DOS Cable on Sunset of Certain Special Immigrant Religious Worker Categories
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS PRIORITY
SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
AMEMBASSY KABUL
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
AMEMBASSY CARACAS
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
UNCLAS STATE 233984
VISAS -- INFORM CONSULS
SUBJECT: SUNSET OF CERTAIN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT RELIGIOUS WORKER CATEGORIES
1. Under the current terms of the INA, the Worldwide SR Immigrant Visa category is set to expire on September 30, 2003. Congress is considering an extension of the "SR" visa category, but there is no certainty when legislative action may occur.
2. The provisions under which SR visas are issued specify that these applicants must enter (repeat, enter) the U.S. before October 1, 2003. Therefore, the validity of any "SR" visa which is issued must be limited to September 30, 2003 to coincide with the expiration of this classification. This includes any accompanying spouses and children of such religious workers. Any posts that have issued SR visas in recent months that expire after September 30 should make efforts to inform the recipients that they must travel by September 30. Please note that this cable concerns "SR" class cases only, and not "SD" ministers of religion, who are a permanent visa class under the law.
3. Posts should be aware that BCIS officers have been advised to expedite processing of I-360 petitions filed for SR category beneficiaries and the NVC will be forwarding these petitions to post on an expedited basis. It is therefore possible that posts will see approved I-360 petitions that have not been subject to the usual NVC pre-clearance procedures or cases in which Immigrant Visa fees have not yet been paid. Posts should process such cases accordingly.
4. The Department will keep posts informed of developments.