DOS on Religious Workers Extension
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS PRIORITY
SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
NVC PORTSMOUTH 0258
Unclas State 189679
Visas, Inform Consuls Electronically
E.O. 12958: N/A
Tags: CVIS
Subject: "SR" Religious Workers Immigrant Visa Category Extended
Bangkok for Con Sec. Ref and ODP: ABU Dhabi also for Beirut Files
Ref: 22 CFR 42.32(d)(1)
1. Public Law 105-54, approved by President Clinton October 6, 1997, amends Section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to continue the "SR" visa category for certain religious workers for three more years, i.e., through September 30, 2000. The legislation makes not other changes to the "SR" immigrant category.
2. Effective immediately, posts may resume action on "SR" visa cases. The Department has set an "SR" visa availability cut-off date for October at 01NOV96. The "SR" cut-off date will remain at 01NOV96 for November as well, and documentarily qualified applicants with priority dates earlier than that cut-off who have been included on IVACS Report 20/Visas Whale Reports but not yet provided visa numbers will receive an allocation for November.
3. Any post which wishes to obtain "SR" numbers for October should submit a Visas Frog Request to VO.
4. Public Law 105-54 also includes a provision which makes possible an NIV fee waiver for persons who come to the U.S. from certain charitable purposes. Information on the implementation of that provision will be provided by the Department in the future.
Madeleine Albright