Now, let me tell ya, pilgrim, ridin’ the R-1 trail ain’t always the smoothest journey for a religious worker tryin’ to stake a permanent claim (Green Card) in these United States. A fella can file that I-360 petition hopin’ it’ll get rustled through nice and quick, but more often than not, the clock runs down on his R-1 papers long before the government folks finish their inspectin’. And even once that petition’s approved, he still can’t settle in for good ’til his priority date comes up on the ol’ Visa Bulletin—and that thing moves slower than a stubborn mule in the August sun.
When a worker’s used up all the time the R-1 law allows—five years, with every last stray day recaptured—well, that’s the end of the trail for stayin’ put. If his second R-1 stretch runs out and he’s fresh outta recapture days, he’s gotta pack up his saddle bags and ride on out. The rules say he’s gotta stay gone for a whole year ’fore he can try to mosey back with a new R-1 visa, even if his I-360’s fixin’ to be approved.
So, you see, partner, that Visa Bulletin and them pesky priority dates can be real trouble. They can leave a good, hard-workin’ religious hand stranded out on the prairie—petition filed, congregation needin’ him, but still no chance to put in an adjustment-of-status claim. ’Til that priority date rides up to the front of the line, there ain’t nothin’ he can do but wait it out. And sometimes, that means takin’ a one-year ride into the sunset whether he wants to or not.
