New Era for Hindu Temples: DHS Removes 1-Year Wait for Pujari ( Priests)
By Anjali V. Deshmukh
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) put out an interim final rule called “Improving Continuity for Religious Organizations and Their Employees” on January 16, 2026. “This rule gets rid of the one-year “cooling-off” period that R-1 religious workers had to go through after they had been in the country for five years. Pujari ( Priests) still have to leave the U.S. when they reach the five-year limit, but they can now come back right away after getting a new visa stamp.” This feature makes it much easier for Hindu temples to find staff. Hindu temples all over the United States have finally gotten over a problem that has been around for a long time.
Before, a Pujari who had been in the U.S. on an R-1 visa for five years had to live outside the country for a full year before they could apply to come back. For many temples, this meant losing their spiritual leader just when the community needed them the most. Because there were so many people waiting for Green Cards (EB-4), these “one-year gaps” often turned into permanent departures, which meant that temples were always looking for new Pujari.
The new rule for 2026 gets rid of that mandatory wait. Pujaris still have to leave the U.S. after five years, but they can now apply to come back right away. This lets temples file a new petition up to six months ahead of time, so a Pujari can “rotate” back into service as soon as they finish an interview for a visa at an Indian consulate.
This makes sure that our mandirs can always have trusted Pujari on hand for the Hindu-American community. This change recognizes that our Pujaria are important to the moral and social fabric of our community, which will help keep our traditions alive and well for many years to come.
| Feature | Old Regulation (Pre-2026) | New Regulation (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Stay Limit | 5 Years (30 months + 30 months) | 5 Years (Unchanged) |
| Mandatory Departure | Required after 5 years | Required after 5 years |
| Time Spent Abroad | Minimum 12 Months | No Minimum Time |
| Re-entry Eligibility | Only after 1 year of foreign residency | Immediate (once new visa is issued) |
| Impact on Temples | High risk of 12-month staffing gaps | Greater continuity of service |
| Consulate | “Petition-Based” Work Visas (H, L, O, P, Q, R) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ~1 Month | Currently offering some of the fastest slots for work-related petitions. |
| Chennai | ~2 Months | Highly efficient, but slots for work visas are often released in “batches.” |
| Hyderabad | ~2.5 Months | A reliable alternative if Mumbai is fully booked. |
| New Delhi | Variable / Limited | Availability fluctuates; often better for student or tourist categories. |
About the Author
Anjali V. Deshmukh is an immigration lawyer in Washington, D.C. who has been working in the field for more than 15 years. She focuses on employment and religious worker visas. She graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and has spent her career helping South Asian non-profits and cultural institutions understand the complicated rules and regulations that govern immigration in the United States. Anjali speaks at national legal forums a lot, and she cares deeply about giving the Indian-American community the legal clarity it needs to protect its rich spiritual and cultural traditions. You can reach her by email at anjali@deshvidesh.com.
