Religious Worker Visas Face Prolonged Delays Under U.S. Policy Changes

(UNITED STATES) Religious workers seeking to serve in the United States now face some of the toughest conditions in years, with both the permanent EB-4 pathway and the temporary R-1 route squeezed by backlogs, new limits, and added scrutiny. As of October 2025, only ministers with an approved petition and an I-360 priority date no later than February 15, 2021, can move forward with green card filings, while non-minister roles have gone dark after a sunset in late September. At the same time, R-1 applicants must meet stricter interview rules and deal with longer processing and more on-site checks, raising costs for churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples that depend on these workers.

Policy changes — high-level summary

The EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Worker category has been under heavy pressure since fiscal year 2024. Severe retrogression pushed priority dates back to early 2021 and kept them there. In February 2025, the Department of State said all EB-4 visas for religious workers were already used for the fiscal year, stopping new grants until October 1, 2025. Before visas became unavailable in April 2025, new applicants faced at least a 15-year wait, a timeline that made planning almost impossible for faith‑based employers and families.

The squeeze tightened further on September 30, 2025, when the Non-Minister Sunset Provision expired without renewal by Congress. That left only ministers eligible in EB-4, and even they can file for adjustment of status only if their I-360 priority date is on or before February 15, 2021. Everyone else—nuns, brothers, lay catechists, cantors, youth ministers, religious educators, and many similar roles—sits in limbo, with the category for non-ministers marked as unavailable.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the practical result is a system that functions for a small slice of workers while shutting the door for many others who fill critical community roles.

R-1 (temporary) changes and added burdens

The R-1 category remains open, but procedures have become more burdensome:

• More frequent Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and on-site inspections by USCIS.
• As of September 2025, consular interview flexibility narrowed: applicants must attend visa interviews in their country of nationality or residence, not a third country.
• Some R-1 visas are issued with single-entry limits; leaving the U.S. can require securing a new visa before returning.
• Renewals typically require a trip home for another interview, adding travel costs and causing program gaps.
• Applicants must show they intend to return to their home country; switching to permanent residence after entering on R-1 can be treated as misrepresentation, which may bring removal risks.

The Trump administration in 2025 indicated interest in addressing delays for religious worker cases. Officials floated a standalone process for this group, but no added visa numbers or concrete regulatory relief had taken effect by October 2025.

A bipartisan bill, the Religious Workforce Protection Act, would:
– Let R-1 holders extend status past five years while they wait for EB-4.
– Lift the one-year foreign residence requirement after R-1 expiration.
– Give more job flexibility within religious organizations.

As of October 2025, the bill had not passed and its future remained uncertain.

Impact on applicants and faith communities

The current landscape hits hardest at small and mid-sized organizations that rely on foreign-born staff to serve growing or underserved communities. Affected groups include:

• Catholic dioceses
• Evangelical churches
• Buddhist temples
• Sikh gurdwaras
• Muslim communities
• Jewish congregations

Reported consequences:
– Canceled programs and scaled-back services
– Abrupt departures when renewals stall
– Increased administrative burden from documentation demands and site visits

For those still able to use EB-4, the rules are strict:

• Only a minister with an I-360 priority date on or before February 15, 2021 can file an adjustment application now.
• Many ministers with later filing dates must wait until the State Department moves the cutoff forward in the monthly Visa Bulletin.
• Non-minister religious worker roles cannot proceed at all unless Congress revives the category.
• Even when the category was “current,” demand outpaced available numbers; by February 2025, the annual allotment had been issued, stalling approvals until the new fiscal year.

R-1’s tighter procedures affect daily operations:

• A single-entry visa can strand a choir director or youth pastor who must attend a family funeral abroad, forcing a new consular appointment before re-entry.
• Mid-year travel for retreats, conferences, or training becomes risky.
• Organizations must budget for possible delays and last-minute staffing shifts.
• Nonimmigrant intent rules complicate long-term planning: seeking a green card after entering on R-1 must be handled carefully to avoid jeopardizing status.

Attorneys report some institutions are testing alternatives:

• Certain nonprofit employers tied to universities or qualifying research hospitals may try H-1B cap-exempt filings for roles requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Many religious duties, however, do not meet the H-1B degree requirement and thus do not fit that route.
• Others consider staggered short-term visits or remote support, but those rarely meet hands-on ministry needs.

Practical steps — what organizations and workers should do

Religious organizations that plan to pursue permanent residence should:

1. Track EB-4 place in line by watching the State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin.
   • The cutoff for ministers is tied to each worker’s I-360 priority date (the date USCIS received the petition).
   • Backlogs move slowly; planning must stretch over years, not months.
2. File early and cleanly to avoid avoidable delays that can add months to a long wait.
3. When eligible to file adjustment of status:
   • Confirm all forms and evidence are ready.
   • If filing from inside the U.S., use Form I-485 to apply for a green card; the underlying petition is Form I-360.

Official form links (download current editions directly from USCIS):
– Form I-360 (Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant)
– Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)

Note: USCIS requires official form links when forms are mentioned. Applicants should always download current editions directly from USCIS because processing fees and instructions can change, and outdated forms may be rejected.

For those using R-1, recommended actions:

• Check visa foil annotations to confirm single-entry vs. multiple-entry status.
• If a renewal is coming up, schedule the home-country interview well ahead to limit service gaps.
• Keep detailed evidence of nonprofit religious status: governing documents, financials, and the worker’s specific duties.
• Expect site visits and RFEs; assign a staff member to keep files updated.
• Avoid travel that may interfere with interviews or re-entry.

Quick reference — key points to remember

• EB-4 ministers only: As of October 2025, only ministers with an I-360 priority date on or before February 15, 2021, can file for adjustment.
• Non-ministers on hold: The non-minister EB-4 category expired on September 30, 2025, and is unavailable unless Congress renews it.
• R-1 interviews at home: As of September 2025, all R-1 applicants must interview in their country of nationality or residence.
• Watch intent issues: Seeking permanent residence after entering on R-1 can be treated as misrepresentation if not handled properly.
• Expect more checks: USCIS is conducting more on-site inspections and asking for more detailed evidence.
• Fees and service changes: USCIS adjusted filing fees and service options for religious worker cases as of August 29, 2025.

Official resources and monitoring

• Track visa cutoff movements at the State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin:
  • U.S. Department of State – Visa Bulletin
• Download current USCIS forms and fee information at the links provided above.

Best-practice advice from legal practitioners

• Early, accurate, and complete filings are rewarded in the current environment.
• Maintain a clean record of work, pay, and duties to withstand site visits.
• Provide clear, consistent answers at interviews to avoid follow-up delays.
• Review workforce plans regularly and plan renewals six to nine months in advance.
• Build contingency plans: train local volunteers, consider short-term coverage options, and budget for travel and delays.

“These are not abstract problems; they shape daily life in neighborhoods across the United States.” Many advocates warn that program gaps mean paused services, lost coordinators, and reduced help for vulnerable communities.

For now, religious worker programs remain caught between limited visa numbers, strict timing rules tied to each I-360 priority date, and tighter consular and USCIS procedures. Employers should prepare for another year of careful scheduling and hard choices unless Congress enacts relief. Applicants should keep all documents updated, attend every appointment, and avoid travel that could risk status or timely return. 🇺🇸