(r) Religious workers.
(1) Classification: R-1 Member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S., coming to carry on the vocation of minister or religious professional, or to work in a religious vocation or occupation.
Documents required: Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the period of admission, unless otherwise provided for or waived. Nonimmigrant visa (R-1) unless exempt. Letter of invitation describing duties of position in the United States.
Qualifications: Membership in a religious denomination for at least 2 years immediately preceding entry. If working in a professional capacity, the applicant must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or its equivalent. All nonimmigrant grounds of inadmissibility apply. If working in a non-professional capacity, the applicant must be working for a tax exempt organization.
Terms of admission: Admit R-1 for a maximum of 3 years. Extensions are permitted for up to a total of 5 years.
Notations on I-94: Front: R-1 and expiration date of authorized stay. Reverse: Occupation and employer’s name and address.
Special notes: Limitation on readmission. Do not readmit an R who has spent 5 years in the U.S. as an R unless he or she has resided and been physically present outside the U.S. for the immediate prior year, except for brief visits for business or pleasure.

Religious Visa Workers Fear Program Overhaul
Some Groups Critical of Proposed Regulations Intended to Reduce Fraud
...
The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology Western United States, which brings in ministers to work with non-English-speaking parishioners, has also weighed in. The proposed requirement that ministers be ‘fully trained’ is biased toward Christianity, assistant secretary Kenneth Long wrote in public comments to the immigration service.

‘Scientology religious teachings and counseling are arranged in a gradient fashion, proceeding from relatively simple and straightforward truths to ever higher and more complex heights of spiritual understanding and awareness,’ Long wrote. ‘Scientology ministers and ministers-in-training never cease in their study of Scientology scriptures.’

[The Sea Org] schedule is consistent seven days a week except Saturday mornings for personal hygiene, and is normally a 90 hour work week not including 2 1/2 hours of daily devotion or ecclesiastical training.

I . Religion is an art and therefore qualifies for national interest waiver.

2. Petitioner demonstrated that beneficiary's work is in the national interest. This was overlooked by the Service Center.

3. A religious worker is statutorily qualified to submit such a petition. The Director of the California Service Center did not properly consider her qualifications.

Religious Visa Workers Fear Program Overhaul
Some Groups Critical of Proposed Regulations Intended to Reduce Fraud
...
The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology Western United States, which brings in ministers to work with non-English-speaking parishioners, has also weighed in. The proposed requirement that ministers be ‘fully trained’ is biased toward Christianity, assistant secretary Kenneth Long wrote in public comments to the immigration service.

‘Scientology religious teachings and counseling are arranged in a gradient fashion, proceeding from relatively simple and straightforward truths to ever higher and more complex heights of spiritual understanding and awareness,’ Long wrote. ‘Scientology ministers and ministers-in-training never cease in their study of Scientology scriptures.’

Religious occupation means an activity which relates to a traditional religious function.
Examples of individuals in religious occupations include, but are not limited to, liturgical workers, religious instructors, religious counselors, cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals or religious health care facilities, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters.

This group does not include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fund raisers, or persons solely involved in the solicitation of donations.

Furthermore, "training and apprenticeship" are
not a religious occupation; rather, they amount to preparation for future entry into such an
occupation. Not only was the beneficiary not a missionary during the qualifying period, it is far
from clear that she was fully qualified to be a missionary at the time the petition was filed. The
petitioner cannot file a petition for a student or trainee, on the expectation that the alien will one
day, qualify for the occupation upon which eligibility rests. Aliens seeking employment-based
immigrant classification must possess the necessary qualifications as of the filing date of the visa
petition.
Matter of Katigbak, 14 I&NDec.45 (Reg.Comm. 1971).

While the determination of an individual's status or duties within a religious organization is not
under the Bureau's purview, the determination as to the individual's qualifications to receive
benefits under the immigration laws of the United States rests within the Bureau. Authority over
the latter determination lies not with any ecclesiastical body but with the secular authorities of the
United States.
Matter of Hall, 18 I&N, Dec. 203 (BIA 1982);
Matter of Rhee,16 I&N Dec. 607 (BIA 1978).

B-1 Visa is Suitable For:

Participants to attend scientific, educational, professional, business, or religious conventions

Persons to work on specific projects in the U.S. and paid by a foreign employer

Business professionals to participate in commercial transactions (which do not involve gainful employment) such as negotiating contracts and consulting with business associates

Persons to undertake independent studies such as feasibility studies, market research or any such activity

Persons to attend professional or business conferences, workshops, or seminars

Business professionals to explore possibilities to set up a subsidiary of a foreign corporation, or to make investments

Personal or domestic servants to come to the U.S. with a U.S. citizen or nonimmigrant employer on B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, R, or TN status

Technical personnel to install or service equipment pursuant to a contract of sale, or to provide after sales service

Business professionals to attend meetings as a member of the Board of Directors of a U.S. corporation

Persons to observe business, professional, or vocational activity as long as it does not involve any hands-on activity

Professional athletes to compete for tournament money and not for a salary

Professionals to conduct business consultations with business associates in the U.S.

Purchasing agents of a foreign employer to come to the U.S. to procure goods, components, or raw materials for use outside the U.S.

Foreign business persons coming to the U.S. in conjunction with Litigation

Persons rendering professional services in the U.S. that would otherwise qualify them for an H-1B visa, but who are paid for those services by a source outside the U.S.

Persons employed outside the U.S. who are paid from abroad, and who come to the U.S. to undertake an established training program that would qualify them for an H-3 visa

Employees of foreign airlines who are engaged in productive employment in the U.S. and paid in the U.S. who are not eligible for E-1 treaty trader status

Other persons such as for bona fide religious missionaries and crew members on yachts

Special situations involving Canadians and Mexicans such as Canadian truck drivers who are paid by either Canadian or U.S. firms and who transport commodities across the Canadian Border

Foreign companies to send their personnel to the U.S. to install or service equipment pursuant to a contract of sale or to provide after sales service

U.S. companies to bring foreign business consultants for training or expert advice

U.S. universities to bring foreign guest speakers or lecturers