DHS rule aims to shorten visa wait times abroad for religious workers

The Department of Homeland Security announced a rule removing a one-year required departure for R-1 religious visa holders after five years, allowing them to apply to re-enter sooner; the change responds to green-card backlogs that developed after a 2023 processing change and has been welcomed by church leaders and advocates.

The Department of Homeland Security announced a regulatory change intended to reduce visa wait times abroad for religious workers who serve U.S. congregations. The rule removes a previous requirement that R-1 religious visa holders must leave the United States for one year after reaching a five-year maximum stay. Advocates and several church groups had raised concerns after a 2023 processing change lengthened green-card waits for clergy. The announcement comes amid wider tightening of other immigration pathways and follows litigation and legislative efforts on the issue. Key details: - DHS removed the requirement that R-1 religious workers must wait one year abroad after reaching a five-year visa maximum; they will still need to depart but can apply to re-enter right away. - R-1 visas are temporary permits used by pastors, priests, nuns, imams and rabbis while congregations seek permanent residency (historically via the EB-4 category). - A March 2023 State Department processing change added certain groups into the general green-card queue, which contributed to longer backlogs affecting clergy. - No exact national count is available, but thousands of religious workers are estimated to be affected by green-card backlogs or delays. - In summer 2024 the Catholic Diocese of Paterson and several priests sued federal agencies over the 2023 change; the suit was voluntarily dismissed in fall 2025 to allow agency rulemaking. - A bipartisan bill introduced in spring 2025 proposed a fix similar to the DHS rule, allowing visa extensions while green-card applications are pending. Summary: The rule is intended to reduce disruptions to U.S. congregations by shortening abroad wait times for R-1 religious workers, and it has drawn positive responses from church leaders and immigration advocates. Undetermined at this time.