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CLINIC CONCERNED WITH PROPOSED RELIGIOUS WORKER VISA CHANGES
USCIS Takes on Fraud, but Should Not Overburden Applicants.
April 27, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is concerned a new government initiative to amend special
immigrant and nonimmigrant religious worker visa regulations may overly burden applicants and create additional backlogs. As the
government rightly aims to rid the visa program of fraud, it should also take into account the needs of valid visa applicants and the
religious denominations and organizations they serve.
Among the recommendations that concern CLINIC is the proposed reduction of time a religious worker is permitted to stay when they
arrive in the U.S. – from three years to just one. In addition, religious workers will also be required to file petitions with the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in advance of applying for religious worker visas abroad. These changes alone increase
the processing times and expenses required to obtain lawful immigration status for religious workers.
CLINIC directly serves arch/dioceses, religious institutes, and the religious workers they sponsor. To prevent fraud by potential clients,
CLINIC operates under stringent guidelines to assist only valid sponsors and legitimate applicants.
CLINIC’s religious clients already face long delays in visa approvals and extensions. Excessive and demanding requests for Requests
for Evidence (RFE) have also contributed to the delays. On occasion, the lack of timely adjudication left foreign religious workers in
limbo. Some have been forced to leave the country and the ministries where they were serving and are needed; others seeking
extensions have left to re-enter with a new visa. CLINIC is concerned that the amendments would increase the delays and
inconveniences.
USCIS is correct to recognize this program as a lifeline for many religious denominations and organizations that are increasingly reliant
on religious workers. Though CLINIC welcomes the government’s statements about the program’s importance, CLINIC urges USCIS to
prevent undue hardship on legitimate applicants and their sponsors.
“While we recognize the pressing need to eliminate fraud,” said Donald Kerwin, CLINIC’s Executive Director, “maintaining a streamlined
and responsive religious worker visa application process is essential to institutions of all faiths.”
###
For more information on CLINIC’s Division of Religious Immigration Services: http://www.cliniclegal.org/DRIS.html
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), a subsidiary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is the nation’s largest
network of charitable immigration services with 161 affiliates in 262 field offices around the country. CLINIC advocates for transparent,
fair, and generous immigration policies.
USCIS Takes on Fraud, but Should Not Overburden Applicants.
April 27, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is concerned a new government initiative to amend special
immigrant and nonimmigrant religious worker visa regulations may overly burden applicants and create additional backlogs. As the
government rightly aims to rid the visa program of fraud, it should also take into account the needs of valid visa applicants and the
religious denominations and organizations they serve.
Among the recommendations that concern CLINIC is the proposed reduction of time a religious worker is permitted to stay when they
arrive in the U.S. – from three years to just one. In addition, religious workers will also be required to file petitions with the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in advance of applying for religious worker visas abroad. These changes alone increase
the processing times and expenses required to obtain lawful immigration status for religious workers.
CLINIC directly serves arch/dioceses, religious institutes, and the religious workers they sponsor. To prevent fraud by potential clients,
CLINIC operates under stringent guidelines to assist only valid sponsors and legitimate applicants.
CLINIC’s religious clients already face long delays in visa approvals and extensions. Excessive and demanding requests for Requests
for Evidence (RFE) have also contributed to the delays. On occasion, the lack of timely adjudication left foreign religious workers in
limbo. Some have been forced to leave the country and the ministries where they were serving and are needed; others seeking
extensions have left to re-enter with a new visa. CLINIC is concerned that the amendments would increase the delays and
inconveniences.
USCIS is correct to recognize this program as a lifeline for many religious denominations and organizations that are increasingly reliant
on religious workers. Though CLINIC welcomes the government’s statements about the program’s importance, CLINIC urges USCIS to
prevent undue hardship on legitimate applicants and their sponsors.
“While we recognize the pressing need to eliminate fraud,” said Donald Kerwin, CLINIC’s Executive Director, “maintaining a streamlined
and responsive religious worker visa application process is essential to institutions of all faiths.”
###
For more information on CLINIC’s Division of Religious Immigration Services: http://www.cliniclegal.org/DRIS.html
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), a subsidiary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is the nation’s largest
network of charitable immigration services with 161 affiliates in 262 field offices around the country. CLINIC advocates for transparent,
fair, and generous immigration policies.
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Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
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media inquiries: Melissa Williams
Media Relations Coordinator
(202) 635-5810
Media Relations Coordinator
(202) 635-5810