What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
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.
Action Timeline
2025-04-07
Introduced in House
2025-04-07
Introduced in House
2025-04-07
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.2672 pass?
HR.2672 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: 36%.
What does HR.2672 do?
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 immi…
Who sponsored HR.2672?
HR.2672 was sponsored by Mike Carey (R-Ohio).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 2672 IH: Religious Workforce Protection Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-04-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2672 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 7, 2025 Mr. Carey (for himself, Mr. Neal , Ms. Salazar , and Mr. Stauber ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To authorize the continuation of lawful nonimmigrant status for certain religious workers affected by the backlog for religious worker immigrant visas. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Religious Workforce Protection Act . 2. Extension of nonimmigrant status for religious workers caught in long backlogs for lawful permanent residence (a) In general Section 214(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(2) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (C) Notwithstanding section 101(a)(15)(R)(ii), an alien may apply for, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant, an extension of nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(R) until such alien’s application for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa has been processed and a decision has been made on such application if the alien— (i) is the principal or derivative beneficiary of an immigrant petition filed pursuant to section 204(a) for a preference status under section 203(b)(4); and (ii) is eligible to be granted such immigrant status absent the application of the numerical limitations under sections 201, 202, and 203. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 101(a)(15)(R)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(R)(ii) ) is amended by inserting , except as provided in section 214(a)(2)(C), after 5 years . 3. Limited job flexibility for certain religious workers with long-delayed applications for lawful permanent residence Section 204(j) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1154(j) ) is amended by striking subsection (a)(1)(D) and inserting subsection (a)(1)(F) or subsection (a)(1)(G)(i) (with respect to special immigrants described in section 101(a)(27)(C)) . 4. Exemption to 1-year foreign residence requirement for certain nonimmigrant religious workers An alien described in section 214(a)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 2(a), who departed from the United States due to the 5-year limitation on nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(R) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(R) ) shall be exempt from the 1-year foreign residence requirement set forth in section 214.2(r)(6) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations.
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