The R1 visa does not have specific salary requirements like other work visas, such as the H-1B, which mandates that employers pay a prevailing wage. However, the sponsoring religious organization must demonstrate that it has the ability to financially support the religious worker, either through direct compensation (a salary) or other means (such as housing, stipends, or donations).
Here are the key aspects of the salary and financial support requirements for an R1 visa:
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1. Sufficient Financial Support
The sponsoring religious organization must show evidence that it can provide adequate financial support to the R1 visa holder during their stay in the U.S. This support can be in the form of:
- Salaries or wages paid to the worker.
- In-kind support such as housing, meals, and other essentials.
- Stipends or allowances to cover living expenses.
The financial support needs to be enough to ensure that the religious worker will not become a public charge, meaning they won’t rely on government benefits for survival during their stay.
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2. Proof of Financial Ability
The organization must provide documentation to USCIS when filing Form I-129 to prove their financial ability to support the religious worker. This can include:
- Financial statements or budgets showing the organization’s ability to pay the worker.
- A detailed description of the compensation package (salary, housing, stipends, etc.).
- Evidence of donations or other forms of income that support the organization.
3. Unpaid Religious Workers
In cases where the religious worker is not paid a formal salary but instead receives in-kind support (e.g., housing and food), the organization must still show how the worker’s needs will be met. This may include:
- Documents outlining the worker’s living arrangements.
- Information on any community support or donations that will be provided.
- Evidence of how the worker’s day-to-day expenses will be covered.
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4. Part-Time Employment
The R1 visa allows for part-time employment in religious roles. If the religious worker will be employed part-time, the organization must still demonstrate that the worker’s income or in-kind support is sufficient for them to live in the U.S.
5. Volunteers
While the R1 visa can apply to unpaid religious roles, purely voluntary roles (without any form of compensation or in-kind support) are generally not eligible for an R1 visa. The religious worker must receive some form of compensation, either monetary or non-monetary, to qualify for the visa.
