bit and had a so-called "church" send them. Not to mention a lot of money in "fees". They didn't get immigrant visas off the bat though, probably adjusted when eligible.

However, because of stories like these, very recently, the R-1 issuance process has become a _petition_ based visa. This means that a church will have to sponsor you directly from the US to get an R-1 visa. They will evaluate your credentials.

Edited August 24, 2011 by CC90

[MedTech 0]

To Anh Map, I'm trying to find all the opportunities to be with my boyfriend. Is having more than 1 visa option illegal because if it is I'll just focus on 1 visa. I'm really just trying to be with my boyfriend and go to America to stay with him there.

To CC90, I'm not saying the church send them green cards straight to them but like they got sponsored by the church. What credentials would they check? like a background check or education or something to do with religion?

Edited August 24, 2011 by MedTech

[CC90 90]

To Anh Map, I'm trying to find all the opportunities to be with my boyfriend. Is having more than 1 visa option illegal because if it is I'll just focus on 1 visa. I'm really just trying to be with my boyfriend and go to America to stay with him there.

K-1??

To CC90, I'm not saying the church send them green cards straight to them but like they got sponsored by the church. What credentials would they check? like a background check or education or something to do with religion?

I would think about seminary.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

R-1 visas are to do religious WORK, like being a pastor, being on a mission, doing charity work tied to a religious organization. It is not for knowing all of the apostles.

Do you have any background being a religious worker?

To the above post, they have not met in person so they cannot file K-1.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Harpa Timsah

[MedTech 0]

Yes I'm looking at the K-1 too. According to my knowledge, I don't think it's against the law or anything to try other ways if a visa gets denied?

@Harpa Timsah, Is working for the church related to that? Such as making food and helping the church without profit.

Edited August 24, 2011 by MedTech

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

@Harpa Timsah, Is working for the church related to that? Such as making food and helping the church without profit.

Do you have a church willing to sponsor you to carry out their mission in the US? This visa is for people who are going to work in the US for a religious organization, whose professions are in religious work. It is not a free pass to the US.

A lot of people want to get to the US for various reasons. There are a number of visas available to you, but it appears you do not want to actually do anything to qualify for them. You won't meet your bf in person so you can file a K-1, you want to get a R visa because you "deserve" it, not because you require it for your religious work. It is not illegal to seek out various options, but it seems like you are grasping at straws, no offense.

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

Your friend, being from Korea, may have gotten a refugee greencard for religious prosecution.

Religious workers visas are for religious workers. Unless you have been working for your church for some time, you will not get one.

[MatthewNCarolina 73]

To Anh Map, I'm trying to find all the opportunities to be with my boyfriend. Is having more than 1 visa option illegal because if it is I'll just focus on 1 visa. I'm really just trying to be with my boyfriend and go to America to stay with him there.

If you wanna marry him, then your best option is the K1. You're trying to find easier ways, and well, I did that too before starting this journey, and well, none worked better than K1 so far. If you and your boyfriend wants to marry, and be together for good.. you have then 2 options, K1 or CR-1. It can take a while, but that's the price we pay for it, and maybe not, you can be approved faster than you think. Either way, choose wisely, good luck.