Visa Status · unofficial · data from the U.S. Department of State
· printed

Visa type

R1

See Visa Bulletin dates →

Religious worker · For ministers and other religious workers coming to work for a religious organization.

R1 visas issued worldwide · February 2026

297

That is 79 fewer than in January 2026 (376) — -21.0%.

Quick view · February 2026

-21.0% vs January 2026 (376)-33.6% vs February 2025 (447)

All published months together: 37,573

Which countries changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

Tap a country to see R1 for that country.

Most visas Biggest change

Country	February 2026	January 2026	Change
India	52	81	-35.8%−29
Philippines	17	13	+30.8%+4
Mexico	16	42	-61.9%−26
Nigeria	11	24	-54.2%−13
Japan	11	1	+1000.0%+10
Vietnam	10	13	-23.1%−3
Great Britain and Northern Ireland	10	10	+0.0%+0
Australia	9	5	+80.0%+4
Korea, South	8	21	-61.9%−13
Brazil	8	18	-55.6%−10
Colombia	8	10	-20.0%−2
Israel	8	4	+100.0%+4
Thailand	8	4	+100.0%+4
Sri Lanka	6	6	+0.0%+0
France	6	5	+20.0%+1
Switzerland	6	0	new+6
Dominican Republic	5	4	+25.0%+1
Argentina	5	3	+66.7%+2
Taiwan	5	2	+150.0%+3
Indonesia	4	7	-42.9%−3
South Africa	4	4	+0.0%+0
Ghana	4	3	+33.3%+1
Hungary	4	3	+33.3%+1
New Zealand	4	3	+33.3%+1
Honduras	4	0	new+4
Russia	4	0	new+4
Italy	3	9	-66.7%−6
Germany	3	7	-57.1%−4
Guatemala	3	4	-25.0%−1
Tanzania	3	2	+50.0%+1
Poland	2	5	-60.0%−3
Peru	2	4	-50.0%−2
Ukraine	2	4	-50.0%−2
Greece	2	1	+100.0%+1
Pakistan	2	1	+100.0%+1
Romania	2	1	+100.0%+1
Malaysia	2	0	new+2
Kenya	1	10	-90.0%−9
Canada	1	3	-66.7%−2
El Salvador	1	3	-66.7%−2
Spain	1	3	-66.7%−2
Cameroon	1	1	+0.0%+0
China - Mainland	1	1	+0.0%+0
Costa Rica	1	1	+0.0%+0
Netherlands	1	1	+0.0%+0
Ireland	1	0	new+1
Jamaica	1	0	new+1
Uganda	1	0	new+1
Chile	0	2	-100.0%−2
Ecuador	0	2	-100.0%−2
Hong Kong S. A. R.	0	1	-100.0%−1

Which embassies and posts changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

Same comparison, by the embassy or post that issued the visa.

Most visas Biggest change

Embassy / post	February 2026	January 2026	Change
Chennai	24	53	-54.7%−29
Manila	17	13	+30.8%+4
New Delhi	14	8	+75.0%+6
London	12	10	+20.0%+2
Tokyo	10	1	+900.0%+9
Hyderabad	9	10	-10.0%−1
Tel Aviv	9	3	+200.0%+6
Seoul	8	21	-61.9%

R1 worldwide: month by month, 2026 compared with 2025

Year compared with

20255,063
2026673

Download CSV

Month by month

Month	2025	2026	Change
January	584	376	-35.6%
February	447	297	-33.6%
March	473	–	–
April	376	–	–
May	444	–	–
June	422	–	–
July	464	–	–
August	455	–	–
September	366	–	–
October	385	–	–
November	324	–	–
December	323	–	–

When is it busy? R1 visas worldwide

Busiest month: January (11.9% of a typical year). Quietest: April (6.6%). An even year would be 8.3% a month.

11.9%

9.7%

8.8%

6.6%

7.4%

7.6%

7.8%

8.8%

8.2%

7.8%

7.5%

7.7%

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average of 8 full years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). Each bar is that month's share of the year's total. Years with missing months are left out. It shows when visas are issued, not when people apply.

R1 worldwide: all published months

By month By year By fiscal year

“partial” means fewer than 12 months have been published for that period.

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View as table

Year	Issuances
2017 partial	4,112
2018	4,581
2019	4,378
2020	1,174
2021	2,404
2022	4,455
2023	5,289
2024	5,444
2025	5,063
2026 partial	673

	Dec 2025	Jan 2026	Feb 2026
Total issued	323	376	297
Total	323	376	297

R1

Which countries changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

Which embassies and posts changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

R1 worldwide: month by month, 2026 compared with 2025

When is it busy? R1 visas worldwide

R1 worldwide: all published months

Top 5 countries

Explore R1 by period

By month · latest 12 months

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