Possible to reinstate an r-1 Visa after leaving the USA?

drolan

New Member
Hi,

First off, thank you so much for your help with this question.

Our religious organization brought a religious worker into the country (Canadian) on an R-1 visa. We went through the whole process, she was given the visa and then came to work for 12 months.

After that period, she went home to Canada for about 4 months to reconnect with family, then re-entered the USA on a tourist visa.

She stayed in the country for about 5 months on the tourist visa (not working, just participating at our religious center) and then left the country for 11 months on a church-related mission trip.

She then returned from the mission trip to the USA this Summer, entering on a new tourist visa, and has been in the country for 2 months.

Question: is it possible to reinstate the original R-1 visa without her having to leave the country? Her current tourist visa allows her only 6 months in the country. Is it possible to reinstate the R-1 visa, or would our organization need to re-apply.

Other details:
- She has been in the country for 2 months in the year 2013
- She is a Canadian citizen
- Other than a trip home for family (4 months) and a mission trip (11 months), she has not departed the country since receiving her R-1

Any help would be fantastic. Thanks so much!
 
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