October 7, 2008

Congress Passes Extensions of Religious Worker and Conrad 30 Programs

On September 26, 2008 the Senate passed a bill (S. 3606) to extend the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program through March 6, 2009. This provision enables individuals to enter the U.S. to work in a professional (non-ministerial) capacity in a religious vocation or occupation such as liturgical workers, religious instructors or counselors.

In addition, on September 27, 2008, the House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 5571) to extend the Conrad 30 program through June 1, 2013. Generally, foreign national physicians who enter the U.S. in J-1 Exchange Visitor status to receive graduate medical education or training are required to return to their home country or country of last residence for two years upon completion of their training in the United States. Such physicians are not eligible to apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident, for an immigrant visa, or an H or L visa or to change status in the U.S. unless they satisfy the two year foreign residency requirement or obtain a waiver. The Conrad 30 program empowers each State to recommend waivers of the two-year foreign residence requirement for foreign national physicians who entered the U.S. to obtain medical training and agree to work in medically underserved areas to waive the two year foreign residency requirement.

At this time, both bills are heading to the President for signature. Once the bills become available, we will post them on our website.