Current law for special immigration for religious workers other than "minister" will sunset on September 30, 2003. However, people will notice that the processing times for I-360 for this special immigrant petition has been increasingly experiencing delays. Additionally, I-485 adjudication at the Service Centers still takes about one year. Apparently, the one-step filing for I-140/I-485 will not include I-360. Since the religious workers should obtain I-485 approval before October 1, 2003, they may face a problem unless the I-360 petition is filed as promptly as possible.
* This special provision has been extended every 3-year. It is one thing that there is a likelyhood that the law may be extended again, and it is the other that one may be able to adjust the status even after 09/30/2003.