The Department of Homeland Security has introduced a new rule to reduce visa disruptions for foreign religious workers serving U.S. congregations. The change updates the rules for R-1 visas to address increasing backlogs in green card approvals and alleviate difficulties in rejoining churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious institutions in the U.S. after extended absences.
DHS Introduces Targeted Relief for Religious Workers
The Department of Homeland Security announced a regulatory update designed to shorten visa-related interruptions for religious workers who rely on temporary R-1 visas while awaiting permanent residency. The policy is intended to help congregations retain essential clergy amid broader immigration restrictions.
Many U.S. religious organizations depend on foreign-born pastors, priests, imams, rabbis, nuns, and other faith leaders to serve their communities. Long processing delays for employment-based green cards have increasingly placed these workers at risk of extended departures from the United States.
Changes to R-1 Visa Departure Requirements
Under the new rule, religious workers who reach the five-year limit on their R-1 visas will no longer have to stay outside the United States for a full year before reapplying. Instead, they can leave and immediately seek reentry. This change reduces long service gaps.
This adjustment addresses backlogs that worsened after earlier processing changes stretched green card wait times well beyond the R-1 visa validity period. The update aims to stop congregations from losing their religious leaders for long periods due to administrative delays.
Backlogs and Processing Delays Drive Policy Shift
Historically, the five-year R-1 visa window provided sufficient time for religious workers to obtain permanent residency under the EB-4 special immigrant category. However, changes in green card processing in 2023 significantly increased wait times across many categories.
The inclusion of more humanitarian applicants in the same visa queues further delayed processing. As a result, thousands of religious workers faced uncertainty, prompting legal challenges and calls for regulatory relief.
Religious Institutions Welcome Reduced Disruptions
Faith-based organizations across traditions have raised concerns about staff shortages and service interruptions due to long visa wait times. The new DHS rule is expected to provide operational stability as long as immigration backlogs persist.
Although this rule does not shorten the time it takes to obtain a green card for a religious worker, it does offer religious groups a degree of temporary flexibility as they face workforce uncertainty. Meanwhile, several pieces of legislation are currently being proposed in the U.S. Congress to create a comprehensive solution to staffing and service interruptions; however, none of these measures has achieved sufficient momentum for passage.
Looking Ahead
The DHS rule represents a limited but essential change in the current immigration system for religious workers. Future policy or legislative actions may further address green card backlogs impacting faith-based institutions.
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