This article was prepared with the assistance of ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, of which Loan Huynh, Fredrikson Immigration Department Chair, is a member.
The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for January 2024 notes that H.R. 6363, a stopgap funding bill signed on November 16, 2023, extended the employment fourth preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until February 2, 2024. The bulletin notes that no SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight February 1, 2024. Visas issued before that date will be valid only until February 1, 2024, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted into the United States by midnight February 1, 2024.
The SR category is subject to the same final action dates as the other employment fourth preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability, the bulletin states.
