US Eases One Year Wait Period For Religious Workers
WASHINGTON, DC -The US Department of Homeland Security on January 13 announced issuing an interim final rule eliminating a long-standing requirement that forced many foreign religious workers to remain outside the United States for a full year before returning to their duties, a move expected to bring relief to faith-based institutions facing acute staffing shortages.
While the rule is expected to primarily help Christian churches across the United States that are facing a severe shortage of priests and pastors, it is also likely to benefit other faith communities. Hindu temples, many of which rely on traditionally trained priests from India to conduct rituals and maintain religious practices, have also been affected by prolonged visa delays and staffing gaps.
The new rule removes the mandatory one-year foreign residency requirement for R-1 religious workers who reach the statutory five-year maximum period of stay. While such workers must still depart the United States, they will no longer be required to remain abroad for a minimum period before seeking readmission in R-1 status, the DHS said.
“This rule significantly reduces this wait time, providing stability and minimizing disruptions for faith-based communities,” DHS said, adding that it allows religious workers “to resume their essential services.”
“Pastors, priests, nuns, and rabbis are essential to the social and moral fabric of this country. We remain committed to finding ways to support and empower these organizations in their critical work,” a spokesperson added.
The department said the change is particularly significant at a time when visa backlogs have left many religious institutions without clergy. Demand for immigrant visas in the EB-4 category, which includes religious workers, has exceeded supply for years. Changes introduced by the Department of State in 2023 further increased already lengthy wait times for applicants from certain countries.
DHS said the interim final rule takes effect immediately. (IANS)
