{"id":101584,"date":"2026-07-31T12:48:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/?p=101584"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:48:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:48:46","slug":"catholic-priest-sues-u-s-government-as-processing-delays-complicate-visa-residency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/catholic-priest-sues-u-s-government-as-processing-delays-complicate-visa-residency\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0643\u0627\u0647\u0646 \u0643\u0627\u062b\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0643\u064a \u064a\u0642\u0627\u0636\u064a \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0643\u0648\u0645\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0643\u064a\u0629 \u0628\u0633\u0628\u0628 \u062a\u0623\u062e\u064a\u0631\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0639\u0627\u0644\u062c\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u064a \u062a\u0639\u0642\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0623\u0634\u064a\u0631\u0629 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0625\u0642\u0627\u0645\u0629"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"cppw-protected cppw-protected--overlay\"><div class=\"cppw-excerpt cppw-excerpt--overlay\"><p>A Nigerian-born Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, sued the federal government after facing delays in processing his request for permanent residency, which has culminated in the expiration of his religious work visa and work authorization.Father Sylvester Okoh, who was serving in the diocesan hospital ministry under an R-1 religious worker visa, can remain in the country as he awaits government action. Yet, because the priest lost his work authorization amid the delays, he is unable\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t<div class=\"cppw-paywall paywp-paywall\" data-required-level=\"25\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"cppw-lock-mark\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<h2>Continue reading with a subscription<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p>Get unlimited access to all our premium content and exclusive features.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cppw-paywall__actions\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"cppw-button\" href=\"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/become-a-member\/\">Subscribe Now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"cppw-login-link\" href=\"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/login\/\">Already a subscriber? Sign in<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"cppw-paywall__microcopy\">Enjoy unlimited access, cancel anytime.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Nigerian-born Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, sued the federal government after facing delays in processing his request for permanent residency, which has culminated in the expiration of his religious work visa and work authorization.Father Sylvester Okoh, who was serving in the diocesan hospital ministry under an R-1 religious worker visa, can remain in the country as he awaits government action. Yet, because the priest lost his work authorization amid the delays, he is unable\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[100],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-101584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-news"],"mb":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61987,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/catholic-priest-forced-to-leave-texas-amid-visa-backlog-and-residency-denial\/","url_meta":{"origin":101584,"position":0},"title":"Catholic priest forced to leave Texas amid visa backlog and residency denial","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u0633\u0628\u062a\u0645\u0628\u0631 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Father Alan Sanchez with parishioners at St. Joseph Church in La Pryor, Texas. \/ Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Alan Sanchez Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 27, 2025 \/ 09:30 am (CNA). A Mexican-born Catholic priest who has served in the Diocese of Laredo, Texas, for nine years must leave the United States because his application for residency was denied and his religious worker visa is expiring.Father Alan Sanchez, the pastor of St. Joseph Church in La Pryor and St. Patrick\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a &quot;Christian News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Catholic priest forced to leave Texas amid visa backlog and residency denial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Catholic-priest-forced-to-leave-Texas-amid-visa-backlog-and-residency-denial.webp?fit=800%2C499&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Catholic-priest-forced-to-leave-Texas-amid-visa-backlog-and-residency-denial.webp?fit=800%2C499&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Catholic-priest-forced-to-leave-Texas-amid-visa-backlog-and-residency-denial.webp?fit=800%2C499&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Catholic-priest-forced-to-leave-Texas-amid-visa-backlog-and-residency-denial.webp?fit=800%2C499&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2691,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/catholic-jesuit-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":101584,"position":1},"title":"Catholic vs Jesuit: How Are They Different?","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u0645\u0627\u064a\u0648 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Wondering is Jesuit the same as Catholic? Dive into our friendly guide on Catholic vs Jesuit, exploring Jesuit vs Roman Catholic and the difference between Jesuit and Catholic. Learn about Jesuit Catholic vs Roman Catholic and clarify Jesuit vs Catholic differences today!","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a &quot;Christian History&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christian History","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-history\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00244.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00244.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00244.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00244.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":77350,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/catholic-activist-jimmy-lai-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-in-hong-kong-national-security-trial\/","url_meta":{"origin":101584,"position":2},"title":"Catholic activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong national security trial","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u0623\u0628\u0631\u064a\u0644 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Jimmy Lai, the human rights advocate and outspoken Catholic who has faced what supporters say has been years of politicized prosecution and conviction in Hong Kong, was sentenced on Feb. 9 to 20 years in prison over what Chinese officials claim were national security violations. The sentencing comes after Lai&#x27;s December conviction under China&#x27;s wide-reaching security law, which capped a years-long legal process during which he was found guilty on multiple other charges including fraud and unlawful assembly. Lai, who\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a &quot;Christian News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64607,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/catholic-priest-killed-in-senseless-act-of-violence-in-nigeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":101584,"position":3},"title":"Catholic priest killed in \u2018senseless act of violence\u2019 in Nigeria","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u0633\u0628\u062a\u0645\u0628\u0631 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Father Matthew Eya, a parish priest in the Diocese of Nsukka in Nigeria, was shot and killed on the evening of Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, while returning to his parish after a pastoral assignment. \/ Credit: Diocese of Nsukka ACI Africa, Sep 23, 2025 \/ 14:12 pm (CNA). The Diocese of Nsukka in Nigeria has denounced the murder of Father Matthew Eya, calling it a \u201csenseless act of violence\u201d and a \u201cheinous crime.\u201dA statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA\u2019s news\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a &quot;Islam: Facts and Figures&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Islam: Facts and Figures","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/islam\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00549.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00549.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00549.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hf620-img_00549.webp?fit=900%2C663&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5513,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/pope-francis-advances-martyred-albanian-priests-along-path-to-sainthood\/","url_meta":{"origin":101584,"position":4},"title":"Pope Francis advances martyred Albanian priests along path to sainthood","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u064a\u0648\u0646\u064a\u0648 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"[ad_1] Source Father Luigi Paliq (left) and Father Gjon Gazulli were declared martyrs by Pope Francis on June 20, 2024. \/ Credit: Screen capture from aciprensa.com of photo courtesy of The Order of Friars Minor, Episcopal Conference of Albania Pope Francis on Thursday advanced the cause for sainthood for two martyred Catholic priests who were killed \"in hatred of the faith\u201d in Albania in the first decades of the 20th century.The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints made the announcement&nbsp;of\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a &quot;Christian News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1719187370_screenshot-2024-06-21-at-09.29.34.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1719187370_screenshot-2024-06-21-at-09.29.34.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1719187370_screenshot-2024-06-21-at-09.29.34.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1719187370_screenshot-2024-06-21-at-09.29.34.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1719187370_screenshot-2024-06-21-at-09.29.34.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64831,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/st-vincent-de-paul-patron-of-the-poor-the-marginalized-and-catholic-charities\/","url_meta":{"origin":101584,"position":5},"title":"St. Vincent de Paul: Patron of the poor, the marginalized, and Catholic charities","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"\u0633\u0628\u062a\u0645\u0628\u0631 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"St. Vincent de Paul. \/ Credit: Public domain CNA Staff, Sep 27, 2025 \/ 04:00 am (CNA). On Sept. 27 the Catholic Church remembers St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th-century French priest known as the patron of Catholic charities for his apostolic work among the poor and marginalized.During a September 2010 Angelus address, Pope Benedict XVI noted that St. Vincent \u201ckeenly perceived the strong contrast between the richest and the poorest of people\u201d and was \u201cencouraged by the love of\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0641\u064a &quot;Christian News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CNA_LOGOredblk-9.png?fit=1200%2C335&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CNA_LOGOredblk-9.png?fit=1200%2C335&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CNA_LOGOredblk-9.png?fit=1200%2C335&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CNA_LOGOredblk-9.png?fit=1200%2C335&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CNA_LOGOredblk-9.png?fit=1200%2C335&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","mfb_rest_fields":["title","jetpack_publicize_connections","jetpack-related-posts","jetpack_sharing_enabled","jetpack_featured_media_url"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101584\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101584"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=101584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}