Bending the Arc

An increasing number of priests, religious sisters and brothers, and others serving the Church throughout the United States will be forced to abandon their ministries if policymakers do not act soon. Unfortunately, many churches, schools, and other Catholic institutions have already had to part with men and women who served in our country for years because of challenges with the Religious Worker Visa Program.

Under current law, foreign-born religious workers are permitted to live and work in the United States temporarily through the temporary religious worker (R-1) visa. The R-1 visa is limited to five years, after which the religious worker must depart the United States for at least one year before possibly returning on a subsequent R-1 visa. Previously, religious workers of many different faiths legally present in the country on an R-1 visa could apply for and receive permanent residency within those five years. Unfortunately, there is now a significant backlog in the visa category relied upon by these religious workers, along with several other classes of immigrants, for that purpose. This backlog means a priest or other worker who applies today will be forced to wait more than a decade before being able to receive permanent residency in the United States. This is unsustainable for the religious organizations that depend on these workers, as well as the workers themselves who have committed to serving our communities.

Ask your members of Congress to join with legislators on both sides of the aisle in supporting this much needed source of relief for people of faith and communities. Please consider adding your personal message regarding the positive ways these religious workers have impacted your life and why their contributions are important to you and the ministries you’re involved with.

Learn more and take action with this USCCB link