Premium Processing resumes for religious workers' US visas
July 23 2009 by Mark Johnstone
US immigration fast-tracks religious workers
Religious workers are to get their US visa applications processed under the Premium Processing Service again, following a 2 year suspension of this fast-track visa system.
The Premium Processing sytem was suspended in the US from November 2006.
Under the Premium Processing Service, US immigration will once again promise to issue an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, or launch an investigation into misrepresentation or fraud within 15 days of receipt of a visa application. Religious worker applicants must also pay a $1,000 processing fee.
In August 2005, a benefit fraud assessment of R-1 visa petitioners took place and, based on that assessment, US immigration decided to request that religious workers visas applicants should pass an on-site inspection before being granted visas.
As a result of the introduction of these on-site inspections, the Premium Processing Service was suspected in 2006 while the measure was put in place.
Non-immigrant religious workers who move to the US temporarily can now receive the fast-track service providing they pass the assessment.
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