WASHINGTON, D.C., November 1, 2007: (HPI note: All Hindu temples and organizations who did not yet submit comments on this very important issue should do so — there are just five days left. For further information, contact HPI at ar@hindu.org.) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it is reopening the public comment period until November 16, 2007, on a proposed rule for special immigrant (SR/SD) and nonimmigrant (R-1) religious worker visa classifications. The notice extending the comment period is published in today’s Federal Register.
In addition, the Federal Register notice informs the public that USCIS will consider comments received between the close of the original comment period (June 25, 2007) and November 16, 2007. (HPI note: This includes a number from congressional representatives and senators.)
USCIS reopened the record to give interested persons additional time to review and comment on the proposed rule that highlights steps to eliminate fraud in the religious worker program and streamlines the process for legitimate petitioners.
Key revisions to the proposal, originally published in an April 25, 2007 Federal Register notice (here), include an across-the-board petition requirement allowing USCIS to verify both the legitimacy of the petitioner and the job offer before a visa is issued or the worker is admitted to the United States, and a reduction in the initial period of admission for a non-immigrant from three years to one.
More information on the proposed revisions for religious worker classifications is available in an accompanying Fact Sheet (here). The proposal is also available for review http://www.regulations.gov (DHS Docket #USCIS-2005-0030).
(HPI note: to find the religious worker visa comment, go to “optional step 4” at the bottom of the form, select “document ID” from the dropdown menu under “document title” and type in the docket #, “USCIS-2005-0030.” In the next window, click on the left column, “Docket ID” which will say “USCIS-2005-0030” and the list of comments submitted will appear.)