All articles tagged with #religious workers
USCIS issued an interim final rule removing the one-year foreign residency requirement for R-1 religious workers, enabling thousands of clergy to resume service in the United States sooner and reducing disruptions for faith communities; the change also aims to address EB-4 visa backlogs and is effective immediately, with a 60-day public-comment window.
The DHS issued an interim final rule that eliminates the one-year foreign residency requirement for R-1 religious workers who have reached the maximum five-year stay, allowing thousands of clergy to seek readmission sooner and resume their services. While these workers must still depart the U.S., there is no longer a minimum outside period before readmission. The move, effective immediately, aims to reduce disruptions for faith communities amid long EB-4 visa wait times and follows EO 14205; USCIS invites public comments within 60 days.