Definition of a religious worker:

A Religious worker includes ministers of any religion who are authorized by a recognized religious denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy, such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent.

Religious vocation means a calling to religious life, evidenced by the acceptance of a lifelong commitment, such as taking vows. Examples may include: nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters.

A religious occupation means a regular engagement in an activity, which relates to a traditional religious function. For example: liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, religious translators, or religious broadcasters. THIS DOES NOT include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fundraisers, solicitors of donations, or similar occupations.

The term does not apply to lay preachers. The activity of a person who will be engaged in a religious occupation must relate to a traditional religious function. Examples may include: an activity that must embody the tenets of the religion and have religious significance, relating primarily, if not exclusively, to matters of the spirit as they apply to the religion.

Requirements to request an R visa

You must meet the following conditions:

1. Be a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States;
2. The religious denomination and its affiliate, if applicable, are exempt from taxation or the religious denomination qualifies for tax- exempt status;
3. You have been a member of the denomination for the two years immediately preceding your visa application;
4. You are entering the United States solely to carry on the vocation of a minister of that denomination or at the request of the organization, you are entering the United States to work in a religious vocation for the denomination, or affiliate, whether in a professional capacity or not;
5. If, at some point in the past, you have spent 5 or more years in the United States as a Religious Worker you must have resided, and been physically present, outside the United States for the year immediately prior to your visa reapplication and expected period of stay in the United States.

Necessary Required Documentation:

1. Proof of tax-exempt status in the United States and evidence of the organization’s incorporation under applicable state law;
2. Proof of membership in a religious organization for at least two years;
3. A letter from an authorized official from the specific unit of the employing organization that describes the duties, hours of employment, the amount and source of remuneration;
4. General Application Documents

The R visa applicants must show that they have an offering to provide services to a non-profitable religious organization in the United States, and have been members of an organization with the same religious beliefs in Uruguay for at least the two years prior to their R visa application. The religious organizations in the United States must be tax-exempt as described in Section 501(c) (3) of the Code of Internal Taxes.

Important Note: As a result to strict security measures, some applications may take more time than others to be processed. This process cannot be accelerated, that’s why we recommend that you do not make final travel plans or buy any tickets until you have your visa in hand. Visa applicants should never assume that their visa applications will be approved.

Please, keep in mind, that the Consular Officer has the right to request additional documents related to your religious organization, to the applicant or an affiliate. These additional documentation may include diplomas, titles, financial status, order certificates, evidence of goods and management of the organization and any another type of information.

Religious activities that can be carried out with a B-1/B-2 visa

Certain types of religious activities can be carried out with a B-1/B-2 visa:

For example:
• Attend conferences, meetings, programs, or training offered by a religious organization. If you are going to receive training in the United States for the main purpose of starting your work as a religious professional and taking your vows, you can qualify for a B1 visa. If you are going to attend a long-term program such as a seminar you will require an F-1 student visa;
• Working as a missionary. As long as you don’t receive any salary or remuneration while in the United States, except the per diem and that the work that you will carry out in the United States does not include sales, solicitation, or accept donations. Please present a letter from your employer in the United States explaining in detail the nature of your visit along with evidence related to your financial situation;
• Participating in a "tour evangelical" as long as you are not receiving any type of remuneration in the United States, except the tributes received during each meeting, nor be assigned to a particular church. When applying for your visa please present a letter from your employer in the United States explaining in detail the nature of your visit and labor certification from the church in Uruguay;
• Preaching for a temporary period or participate in an exchange with another minister in the United States, as long as your church here in Uruguay continues paying your salary and you do not receive any type of payment from the church in the United States. When applying for your visa, please present a letter from your employer in the United States, explaining the nature of your visit and your salary arrangements.
• To participate in voluntary programs that benefit a local community in the United States, as long as you are a member of a recognized denomination, are committed to it, and will receive no profit from the program. If the type of work that you will perform is voluntary, you cannot receive a salary or any other way of payment in the United States, except for the money to cover per diem expenses. You will not be able to sell anything or request donations or accept them. A voluntary service program is an organized project carried out by a non-profit accredited religious organization, with the objective to provide aid to the poor or needy, or for a religious or charity cause.