WASHINGTON, D.C., June 28, 2007: To view the final collection of comments on the proposed rule changes to the R-1 Religious Worker Visa, go to URL above. Next, in step 1, select “all documents (open and closed for comment).” Then in step 4 on the same page, select “document ID,” enter “USCIS-2005-0030” and push “submit.” This will bring up a list of 75 documents. You can download each by clicking on the icon toward the end of its line. There are a number of comments from Hindu organizations and individuals, including the Hindu American Foundation, Saiva Siddhanta Church/Hinduism Today, BAPS Swaminarayan, VHP of America and the Hindu Collective Initiative of North America.
It is useful for those concerned with the visa to read the Hindu comments. We’d also recommend the comments of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, United States Catholic Bishops Conference, Holme, Roberts & Owen (representing evangelical Christians), The Church of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, who use about 10% of all R-1s issued each year) and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Many of those commenting consider the most onerous aspect of the new rule, the requirement to petition for the R-1 on Form I-129 in advance, to be beyond the power of the USCIS to implement without additional legislation from Congress.