Data / Federal rules / 2026-00830
Improving Continuity for Religious Organizations and Their Employees
The Homeland Security Department published this final rule in the Federal Register on January 16, 2026. It took effect on January 16, 2026. Comments closed on March 17, 2026.
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What the agency says
This interim final rule (IFR) amends U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to remove the requirement that R-1 religious workers who have reached the maximum period of stay must reside abroad and be physically present outside the United States for one year before being eligible for readmission in R-1 status after departing from the United States upon reaching the maximum admission period. The purpose of this change is to promote stability and minimize disruptions to the vital services that R-1 religious workers provide to U.S. churches, mosques, synagogues, and other bona fide nonprofit religious organizations.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-00830
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Interim final rule with request for comments
- Agency
- Homeland Security Department
- Published
- January 16, 2026
- Takes effect
- January 16, 2026
- Comments due
- March 17, 2026
- Dates
- This IFR is effective on January 16, 2026. Written comments and related material must be submitted on or before March 17, 2026. The electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight Eastern Time at the end of that day.
- Docket
- CIS No. 2835-25; DHS Docket No. USCIS-USCIS-2025-0403
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 1615-AD02
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 8 CFR 214
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Aliens; Cultural exchange programs; Employment; Foreign officials; Health professions; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Students
- Significant
- Yes, under Executive Order 12866
- Pages
- 18
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Everything from the Homeland Security Department · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on aliens · Rules on cultural exchange programs · Published in January 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.