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Religious Workforce Protection Act
4/17/2025, 3:08 AM
Summary of Bill S 1298
The bill specifically targets religious workers who are facing delays in obtaining their immigrant visas due to backlogs in the system. These workers play important roles in religious organizations and communities across the country, and it is crucial that they are able to continue their work without fear of losing their legal status.
If passed, the bill would provide relief to these religious workers by allowing them to maintain their nonimmigrant status until their immigrant visa is approved. This would help to ensure that these workers can continue to serve their communities and fulfill their religious duties without interruption. Overall, Bill 119 s 1298 aims to address the challenges faced by religious workers who are caught in the backlog for immigrant visas. By allowing these workers to maintain their lawful status, the bill seeks to provide much-needed relief and support to individuals who play a vital role in religious organizations throughout the United States.
Congressional Summary of S 1298
Religious Workforce Protection Act
This bill allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend the nonimmigrant visa status of certain religious workers.
Under current law, if specified conditions are met, nonimmigrant religious workers may receive a visa for a period not to exceed five years. The bill allows DHS to grant an extension until the individual’s application for adjustment of status to permanent resident or an immigrant visa has been processed and a decision has been made. To be eligible for the extension, the individual must be (1) the beneficiary of a certain type of immigrant petition, and (2) eligible for such immigrant status absent the application of certain numerical limitations.
Such individuals who have pending adjustment of status applications are also granted certain job flexibilities, such as the ability to change employers. Individuals who have previously departed the U.S. due to the expiration of their visa are exempt from the one-year foreign residence requirement to renew their visa.
