< back
 
 
RELIGIOUS WORKER IMMIGRANT VISA CATEGORY SET TO EXPIRE 
Individuals who qualify for immigration as professional or other religious workers who perform a religious occupation or vocation will need to complete processing on their immigration applications before the end of September 1997 or they will not be able to immigrate. That is because Section 101(a)(27)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which makes available such visas is set to expire on October 1, 1997. That provision has been extended in the past and it is very possible that Congress will continue the program past September. Clergymen such as ministers and rabbis are not affected by the deadline and their category will continue indefinitely.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has instructed its field offices to expedite processing of these applications so that the processing deadline is met. Many people with pending applications may still be out of luck even if the INS has not yet completed processing. The Department of State announced in late August that because of oversubscription, no additional "other religious worker" visas will be issued to persons who did not have their I-360 immigration applications approved prior to February 1, 1995. This will probably preclude most applicants from completing processing of their applications since the vast majority of applicants are likely to have a priority date later than 1995. Should the category be extended, those with the earliest priority dates will receive priority in processing after October 1, 1997. 
< Back | Next >
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.