What is the Religious Workforce Protection Act (RWPA)?

The Religious Workforce Protection Act (RWPA) (S. 1298/H.R. 2672), introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with rare bipartisan support, provides a long-overdue solution to a persistent problem that affects immigrant religious workers and the Catholic and faith-based organizations they serve.

Why RWPA Is Needed

Many priests, sisters, brothers, and lay ministers serving communities across the United States are immigrants who legally enter the country on R-1 nonimmigrant religious worker visas. These visas are granted for “ministers and non-ministers in religious vocations and occupations” for an initial 30-month period, with a possible renewal of an additional 30 months—a total of five years—while they carry out religious work.

Did you know?
Over 25% of newly ordained priests in the U.S. were born abroad—and in some dioceses and institutions, the percentage is even higher.

These religious workers often apply for lawful permanent residence (green cards) so they can continue their ministries uninterrupted. However, they face long backlogs for employment-based fourth preference (EB-4) visas, which are permanent visas for “special immigrant” categories, including religious workers.

The Problem: Visa Backlogs Disrupt Ministries

Due to the EB-4 backlog, once their R-1 visa period ends, religious workers are often required to leave the United States for at least one year—even if their green card application is still pending. During this time, they cannot return on an R-1 visa, leaving ministries without critical personnel and disrupting pastoral care, community outreach, and faith-based services across the country.

This broken process affects not only the workers, but also parishes, religious institutions, schools, and communities that rely on their service.

How the Religious Workforce Protection Act Helps

The Religious Workforce Protection Act would fix this gap in U.S. immigration law by allowing R-1 visa holders who have applied for permanent residence to:

• Remain in the U.S. legally in nonimmigrant status

• Extend their stay in three-year increments

• Continue their religious work uninterrupted

• Avoid forced departure and ministry disruption

This legislation is a common-sense, compassionate solution that supports religious freedom, protects immigrant ministers, and ensures continuity of care for communities across the U.S.

JRS/USA’s Position

As a Catholic organization committed to accompanying the vulnerable, JRS/USA strongly supports the Religious Workforce Protection Act. We believe the bill:

• Honors the dignity of religious workers

• Recognizes the contributions of immigrant ministers

• Strengthens communities of faith across the country

• Corrects an unfair barrier in the immigration system

• Upholds religious liberty and Catholic social teaching