Month: April 2014

Roman Catholic priests are declining in number in the United States. This is based on the study that was conducted in 2013 by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. Filipino immigrant priests are commonly assigned to preach in various U.S. churches especially in cities where there are predominantly Filipino parishioners. Most of these priests obtained either the R visa or the special immigrant visa as religious workers. While most religious workers visa are approved, there are also applications that are unfortunately denied. What typical case would result in the denial of a religious worker visa?

Dave was a holder of a student visa (F1) visa when he was offered a job as a minister for a local church. He used his optional practical training’s employment authorization to work for this church. After six months of working, the church filed a special immigrant visa or green card for him. The visa was denied and he was told that after a site visit investigation it was discovered that the church was not paying Dave and that he was not working full time for his petitioning church.

The regulations relating to religious worker visas are clear. The applicant must be compensated both for the two years prior experience and for work with the petitioner. Both can be satisfied by salaried compensation or non-salaried compensation.

Guarding Against Fraud

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) previously made a study and concluded that there is pervasive fraud (33%) in the religious worker visa program. Under amended regulations the FDNS conducts mandatory investigations of religious workers petitions. Fraud investigators are expected to visit employer/church locations to verify evidence submitted with petitions. Site visits may include a tour of the facility, a review of employer records, and interviews with relevant personnel at the facility.

Note that there are religious workers visas that were previously issued may still be revoked because of finding of fraud after investigation.

Site investigation of the petitioning church or organization has been a mandatory requirement for every religious immigrant visa case whether fraud is suspected or not. In the case of Dave, his two years of membership and experience with the church was not proven because he was a student prior to working for this church. The regulations require that his two-year work experience must be paid. He also was not working full time contrary to his attestations on his petition. Hence, his religious worker visa was denied.

Temporary and Permanent Visas

The “R” visa is the temporary religious worker visa designed for ministers and those working in religious occupations or vocations. The initial admission period is 30 months with extensions available in 30-month increments for up to five (5) years. Part time employment is permissible provided it is an average of at least 20 hours a week.

Direct applications for R1 visas at the US Embassy in Manila are no longer accepted unlike in the past. All R1 visas begin with the filing of the Form I-129 and the R1 Supplement with the fee with the California Service Center.

To qualify for the R visa, the applicant must have been, for the two years immediately preceding the application, a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States.

The religious worker must be coming to work in one of three capacities: (1) as a minister of that religious denomination, or for the organization or tax-exempt affiliate, in a religious vocation or occupation, in either (2) a professional capacity or (3) a nonprofessional capacity.

The permanent visa for religious worker falls under the employment based fourth preference or the special immigrant worker category. Unlike the nonimmigrant “R” visa, the special immigrant worker must also demonstrate that they have carried on their vocation (as minister), or vocation or occupation as a professional or nonprofessional continuously for a period of at least two years immediately before seeking admission as an immigrant. These two years of qualifying experience must have occurred after age 14 and if in the United States, must have been authorized by the government.

Success Priest Stories

Many priests and other faith leaders are beneficiaries of religious workers visas. For us Filipinos in the United States, religion plays an important role in our everyday lives as immigrants. In many distinct ways, the priests, religious ministers and leaders have the capacity to strengthen not only the immigrant as an individual but the Filipino community in general by empowering us through prayers or regular religious activities. A classic example is Monsignor Fred Al. Bitanga who is a well known Catholic priest (now retired) in the San Francisco bay area. Without intending to do so, as the former parish priest, for 45 years, he successfully ministered to thousands of Filipino families. He was able to turn St. Patrick’s Church from a predominant Irish parishioner to majority Filipino churchgoers. By following the rules on applying for R visa and the special immigrant visa, hopefully, there will be more Filipino immigrant priests, pastors, ministers and religious leaders to cater to the increasing Filipino immigrant population.

(Atty. Lourdes Tancinco may be reached at law@tancinco.com or at (02) 721 1963 or visit her website at tancinco.weareph.com/old)

After paying substantial sums of money for the opportunity to work in the United States, hundreds of workers claim to have been victims of human trafficking. If the immigration status of the worker who claims to be a victim of human trafficking has already expired, is there relief for such victim? May he legalize his stay?  

Kevin was an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who worked in Qatar as a bartender for a private company. He worked there for five years. When his contract ended, he went back to his hometown whereupon he was invited by his brother to apply with “ABC Corp”, a recruitment company based in the Philippines for the placement of workers abroad. Kevin and his brother were charged by the agency 250,000 pesos, a huge amount which they did not have, so they decided to mortgage their farm in order to pay the recruiter.  

The recruitment company thereafter instructed Kevin to go to the US Embassy to obtain his working visa. He was issued his H2B visa, together with his brother and three other Filipinos. They were made to understand that upon arrival in the States, they will be assigned to work for a hotel in Florida by an American based company, “US Opportunities”.

Kevin, his brother, and three other Filipino workers entered the United States in December 2009. Their recruiter said that they will enter through Detroit and will proceed to Maryland for their connecting flight to Florida. Upon their arrival in Detroit and contrary to the representation of their agent, no one met them at the airport. A friend of one of their companions picked them up instead. Kevin tried to call the number of the supposed representative of ABC Corporation in the United States, but he soon realized this was futile. Kevin tried to make the best of a bad situation by taking on odd jobs whenever and wherever he could and ended up working in Virginia as a handyman for various home projects without proper legal documentation. The hotel job that was promised him did not exist.

Kevin thereafter learned that some of those who were recruited filed a case against the US employer, one Michael Lombardi, and that this employer was convicted in 2012 of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

Kevin has been out of status since he arrived in December 2009. What could be done in his case? Is he eligible for the T visa?

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is modern day slavery. It is defined broadly to include not just sexual exploitation but also the recruitment, transportation, harboring or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud or coercion for purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bondage or slavery.  When a victim pays a substantial recruitment fee for a job that does not provide the promised pay, or worse, for a job does not exist, a case of human trafficking exists. Victims usually find themselves in deep debt and mortgage family property to pay the recruiter for a job that pays far less than what was promised.
Thousands of men, women and children are trafficked each year in different countries including the United States. Most of the jobs where trafficking victims get assigned are primarily in agriculture, domestic services, janitorial services, hotel services, construction, health and elder care.  In recent years, even Filipino teachers who enter on professional working visas claim to have been the victims of human trafficking.

Relief for Trafficking Victims
When an individual finds himself without the promised job, he will soon fall out of status when the working visa expires. This can be very stressful especially when one is in an unfamiliar environment.  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may grant the “T” (Trafficking) Visa or “U” (Victim of Crime) Visa to those who can prove that they had been the victims of severe form of trafficking. If granted the T visa, a person will be allowed to stay in the United States for three years with work authorization. During this period, the victim must meet certain conditions: he must (1) maintain continuous physical presence in the United States; (2) remain in good moral character; (3) demonstrate that he will suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if he is removed, and (4) cooperate with the authorities when his assistance is requested, in the prosecution of his oppressors.

Predicament of Kevin
When Kevin realized that he was illegally recruited and that there really was no job for him, he should have availed of the ”T” visa.  According to Kevin, he did not know anyone in the US at that time who could have helped him obtain the T visa. According to Kevin, he was afraid to approach the US Citizenship and Immigration Services because he might be ordered to leave the United States.

Even with U.S. law granting relief to victims of human trafficking, there are still many Filipinos who are in the same position as Kevin. Approaching the legal authorities is always a challenge because of the fear of being deported. There are different federal agencies, non-profit organizations and private individuals who assist victims of trafficking. But as it is with most victims, approaching the authorities or organizations who may be willing to help may also be hindered by cultural or language barriers. It is important that those involved in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking understand the various causes that hinder victims from seeking the help they need and implement protocols that specifically deal with these issues in order to eradicate such obstacles. Only then can we empower, and therefore truly address, the plight of the victims of human trafficking.

(Atty. Lourdes Santos Tancinco may be reached at law@tancinco.com or at (02)721 1963 or visit her website at tancinco.weareph.com/old)