Ask Congress to Ease Restrictions on Visas for Religious Workers

Friday, Apr. 19, 2024

Changes to national immigration policies that occurred last year are causing delays in religious visas. According to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, the State Department allows only those religious workers who have an approved 1-360 petition dated before Sept. 1, 2018 to apply for a green card. This has created a backlog in the processing of green card applications and a delay in visa renewals.

Local Catholics can urge Congress to address this problem by contacting their congressional representatives. A sample letter follows.

Dear [Senator or Representative]

I am writing to ask that Congress please address the impacts of the changes to the immigration visa category on religious workers. 

Priests and other religious workers from other countries provide crucial services and spiritual support to Catholic communities here in Utah and throughout the United States. 

Our parishes here in Utah do not have enough priests to serve our needs, and one of our priests recently had to return to his home country because he was unable to get his visa renewed in a timely manner. We have another priest who is facing the same issue.

As I understand it, a change in the law last year resulted in extended wait times for visa renewal. Please ask your fellow congressional members to shorten the requirement for priests to stay one year outside the United States before they return, or make other changes that will allow foreign priests and religious workers to more easily renew their visas or obtain permanent residence status.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

CONTACT:

Sen. Mike Lee 801-524-5933

https://www.lee.senate.gov/contact  

Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building

125 S. State St., Suite 4225

Salt Lake City, UT 84138

Sen. Mitt Romney 801-524-4380

https://www.romney.senate.gov/contact-senator-romney/ 

125 S. State St. Suite 8402

Salt Lake City, UT 84138

Congressional representatives will only respond to requests from constituents in their district. Visit https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp for contact information for your representative.