The Hill
By Cristina Marcos
April 14, 2014
A bill introduced by Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) would make permanent the temporary visa program for religious workers.
The
special immigrant provision, set to expire in September 2015, is
available for non-minister religious workers such as translators or
cantors. Up to 5,000 of these
visas can be issued each year.
A
separate program exists to provide temporary visas for individuals who
conduct religious services, including preachers or ministers. There is
no cap on the number of
temporary visas for immigrant ministers.
Honda
said the legislation, which was filed just before the congressional
recess, would eliminate the need to regularly reauthorize the program.
“It’s
time we do what’s right for our communities of faith and make permanent
this program that allows workers who lead worship, officiate events,
and offer pastoral care,
to receive temporary visas like ministers and faith leaders do,” Honda
said.
Supporters
of the bill include the United Conference of Catholic Bishops, American
Jewish Community, Hindu American Foundation and the Council of
American-Islamic Relations.
This
provision of immigration law has tended to be less controversial than
other aspects that some lawmakers say merit an overhaul. The last
authorization of the non-minister
religious workers program passed the Senate by unanimous consent and
the House 412-3 in 2012.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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