Washington - Concerned over reports that the religious workers visa program in the United States is rife with fraud, the Bush Administration is planning to have it overhauled.
A 2005 Department of Homeland Security review of 220 religious worker petitions found that nearly a third had been falsified. Some visas were issued to people who said they planned to work at non-existent facilities, the department report said.
The proposed regulations has, according to the Washington Post, kindled fears among workers involved with religious institutions in the United States.
According to the paper, scientologists, Jews and other religious practitioners are critical of the proposed changes, which they claim, "would be burdensome and discriminate against legitimate religious workers, causing serious staff shortages and violating religious freedom." Religious worker visas are used to bring in Hebrew teachers, among other workers.