R-1 Visa and Its Renewability After Five Years Extended
R-1 Visa Holders and Its Renewability After Five Years Extended
The R-1 visa is specifically for individuals seeking to engage in religious work (temporarily to work) and known as a nonimmigrant visa (NIV) that allows foreign nationals to come to the United States temporarily to employ as an occupation such as a minister or monk or priest etc., for a designated religious organization in the U.S.
In general, R-1 visa has some important factors in the following:
Visa type is a nonimmigrant visa (NIV) and temporarily to engage in religious work
Coming to work for nonprofit / religious organization in the U.S.
Family members can also be eligible as a dependent of R-1 visa holders
Visa validity period is up to 30 months at a time but could be extended up to 5 years (maximum stay)
Application / processing time is at least three to six months with USCIS
Renewability After Five Years Extended
On 01/14/2026, the DHS announced for an interim final rule stating that R-1 religious workers no longer need to reside and be physically present outside the United States for one year at the end of their statutory five-year maximum admission period of stay to be eligible for readmission in R-1status. In normal processing of renewability of R-1 visa, the visa holder must depart the U.S and must reside outside the United States for one year at the end of their statutory five-year maximum admission period of stay to be eligible for readmission in R-1status. USCIS further stressed that this interim final rule will promote stability and minimize disruptions to the essential services provided by nonimmigrant religious workers in the United States.
This policy (interim rule) will significantly reduce this wait time, providing stability and minimizing disruptions for faith-based communities. These changes will also impact the religious organizations and their communities allowing thousands of religious workers—including priests, nuns, and rabbis—that previously were required to remain outside the United States before returning, to resume their essential services. However, R-1 religious workers are still required to depart the U.S., but there is no longer a minimum period of time they must reside and be physically present outside the U.S. before they seek readmission in R-1 status. The interim final rule is effective immediately.
Be aware that although the individual wants to extend its initial R-1 visa status as the first time, USCIS could deny your application if your current visa status is invalid or have over stayed beyond your current immigration status.
Cited: https://www.uscis.gov
Note: this information provided here is for general information and educational purposes only, and it does not constitute legal advice.
