New records show Scientology still hogging US 'religious' visas
Nine years ago, we were fortunate to get some help from researcher R.M. Seibert, who had heard the anecdotes about Scientology relying on immigrant labor, but wondered just how big the issue was.
She took advantage of a change in the law that allowed her to access records about Scientology’s applications for Non-Immigrant Religious Worker or “R-1” visas, and the results of her search were stunning.
Any non-profit church in the US can apply for workers to receive these visas, but Seibert found, for example, that in the year 2012 Scientology’s applications made up 15 percent of all such visas applied for by any church organization in the US!
This was in spite of the fact that with only a few tens of thousands of members, Scientology was dwarfed by the other religious organizations applying for such visas. Why was this tiny “church” applying for so many of this country’s foreign workers?
The answer, former Scientologists told us, was that home-grown Americans want nothing to do with the billion-year contracts of the Sea Org, or the around-the-clock drudgery of working at the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida. Foreigners are brought in, they told us, not really knowing what they’re getting into except that it means a job in the US.
Now, researcher Cannonball has received a new set of documents from a records request to the US government, and he has a number of updates in regards to the R-1 visas compared to what Seibert found nearly a decade ago.
Here are some of his findings…
Despite its relatively small size in the United States, Scientology had a total of 1,803 R-1 visa applications during the period 2019 to 2023, accounting for 10.2 percent of all R-1 visa requests for all religious groups.
This is similar to what Seibert found for 2012 to 2016, that Scientology continues to account for a significant percentage of this country’s R-1 visa applications, despite the fact that Scientology is a tiny organization compared to other religious institutions.
Scientology is sourcing these workers from a variety of foreign countries, but since the pandemic the rate and percentage of the applications have declined somewhat.
Only 877 out of 1,803 visa requests by Scientology from 2019 to 2023 were coded as new employment applications. The remaining requests were visa extensions or a change of status from one Scientology organization in the United States to another. When comparing new applications versus visa extensions, only three countries showed growth in their new applications: Ecuador, Pakistan, and Argentina.
The US State Department only refused 97 of Scientology's R-1 visas during this period. This is a 5.4 percent rejection rate. (Note: This number includes refusals, revocations and requests placed in a long-term pending status)
The Flag Service Organization accounts for 65.6 percent of all Scientology visa requests from 2019 to 2023. The Church of Scientology International had the second highest number of requests, accounting for 14.8 percent of all visa requests during this period. This is consistent with the idea that Scientology is largely using the R-1 visas to staff its Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida.
There are concerning indicators of labor trafficking buried within the data. One particular example is Scientology’s Celebrity Centre recruiting eight “religious workers” from Pakistan, where Scientology has no churches or missions. Similarly, the high number of R-1 visas requested from Russia to work exclusively at Scientology's Flag Services Organization warrants further investigation.
More observations about individual countries…
Russia: Despite attempts by the government to shut down the Church of Scientology there, Russia remains the largest recruitment location for Scientology's R-1 visa program by a wide margin. Records indicate Scientology claims almost every R-1 visa application made for workers from Russia, outpacing all other religious groups in the US combined. Most new requests originated from Moscow, though many were also processed at the US consulates in Moldova and Mongolia. In almost every case, Russians were sent to the Flag Service Organization and it is clear they make up a significant portion of the Sea Org there.
Italy: Almost every new request originated from Milan, indicating Scientology support is now concentrated in the northern part of the country. Overall, about 66 percent of Italian visa requests were visa renewals.
Mexico: Almost all new requests originated from Mexico City. The vast majority of Mexican applications were requested by the Flag Service Organization.
Venezuela: Venezuela is another country where records indicate Scientology is making almost every R-1 visa application, outpacing all other religious groups in the US combined. However, a high percentage of visa requests were actually visa renewals. Since the US does not have consulate services in Venezuela, most requests were made via the US consulates in Bogotá, Mexico City, or Curaçao. Most new applications by Venezuelans were requested by Scientology's Flag Service Organization in Clearwater, Tampa Org, or Orlando Org.
Taiwan: While Taiwan is generally considered an area where Scientology is growing, during this period, R-1 visa applications from Taiwan fell as they did for almost all countries around the globe. The vast majority were requested by the Flag Service Organization, and to a lesser extent by the Church of Scientology International and the Church of Scientology Western US.
Germany: New applications fell at a quicker pace in Germany compared to other countries and 71 percent of visa applications were visa renewals.
Japan: Among Asian countries, only Taiwan and Japan have submitted R-1 visa applications in significant numbers. Again, R-1 visa applications from Japan fell during this period as it did it most countries. The vast majority of Japanese were requested by the Flag Service Organization in Clearwater.
Hungary: This is the third country were records indicate Scientology claims almost every R-1 visa from the country, outpacing all other religious groups in the US combined. Despite this, as in most European countries, new applications in Hungary fell relatively quicker compared to the rest of the world.
Ukraine: New applications from Ukraine definitely fell overall. There are some indications Scientology had some success in recruiting from the Ukrainian diaspora in Europe caused by the war. Most applications from Ukrainians were submitted via the US consulate in Kiev, but applications several were also submitted via the US consulates in Warsaw, Rome, and Almaty.
Colombia: Overall applications from Colombia fell as in almost all other countries, but compared to drops in other nations, Colombia showed some stability. The vast majority of Colombians were sent to the Flag Service Organization in Clearwater.
France: Scientology opened a new Ideal Org in Paris in 2024. While overall French applications for visas fell significantly, it did not fall as fast as other European countries.
Canada: New visa applications fell at a brisk pace in Canada. Canadians were roughly requested in equal numbers by the Flag Service Organization Clearwater, the Church of Scientology International, and the Church of Scientology Western US.
Kazakhstan: Most visa applications for those from Kazakhstan were submitted by the Flag Service Organization in Clearwater. A handful of requests were made by the Tampa Org or the Church of Scientology of GA. Scientology only has one mission in the country, yet a relatively high number of visa applicants.
Australia: New applications from Australia fell dramatically and were submitted to the US consulate in Sydney. 82 percent of applications were visa renewals.
Ecuador: Most applications from Ecuador were requested by the Flag Service Organization Clearwater or the Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles. This is one of the only countries where new visa applications actually increased, even though Scientology has very little presence in the country, indicating some concerns over labor trafficking.
United Kingdom: New visa applications from the UK are now in the single digits and decreased at one of the quickest paces around the globe. Roughly 85 percent of applications were visa renewals.
Switzerland: New applications from Switzerland are now in the single digits. Many of the new requests originated from the US consulate in Bern.
Israel: While it only accounts for 1.4 percent of Scientology visa applications, records indicate this support is relatively stable compared to previous years.
Netherlands: New visa applications from the Netherlands are now in the single digits.
Greece: New visa applications from Greece are now in the single digits.
Spain: New visa applications from Spain are now in the single digits.
Argentina: Every application from Argentina was requested by the Flag Service Organization in Clearwater or by the Tampa Org.
Pakistan: Notably, almost every application from Pakistan was requested by the Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles. Though Scientology has no known churches or missions in Pakistan, this is one of the only locations around the globe were R-1 visas applications increased from 2019-2023, indicating it may be a recruitment ground for labor trafficking.
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It is definitely labor trafficking.
What they see on the R1 applications is only the tip of the iceberg. Mostly people come on a normal visitor's visa or pretend to be a tourist etc. and overstay their visas. Only when it looks like the authorities may look into the issue do they actually apply for an R1.
Lots of "marriages" justify overstayed visas. We saw this at the Int Base, I'm sure they do it on the Freewinds etc. If someone is really in trouble on their immigration status they can hide out on the Freewinds for decades.
Factually Scientology could not exist without labor trafficking. They simply do not make enough actual money from actual paying customers to support the thousands of staff. Huge donations help Dave with his legal issues, but he does not release the cash into the organizations to support the staff.
Really the Sea Org is just window dressing to hide the hundreds of personal slaves of Dave himself. They call it "facility differential". Someone like Hubbard or later Dave who sees themselves as important deserves lots of facilities, staff, offices, housing far in excess of the average. Because in their eyes they contribute so much more. All that comes with a veritable army of cleaners, secretaries, hand-holders and sycophants. All completely dependent on the boss for their very lives.
If they were paid, and had actual careers, they might make choices about how to spend their time. They might even challenge Dave a tiny bit. Can't have that!
It's about as religious as the old Soviet Union. Dachas and Zils for the commissars, the Gulag for the dissidents. When I got out, for a time I was repairing computers. I visited several actual monasterial facilities, notably the Sisters of Mercy and the Poor Clares. They were all living like royalty compared to the Sea Org.
With the new crackdown on all immigrants and visa applications I am wondering how Scientology will safepoint themselves with the new unpredictable immigration department?
I suspect that Trump will wave his hand and say “Scientologists, great religion, great group of people! Let them in, let them in.” Thank you Trish Duggan, Grant Cardone and John P. Coale.