The Non-Minister Sunset Provision is a temporary law that allows religious nuns, sisters, monks, and brothers (who are not also ordained priests), and foreign nationals working in a religious occupation to become permanent residents.  

On Sept. 26, 2024, President Biden signed into Public Law Public Law 118-83, funding the federal government through Dec. 20, 2024. The Act also extends several immigration programs including the Non-Minister Sunset Provision. Thus, the Non-Minister Permanent Residence Program is extended until Dec. 20, 2024.

The Visa Bulletin is issued by the Department of State monthly and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines which chart it is going to use to determine priority dates for a particular month. For December 2024, for the EB-4 category, where religious workers belong, USCIS is going to use the Final Action Dates chart with the priority date of Feb. 1, 2021.

If you are submitting an I-485 Adjustment of Status Application in December 2024 for a religious worker based on an approved I-360 Special Immigrant Petition, you must check the priority date (the date the I-360 was filed with USCIS) of the I-360 to ensure the religious worker is eligible to submit his or her I-485 this month. If the priority date is not current, the religious worker is not yet eligible to adjust status. For December 2024, if the priority date on I-360 approval notice is before Feb. 1, 2021, the I-485 can be filed this month. For more information, please contact your RIS attorney.

Click here for more information: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/adjustment-of-status-filing-charts-from-the-visa-bulletin