British Expats - Can a person play piano for a church qualified a religious visa? How about a music director?

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Someone please helps me.

Nowadays, churches are looking for pianists and musci director to lead their
worship service.

If I play piano for the church, would I be qualified to have a religious visa? What
if I am hired as a music director by a church, would I be qualified to have a
religious visa?

Thank you for your help.

Tom

Tom wrote:

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It seems possible, if you have been a member of the denomination for two years
immediately preceding obtaining R-1 status, and you are coming to the U.S. solely to
provide these religious services.

But to me it seems like a rather marginal case. You could probably get H-1B more
easily than R-1. You would definitely need professional legal assistance to obtain
this status.

See http://travel.state.gov/visa;tempreligiwkr.html, and see the regulations at 8 CFR
section 214.2(r), available through
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/lawsregs/8cfr.htm.