NAIROBI, Kenya – A Kenyan Catholic priest legally serving in the United States has been stranded in Nairobi for over three months after the U.S. Embassy denied a routine renewal of his visa stamp, preventing his return to his parish in Lewis County, New York. The case of Father John Ojuok has sent a chill through religious communities that rely on foreign-born clergy and has prompted his diocese to issue a stark warning to others against international travel.

Father Ojuok, the parochial vicar at St. Peter's, St. Mary, and St. Hedwig's churches, traveled to Kenya in late August for what was intended to be a three-week visit with his mother. During the trip, he sought to complete the standard procedure of renewing the R-1 religious worker visa stamp in his passport, a necessary document for re-entry into the United States. Despite holding valid legal status in the U.S., his application for the stamp was denied following an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

According to Father Christopher Carrara, the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, the embassy provided no official explanation for the denial beyond stating that Father Ojuok had failed the interview. “He was told he did a great job,” Father Carrara said in a televised interview with 7News, only to be informed of the denial days later. Carrara speculated that the refusal might stem from a suspicion that the priest could overstay his visa. “There's something that's giving them the impression that after his legal time in the U.S., he might stay,” he stated.

A Vital Ministry Interrupted

Father Ojuok’s unexpected absence has created a significant void in the Lewis County Catholic community. He was scheduled to return to New York on September 11, 2025. His belongings, packed for a short trip, remain in the U.S. Colleagues and parishioners have expressed deep concern over the disruption to parish life and pastoral care, a significant issue in a diocese that, like many rural areas in the U.S., depends heavily on international priests to address clergy shortages.

Originally from Migori County, Father Ojuok first came to the U.S. as a seminarian in 2016. He studied theology at Christ the King Seminary in New York and has been an integral part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg since. His situation underscores the critical role played by the 24% of Catholic priests in the U.S. who are foreign-born, according to a 2022 study by The Catholic University of America's Catholic Project.

Heightened Scrutiny and Broader Implications

The denial of Father Ojuok's visa stamp comes amid what observers describe as a climate of heightened scrutiny and unpredictability in U.S. immigration procedures, particularly for religious workers. While a valid R-1 visa petition grants legal status to remain and work in the U.S., a physical visa stamp in the passport is mandatory for entry or re-entry into the country. Without it, Father Ojuok is effectively barred from returning to his ministry and legal residence.

In response to this incident, the Diocese of Ogdensburg has taken the extraordinary step of advising all its foreign-born priests and religious leaders to refrain from traveling outside the United States. “Our advice to them is, do not go home. Do not visit,” Father Carrara stated, highlighting the risk that others could face a similar predicament despite having legal status. This advisory points to a broader crisis of confidence in the consistency of U.S. visa processing for clergy.

Immigration attorneys and advocates have noted that policy shifts, particularly those implemented under the Trump administration, have made the process for obtaining and renewing religious worker visas more difficult. These changes have included more stringent interview requirements and a general increase in administrative hurdles that can lead to delays and denials without clear justification. While the U.S. Department of State has not released specific refusal rate data for the R-1 visa category for Kenyans, data for other visa types, such as student visas, show high denial rates for African applicants.

Uncertain Path Forward

The Diocese of Ogdensburg has confirmed it is pursuing all available avenues to resolve the situation and is working with the office of U.S. House Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) to seek a resolution. As of Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 8:59 AM EAT, Father Ojuok remains in Nairobi, awaiting a decision that will determine his ability to return to the community he serves.

Requests for comment sent to the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, the U.S. Department of State, and the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik have not yet received a response. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.