Final Rule on Special Immigrant and Religious Worker Visas

“This final rule amends U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) regulations to improve the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) ability
to detect and deter fraud and other abuses in the religious worker program. This rule
addresses concerns about the integrity of the religious worker program by requiring
religious organizations seeking the admission to the United States ofnonimmigrant
religious workers to file formal petitions with USCIS on behalfofsuch workers. This
rule also implements the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act
requiring DHS to issue this final rule to eliminate or reduce fraud in regard to the
granting ofspecial immigrant status to nonminister religious workers. The rule
emphasizes that USCIS will conduct inspectionst evaluationst verifications, and
compliance reviews ofreligious organizations to ensure the legitimacy of the petitioner
and statements made in the petitions. This rule adds and amends definitions and
evidentiary requirements for both religious organizations and religious workers. Finally,
this rule amends how USCIS regulations reference the sunset date by which special
immigrant religious workers, other than ministers, must immigrate or adjust status to
permanent residence.”

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