USCIS Continues Premium Processing Suspension for Religious Workers

Office of Communications

www.uscis.gov

USCIS Update July 9, 2008

USCIS Continues Suspension of Premium Processing Service

for Religious Workers (R-1) Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that

the suspension of premium processing service for religious worker (R-1) nonimmigrant visa

petitions will continue at least until January 7, 2009. A previous six-month suspension was

announced on January 4, 2008.

The Premium Processing Service provides faster processing of certain employment-based petitions

and guarantees a 15-calendar day processing time. Due to the complexities with adjudicating R-1

nonimmigrant visa petitions, USCIS cannot reasonably ensure a level of processing service within

15 calendar days.

On April 25, 2007, USCIS proposed significant revisions to its regulations related to the special

immigrant and nonimmigrant (R-1) religious worker visa classifications. The proposed rule

suggested steps to eliminate fraud in the religious worker program and discusses potential

vulnerabilities addressed in an August 2005 Benefit Fraud Assessment conducted by USCIS’

Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. USCIS is currently considering comments on the

proposed rule and promulgating the final rule.

USCIS will continue processing R-1 nonimmigrant visa petitions which include established

procedures designed to ensure the legitimacy of the petitioner and statements made in the petition.

The procedures may include inspections, evaluations, verifications and compliance reviews for

religious organizations – procedures that exceed the 15-day guarantee for premium processing.

In the future, if USCIS is able to properly process these cases within 15 calendar days of receipt,

the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) requesting R-1 nonimmigrant visa

classification may once again be available for premium processing services. Additionally, USCIS

may prescribe additional conditions of availability on the Premium Processing Service for

religious worker petitions.

-USCIS