R1 VISA
NEWS
RELIGIOUS WORKER (R-1)
VISA UPDATE
After an overwhelming response to the ongoing Special Immigrant
and R-1 visa program rulemaking process, the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) temporarily reopened the comment
period in early November 2007 to accommodate numerous
comments submitted after the original deadline in June 2007.
HAF submitted detailed comments back in May 2007 detailing the
specific needs of the Hindu American community in terms of the
types of religious workers required by temples. Additionally, HAF
highlighted the numerous issues with the proposed rules which
would likely deprive Hindu Americans of being able to adequately
staff their temples because of inherent biases in the proposed
regulations towards Judeo-Christian forms of religious practice.
Rulemaking is the process by which administrative agencies,
such as the USCIS, create regulations. The purpose of a formal
rulemaking process, which is utilized by both state and federal
governments, is to inform the public of the proposed rules; provide
an opportunity for the public to analyze the data and intent underlying
the proposed rules and submit comments on the proposed rules;
and afford the agency an opportunity to analyze, incorporate and
respond to public comment.
A typical rulemaking can take months to several years and has
several steps, including, advance notice of the proposed rulemaking,
publishing of the proposed rule, public comment, and then
publication of the final rule. Some issues may publish a draft of
the final rule before it is made official on a preset “effective date.”
HAF will continue to participate in the USCIS rulemaking and has
continued its efforts to work alongside Congressional offices to
submit letters to the USCIS. Among the offices that have sent
letters are Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Rep. Neil Ambercrombie
(D-HI), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI),
Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), and
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ).
HAF's R1 comments can be viewed at: http://www.hafsite.org/pdf/haf_r1.pdf
LETTERS
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Rep. Neil Ambercrombie (D-HI) and Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
