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HR 178 115th Congress House Immigration Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Foreign labor Human rights Immigration status and procedures Religion Visas and passports

Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2017

Introduced: January 3, 2017 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 13, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Jan 3, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 3, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2017

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit, as of October 1, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from approving a petition for classification of an alien as a special immigrant religious worker/minister if DHS has determined that the alien's country of nationality:

  • is identified as a Country of Particular Concern or a country where religious freedom is of significant interest in the 2013 International Religious Freedom Report, or
  • does not extend reciprocal immigration treatment to U.S. nationals who are seeking resident status in order to work in a religious vocation or occupation.
What's happening now January 13, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Walberg, Tim
Michigan · May 24, 2018
 R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · May 24, 2018
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 178: Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-178/
MLA
"H.R. 178: Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-178/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 178, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-178/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 178: Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-178/)
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