Faith-Driven Immigration Support with Legal Precision
Serving a faith community is more than a job; it’s a calling. But if you’re a minister, religious worker, or part of a faith-based nonprofit, immigration law doesn’t always make that path easy. Between dense visa regulations and ever-changing USCIS policies, even qualified applicants can find themselves stuck in red tape or facing denials.
At The Rochester Law Firm, we help churches, temples, mosques, and religious organizations bring in the workers they need, and we help religious workers secure the R-1 visa or EB-4 green card they’ve worked so hard to earn. We help you every step of the way, whether you’re just beginning your visa application process or making the move to permanent residence.
An immigrant or non-immigrant visa for people whose employment involves a legitimate religious vocation or occupation is known as a Religious Worker Visa. Among the most popular categories are:
This visa helps foreign nationals to work in the US for a recognized nonprofit religious organization for up to 5 years.
This path leads to permanent residency for religious workers who’ve been in full-time service for at least 2 years before applying.
You can qualify for an R-1 or EB-4 religious worker visa if:
This visa is not for part-time volunteers or general employees of faith-based hospitals or schools. The job must be rooted in any sort of spiritual service.
Religious workers sometimes face a difficult time petitioning for visas. They typically require lengthy paperwork that attests to the organization’s legal status under US immigration law as well as the worker’s qualifications.
Here’s how we help at every step:
We examine your denomination’s standing, your employment offer, and past immigration history to confirm which route (R-1 or EB-4) is right for you.
We prepare and file Form I-129 for R-1 or Form I-360 for EB-4 green cards, ensuring each detail matches USCIS standards.
We help you gather supporting evidence such as tax-exempt status letters, payroll documents, proof of religious training, ordination certificates, and more.
Whether at a US consulate or USCIS office, we prepare you for interviews and guide your organization on site visit readiness.
You focus on your mission, we’ll focus on your immigration success.
Don’t risk your calling over paperwork errors. Here are a few issues we regularly help clients avoid:
Every petition we file is backed by a deep understanding of both immigration law and faith-based immigration pathways.
The work you do strengthens communities. Don’t let immigration confusion keep you from your purpose. Whether you’re a religious worker hoping to serve in the US or a religious organization needing trusted guidance, we’re here to help you move forward, faithfully and lawfully.
Welcome to The Rochester Law Firm where experience meets compassion, and legal strategy meets life-changing outcomes.
