Visa Issuance: Observations on the Issurance of Visas for Religious Workers

摘要

I am pleased to be here today to discuss the issuance of visas for religious workers entering the United States. As you know, in 1990, Congress established special immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories for religious workers', including religious professionals and ministers, because of domestic shortages in these positions cited by religious organizations. In 1998, the most recent year for which we have data, religious worker visas constituted about 11, 000 of the 6.4 million immigrant (permanent) and nonimmigrant (temporary) visas issued. The Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) share responsibility for issuing visas and admitting aliens into the United States. As a result of some fraud investigations in the mid-1990s, both agencies have expressed concern that some individuals and organizations that sponsor religious workers may be taking advantage of this category to enable unqualified aliens to enter or stay in the United States illegally. My testimony today will focus on (1) the extent and nature of any fraud the Department of State and INS have identified in the religious worker visa program and (2) any steps these two agencies have taken or plan to take to change the visa screening process.