SUNSET OF CERTAIN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT RELIGIOUS WORKER CATEGORIES

P 121751Z AUG 03
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 USCIS 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.

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