There have been several important updates to immigration policies for special immigrant religious workers. It should be noted that ministers and non-ministers in religious vocations have the possibility to immigrate to the United States as well as adjust their status to perform religious work (if they have a full-time compensated job position).
On March 15th, 2022, the Biden administration extended the EB-4 non-minister special immigrant religious worker program until September 30th, 2022, permitting these employees to adjust their permanent status by that date. This should be recognized as this extended end date applies to the applicant’s accompanying spouses and kids of non-minister special immigrant religious workers.
In addition, the expedition of requests is considered for each case separately, and USCIS cannot process a request for expedited Form I-360 Special Immigrant Religious Worker petition processing until the petitioner clears their on-site visit requirement for a nonprofit organization, specifically. Therefore, beneficiaries’ religious organizations must be able to explain why they are imperative and needed for the nonprofit association. Examples include being a vital part of a medical research case or assisting in a social outreach program.
