H.R. 2672 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, Apr 7, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends visas for religious workers awaiting approval
This bill lets the Department of Homeland Security extend visas for certain religious workers beyond the normal five-year limit while they wait for their permanent residency applications to be processed. It also allows these workers to change employers and gives some exemptions from requirements to live outside the U.S. for a year before renewing their visa.
How it affects you
If you're a religious worker on a temporary visa waiting for your permanent residency case to be decided, this would let you stay in the U.S. and keep working without your visa expiring while the government reviews your application. Most other people won't be directly affected by this bill.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 7, 2025)
Religious Workforce Protection Act
This bill allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend the nonimmigrant visa status of certain religious workers.
Under current law, if specified conditions are met, nonimmigrant religious workers may receive a visa for a period not to exceed five years. The bill allows DHS to grant an extension until the individual’s application for adjustment of status to permanent resident or an immigrant visa has been processed and a decision has been made. To be eligible for the extension, the individual must be (1) the beneficiary of a certain type of immigrant petition, and (2) eligible for such immigrant status absent the application of certain numerical limitations.
Such individuals who have pending adjustment of status applications are also granted certain job flexibilities, such as the ability to change employers. Individuals who have previously departed the U.S. due to the expiration of their visa are exempt from the one-year foreign residence requirement to renew their visa.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2672
A BILL
Religious Workforce Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH-15) · Introduced Apr 7, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 7, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.”
Sections
Sections · 4
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Extension of nonimmigrant status for religious workers caught in long backlogs for lawful permanent residenceNo change
- Sec. 3Limited job flexibility for certain religious workers with long-delayed applications for lawful permanent residenceNo change
- Sec. 4Exemption to 1-year foreign residence requirement for certain nonimmigrant religious workersNo change