Religious workers are the backbone of faith communities across the United States. Ministers, priests, imams, rabbis, monks, nuns, swamis, granthis, and other spiritual leaders provide guidance, lead worship, and sustain the religious traditions that keep communities thriving. Yet, many of these dedicated workers face immigration challenges that threaten their ability to serve. The proposed Religious Workforce Protection Act of 2025 aims to provide greater stability for religious workers of all faiths and the communities that depend on them.
Understanding the R-1 Visa
Most religious workers come to the U.S. under the R-1 visa, a nonimmigrant visa that allows ministers and other faith-based workers to serve at nonprofit religious organizations.
To qualify, applicants must:
Have been a member of the same religious denomination for at least two years before applying.
Be engaged in a religious vocation or occupation such as leading worship services, teaching doctrine, performing sacraments, providing pastoral or spiritual care, or guiding religious education.
The visa is initially valid for 30 months, with extensions possible up to a maximum of five years. However, it is not available for purely administrative or support roles unless those roles are directly tied to the practice of religion.
The biggest limitation? Once a worker reaches the five-year maximum, they must leave the U.S. for at least one year before reapplying. This creates serious problems when combined with the EB-4 green card backlog that can stretch for a decade or more.
The Challenge Religious Workers face
For those seeking permanent residency, the EB-4 visa offers a green card pathway for religious workers. Unfortunately, with current visa backlogs, many applicants wait 10 years or more for approval.
This often means:
R-1 visas expire long before green cards are issued.
Workers are forced to leave the country, disrupting worship services, faith-based schools, and community programs.
Congregations, temples, mosques, synagogues, and gurdwaras especially in rural or immigrant-dense areas lose critical spiritual leadership.
Continuity is vital for faith communities of every tradition. When immigration law forces religious leaders away, communities lose the spiritual and cultural anchors they depend on.
How the Religious Workforce Protection Act helps
The Religious Workforce Protection Act directly addresses these challenges. If passed, it would:
Allow extensions of R-1 visas beyond the five-year maximum for workers with pending EB-4 green card applications.
Provide flexibility for religious workers to change roles or assignments within their vocation whether that means moving to a new parish, mosque, temple, synagogue, or other religious institution without jeopardizing immigration status.
Remove the one-year abroad requirement for those who previously had to leave after R-1 expiration, making it easier to return and continue service.
Importantly, this legislation does not increase the number of visas available. Instead, it ensures that processing delays do not unfairly harm religious workers already serving legally in the U.S.
Why this matters
Religious freedom and continuity of service are cornerstones of American life. Immigration policies that force leaders out mid-service undermine the mission of faith-based organizations across traditions.
By supporting religious workers from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and beyond, the Religious Workforce Protection Act strengthens:
- Community stability and cultural preservation
- Access to spiritual leadership in diverse traditions
If enacted, the Religious Workforce Protection Act of 2025 would be a lifeline for thousands of religious workers and their families. It would also provide faith-based institutions with much-needed reassurance that their ministries, services, and outreach efforts can continue without disruption.
At Konuri Law, we understand how vital immigration stability is for religious workers and the communities they serve.
If you or your organization is navigating the immigration process for religious workers, contact Konuri Law today. We are here to provide the guidance, strategy, and legal support you need to secure your future in the United States.
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