The Special Immigrant Religious Worker (SR) green card category expired on January 30, 2026 after Congress failed to extend the program. While R-1 nonimmigrant religious worker status remains available for temporary assignments, the pathway from R-1 to permanent residence through the SR category is currently unavailable.
What Still Works
The R-1 nonimmigrant visa for temporary religious workers remains active. Religious organizations can still petition for ministers and religious workers for temporary stays of up to 5 years. The EB-4 Special Immigrant category for ministers remains available — only the non-minister religious worker subcategory was affected by the expiration.
Alternative Green Card Paths
Religious workers seeking permanent residence should consult with an attorney about alternatives including EB-2 NIW (if qualifications support it), employer-sponsored EB-3, or adjustment of status through family-based pathways.