Under current law, foreign-born religious workers are permitted to live and work in the United States temporarily through the temporary religious worker (R-1) visa. The R-1 visa is limited to five years, after which the religious worker must depart the United States for at least one year before possibly returning on a subsequent R-1 visa. Previously, religious workers of many different faiths legally present in the country on an R-1 visa could apply for and receive permanent residency within those five years. Unfortunately, there is now a significant backlog in the visa category relied upon by these religious workers, along with several other classes of immigrants, for that purpose. This backlog means a priest or other worker who applies today will be forced to wait more than a decade before being able to receive permanent residency in the United States. This is unsustainable for the religious organizations that depend on these workers, as well as the workers themselves who have committed to serving our communities. 

The bipartisan Religious Workforce Protection Act (RWPA) (S. 1298/H.R. 2672), recently introduced in both chambers of Congress, would provide relief for religious workers in this situation and further the free exercise of religion in the United States for the benefit of all Americans. The RWPA presents a targeted and limited response to this situation by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to extend the R-1 visa for religious workers who have applied for adjustment of status until they can receive their green card. Furthermore, the bill would apply retroactively to those who have been forced to leave the United States prior to its enactment and remain subject to the one-year requirement.

Foreign-born religious workers provide a range of services and play a pivotal role in promoting religious exercise in our country. As Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, recently said in their letter to Congress, “We would not be able to serve our diverse flocks, which reflect the rich tapestry of our society overall, without the faithful men and women who come to serve through the Religious Worker Visa Program.”

Ask your members of Congress to join with legislators on both sides of the aisle in supporting this much needed source of relief for people of faith and communities nationwide. Please consider adding a personalized message regarding the positive ways these religious workers have impacted your life and why their contributions are important to you.