DHS Reduces Wait Times for Thousands of Religious Workers Abroad

On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an important change that directly affects religious workers and the faith-based communities they serve. Through an interim final rule, DHS has eliminated the long-standing one-year foreign residency requirement for many religious workers who previously held R-1 status.

This change offers immediate relief to religious organizations that have faced staffing shortages and prolonged disruptions due to immigration backlogs.

What Changed Under the New Rule

Under prior law, religious workers in R-1 status who reached the five-year maximum period of stay were required to leave the United States and remain abroad for at least one full year before applying to return in R-1 status again.

The new DHS rule removes that minimum one-year waiting period. While R-1 religious workers must still depart the United States once they reach the statutory limit, they no longer need to remain outside the country for a fixed period of time before seeking readmission.

This means eligible workers may pursue reentry far sooner than before, depending on their individual circumstances and visa processing timelines.

Who Benefits From This Change

The rule applies broadly to religious workers, including but not limited to:

• Ministers and pastors
• Priests and nuns
• Rabbis and other faith leaders
• Certain non-ministerial religious workers

For many congregations, these individuals are not easily replaceable. Long absences have caused canceled services, reduced community programs, and instability within faith institutions.

By shortening the time religious workers are forced to remain abroad, DHS aims to reduce these disruptions and provide continuity for religious communities across the country.

Why DHS Made This Change

The update is tied to Donald Trump's Executive Order 14205, which established the White House Faith Office and emphasized the protection of religious freedom and expression.

It also responds to long-standing visa backlogs in the EB-4 immigrant category. Demand for EB-4 visas has exceeded supply for years, and changes implemented by the Department of State in 2023 significantly increased wait times for religious workers from certain countries. Many R-1 workers were forced to leave the United States simply because they ran out of time, not because their services were no longer needed.

According to DHS, eliminating the one-year foreign residency requirement helps prevent religious organizations from losing trusted clergy and staff due to administrative delays beyond their control.

Immediate Effect and Public Comment Period

The interim final rule is effective immediately. Religious workers and sponsoring organizations can rely on the new policy now rather than waiting for additional implementation steps.

That said, DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are accepting written public comments for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. This allows stakeholders to provide feedback that may influence how the rule is finalized.

What Religious Organizations Should Do Next

Religious organizations that sponsor R-1 workers should review their current staffing and immigration timelines carefully. This rule may open the door for returning workers sooner than previously expected or allow better planning for future transitions.

Because R-1 and EB-4 cases are highly fact-specific, legal guidance is strongly recommended before making travel or filing decisions.

Final Thoughts

This rule marks a meaningful shift in how the United States treats religious workers who serve communities across the country. By reducing unnecessary waiting periods, DHS has taken a step toward balancing immigration enforcement with the practical and spiritual needs of faith-based organizations.

For religious workers and institutions navigating these changes, staying informed and proactive will be key as immigration policies continue to evolve.

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