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Congress·In Committee·11 months ago

Religious Workers: Visa Extensions During Green Card Backlogs

Also known as: Religious Workforce Protection Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Key Points

  • Congress is considering a bill that would allow religious workers, such as ministers and church staff, to stay in the U.S. past their current five-year limit. This applies to workers who have already applied for a green card but are stuck in a long government waiting list due to annual limits on how many people can be approved.
  • Currently, many religious workers are forced to leave the country and move their families because their temporary visas expire before the government finishes processing their permanent residency. This bill would let them stay and work legally until a final decision is made on their case, preventing major disruptions to their lives and the organizations they serve.
  • The proposal also makes it easier for these workers to switch jobs between different religious organizations while they wait for their green cards. Additionally, it helps people who were already forced to leave the country by removing the rule that they must stay outside the U.S. for a full year before they can come back to work.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Apr 7, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Religious Workforce Protection Act

Bill NumberHR 2672
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(35)
D: 21R: 14

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