USCIS Issues Court Notice to Pending I-360 Religious Workers
On June 11, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington issued an order in Ruiz-Diaz v. U.S., finding that 8 CFR § 245.2(a)(2)(i)(B), which does not allow religious workers to concurrently file an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485), was invalid and unenforceable. The court has ordered USCIS to accept properly filed I-485s and I-765s from beneficiaries of religious worker I-360 petitions. The court order also allows individuals whose concurrent filings were rejected previously to reapply for adjustment of status. The order accords a spouse and children of I-360 beneficiaries the same benefits.
A June 25, 2009, USCIS memo implementing the decision and providing information about filing applications for foreign religious workers with pending I-360s is available for download.
