Religious visa

The United States has long been the most desired country that people from around the world want to go for whatever reason be it tourism, business, employment, investment, education, health, etc. No other nation on earth is as accepting, tolerant, and welcoming as the US and for that, it is a melting pot of different races, cultures, and values. The country’s diversity is the amalgamating force upon which it seeks to express unity despite the glaring and obvious differences.

One of the most cherished treasures of the American experience is the freedom of religion. So valued is this right that it is enshrined in the US Constitution under the First Amendment. It guarantees that everyone in the US has the right to practice his or her own religion or no religion at all. The founders of this nation believed that for this democratic experiment to survive, religious freedom and the separation of church and state are very essential. While the government is barred from establishing a religion, it is not prohibited from instituting policies that enhance the people’s right to practice their faith as long as these policies apply to everyone and is not seen as favorable to a specific religious group.

Thus enters the religious visa. This is a type of nonimmigrant visa that is granted to a noncitizen who is coming to the United States temporarily to work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation and be employed by a nonprofit religious organization in the United States, or a religious organization authorized by a group tax exemption holder to use its group tax exemption, or a non-profit organization which is affiliated with a religious denomination in the United States. For example, a religious visa can be given to a Filipino priest who may work as a pastor at a Roman Catholic diocese or to an imam who may be a spiritual head for a local mosque. Of course, there are certain qualifications that are required depending on the type of religious visa being applied for. We can enumerate the eligibility requirements, restrictions, and processes involved but that calls for a separate column. For now, it is sufficient that we know that this type of visa exists.

Religious visa is becoming significant nowadays especially as untold numbers of Roman Catholic churches have closed due to lack or shortage of priests and dwindling churchgoers. In other religions there is also a felt need for more pastors and religious workers due to an increase in membership and attendance as well as expansion of church-related services and programs that need employment of religious workers.

Let’s take the case of Benny. He is taking up major theology courses at a Roman Catholic seminary and hopes to become a priest here in New York. But take note, future Fr. Benny is from Davao. He came to the US initially as a worker for the diocese in its immigrant community outreach program. When he becomes a priest, he will be serving the same diocese that helped him come to the US.

One caveat though. Religious visa is one of the most highlyscrutinized visa categories by the US government. In the past, this visa was often abused and fraudulently used not only for personal gain but also for criminal acts such as trafficking, smuggling, and unauthorized employment. One is advised to be very careful in applying for this type of visa. Make sure you have all the pertinent supporting documents and evidence needed to obtain a favorable response from the US government.