In January, the Trump administration announced an interim final rule (IFR) to assist foreign-born pastors and ministry workers who are in the United States on an R-1 visa. R-1 visas are five year non-immigrant visas specific for ministry workers.
At the expiration of the visa, these ministry workers must leave the United States for one year before reapplying for the visa.
What are the visa issues for international pastors?
Ministry leaders with R-1 visas who have been called to serve longer than five years have previously been able to apply for employment-based 4th (EB-4) category green cards.
However, a 2023 rule change from the Biden administration created a 20-year backlog in EB-4 category, making it nearly impossible for these ministry leaders to apply for this status and remain with their congregations.
What does the Trump administration’s IFR do?
The IFR eliminates the waiting period between subsequent R-1 visas. Now, there is no longer a minimum period of time R-1 visa holders must reside and be physically present outside the U.S. before they are able to seek readmission in R-1 status and return to their congregations.
The ERLC has heard from numerous SBC churches at risk of losing pastors, missions leaders, children’s directors, and other staff because of the procedural backlogs.
The ERLC has been communicating with Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for months to address this issue. We are grateful DHS has created a sensible, fair solution to this issue that allows our churches to keep the continuity of their spiritual care.
Southern Baptists spoke to religious liberty at the 2024 annual meeting through the resolution “On Defending Religious Liberty” and to immigration at the 2023 annual meeting through the resolution “On Wisely Engaging Immigration.”
