Around 20,000 Afghans are currently in the pipeline waiting for an SIV, while up to 70,000 Afghans including applicants and their immediate family membersare eligible to apply. CBP has corrected their parole period to a full 2 years. Operation Allies Welcome Expeditious Processing for Asylum Applications. The SIV program has faced massive backlog and processing can take months, if not years for some. File Online Although the USCIS field offices listed in the chart host asylum interviews, field office staff cannot schedule asylum interviews or provide updates on the status of asylum applications. A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. This is considered derivative refugee or asylee status, because your beneficiary will be deriving their status from you after you were admitted to the United States as a refugee or received a grant of asylum. If you are filingForm I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, and you fall into category 1 or 2 below, you should follow the instructions below to ensure expeditious processing of your Form I-589 under Section 2502(c) of the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (PDF): When you complete your Form I-589, please complete the following additional steps: If you properly complete your Form I-589 and we determine that you meet the eligibility criteria for Category 1 or 2 above, we will submit your Form I-589 for expeditious processing under Section 2502(c) of theExtending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (PDF). Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked alongside U.S. troops and are eligible for potential relocation to the United States remain stuck in limbo in Taliban-controlled . For more information, see the One-Year Filing Deadline Lesson Plan (PDF, 545.34 KB). Lawful Immigration Pathways for Eligible Afghan Nationals Residing in the U.S. Lawful Immigration Pathways for Eligible Afghan Nationals Residing in the U.S. (Pashto), Lawful Immigration Pathways for Eligible Afghan Nationals Residing in the U.S. (Dari), OAW SIV Classification Welcome Center Flyer, OAW SIV Classification Welcome Center Flyer (Pashto), OAW SIV Classification Welcome Center Flyer (Dari), Information Sheet for Afghan Parole into the United States, Information Sheet for Afghan Parole into the United States (Dari), Information Sheet for Afghan Parole into the United States (Pashto), Employment Information Regarding Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holders and Parolees, Once Form I-360 is approved, file Form I-485, Completed Form I-765 at a safe haven, and USCIS mailed your EAD but you have not received it, Need to correct or update your mailing address to receive your EAD, Need to report non-delivery or non-receipt of your mailed EAD, Were admitted into the CBPas a lawful permanent resident, Were paroled into the United States by CBP and subsequently classified as an Afghan Special Immigrant. On December 29, 2022,Pub. Principal applicants accounted for about 31,000 of the total, and dependent spouses and children accounted for the remaining 69,000. You do not have to submit a new Form I-765 or pay a fee to request a corrected card. The U.S. government is racing to speed up the evacuation and immigration of Afghan translators and others who provided assistance during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. "These deficiencies have contributed to Afghan SIV applicant processing times exceeding the 9-month goal set by Congress and may have delayed vulnerable Afghan allies from reaching safety. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Box 648003 "We remain committed to our Afghan allies and processing Special Immigrant Visa applications as expeditiously as possible, while always protecting our national security. 1. However, in some cases, USCIS may grant a waiver of the 2-year filing deadline for humanitarian reasons. The Iraqi and Afghan SIV programs have faced challenges with respect to application processing, security screening, and visa availability. If you were admitted to the United States as an Afghan SIV LPR and you still have your immigrant visa paper packet, mail your packet to: In the basis of eligibility section, provide your eligibility category; For the category under which you are applying, select , Select your reason for applying as either . Complete a separate Form I-485 for each family member applying to adjust status. On Nov. 21, 2022, USCIS announced that Afghans paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) and certain Afghans paroled under Operation Enduring Welcome (OEW) are employment authorized incident to parole. In a report ( PDF) late last month, DHS said more than 36,400 Afghan refugees do not qualify for the special immigrant visa (SIV) programme designed for Afghans who worked with US forces during. State said have to of end and von is was cut of number and unopened emails is 140,175, "almost half of May 2022 figure." . We recently learned that USCIS never received paper visa packets for some Afghan nationals admitted into the United States as lawful permanent residents (LPRs) based on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). If you did not either complete these medical requirements before you traveled to the United States or complete a medical exam at a U.S. government reception center or safe haven after you arrived in the United States, you must receive the required testing and vaccinations elsewhere. If you have any issues or questions about an address change request, emailnbcafghancoa@uscis.dhs.gov. A spouse or unmarried child younger than 21 years old following to join a principal immigrant may receive the same special immigrant classification as a principal Afghan special immigrant. For more information on the immigration medical examination, see. The following resources are kept up-to-date with key policy and legal developments. Since July 2021, USCIS has received over 46,000 applications from Afghans hoping to come to the U.S. through the parole process. For more information, see the, If you are filing a paper Form I-765, mail to the appropriate address as provided on our, Locate a copy of your Form I-94, Arrival Departure Record, passport, or other travel document showing you were paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or reasons of significant public benefit under INA 212(d)(5), which should have an Afghan parole notation, such as OAW or OAR., For more information on obtaining a Form I-94, see CBPs. The U.S. government may be able to offer departure assistance for your eligible family members who are outside the United States if you are an Afghan national who entered the United States as a parolee and: You may apply for your lawful spouse* and your unmarried children under the age of 21 to enter the United States as refugees. If IOM is unable to resolve your inquiry, and you still are not able to obtain your EAD, determine whether you need to update your mailing address or report your card as not received (see options below). New Afghan SIV applicants will no longer need to file an I-360 petition. For individuals in the United States with COM requests pending on July 20, 2022, please reference the chart below. Individuals who received their Form I-94 at the time of their parole into the United States should visit theU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)Form I-94 website to view and print a copy of their Form I-94. The department boasts of speeds in processing time, pointing to how it has "already reduced the total average processing time for an Afghan SIV application to 587 days in the most recent quarter . Total Afghan SIVs Issued in FY 2022 (through December 31, 2021) Total Afghan Numbers Used1 Remaining SIVs for . Individuals in the United States may apply for asylum regardless of country of nationality or current immigration status. If you are an Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) asylum applicant, your asylum interview might take place at a USCIS field office. 279(g)(2); and, If you are submittingForm I-589, address the envelope according to guidance in the Where to File or Special Instructions section (whichever applies) on the webpage for. Afghanistan has long been one of the largest originators of displaced persons due to prolonged interethnic conflict and proxy wars (1, 2); however, the year 2021 witnessed the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, the resultant collapse of the Afghan national infrastructure, and the subsequent takeover of the country by Taliban, Islamic State-Khorasan (ISK), and other . If you entered the United States as a refugee, you cannot adjust status as an Afghan who was employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government. A high number in this field reflects older cases being completed, not older . Our Information for Afghan Nationals webpage offers complete information on what you need to do as a parolee. Time: 2023-02-28 14:23:38; source:Yahoo News . Are not removable from the United States; Can obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD); and, Filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition; or. . Mark Attn: OAW anywhere on the front of the envelope; On page 1 of Form I-589, Part A.I., Item 19.c., write your current status followed by (Parole) in the Status field. All steps in the Afghan SIV application process are outlined below and include the On August 30, 2021, the final U.S. military flight left Kabul airport, completing a chaotic evacuation process from Afghanistan. We may also grant TPS to eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country. Afghan citizens or nationals who already started the SIV application process and received COM approval on or before July 20, 2022, must still file Form I-360 with USCIS on their own behalf. You must notify USCIS within 10 days of any change in your address to ensure timely and accurate delivery of your EAD. and 18.b. IOM is taking steps to deliver both EADs and Social Security cards. For information specific to P-2 program for Afghan nationals, please visit theRefugee Processing Centers SIV/Afghan P-2 webpage. Note that a Social Security card that contains no employment restrictions is not available to parolees and individuals who are not admitted to the United States on a permanent basis. For more information, see the DOSs, On or after July 20, 2022, you may seek special immigrant classification by filing Form DS-157, Petition for Special Immigrant Classification for Afghan SIV Applicants, when you apply for COM approval. If you have questions regarding any pending application, please see the Contact Uswebpage for more information. Certain Afghan citizens or nationals who already started the SIV application process and received COM approval as of July 20, 2022, must still fileForm I-360 with USCIS on their own behalf, with this exception: If the COM approval letter states that your signed Form DS-157 submitted with your application for COM approval is approved as a petition and you are classified as a special immigrant under INA 203(b)(4), you do not need to file Form I-360. For additional information, please see the news release. USCIS will review whether we need to update your EAD validity date. Thousands of individuals have been referred for this program, but the U.S. government has not built all of the steps needed for processing. . We will mail secure documents to the address on file, so it is important to include receipt numbers for all pending cases. Additionally, you must clear a background check and appropriate screening, as determined by the secretary of homeland security, and must be determined eligible to receive an immigrant visa and otherwise admissible to the United States for permanent residence. UNHCR will identify individuals for resettlement referral based on an assessment of their vulnerability at the time of registration. USCIS will provide additional guidance to employers about completion of the Form I-9. The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program refers to a program created by Congress to allow Iraqi and Afghan nationals, who are targeted because of their work for the United States, to relocate to safety in the U.S. You must sign your attestation, but it does not need to be notarized. Attn: OAW EAD Card Corrections If you need to find legal services, please visit theFind Legal Serviceswebpage. Application Type: In Part 2, Item 1.c., select the checkbox for Certain Afghan or Iraqi National, Form I-360 or Form DS-157, and in Part 2, Item 3., enter the receipt number of your approved Form I-360 immigrant petition or the case number on your COM approval letter for your Form DS-157. For those petitioners that wish to be considered for the fee exemption and whose Afghan national relative was not born in Afghanistan, you cannot submit your petition online. At your appointment to submit the documentation of your medical examination, we will review and assess whether you are inadmissible based on health-related grounds. You may be eligible to receive a Green Card under Section 13 of the Immigration & Nationality Act if: For more information on Section 13 and special filing instructions for Afghan nationals who were admitted in diplomatic status, see theSection 13webpage. Note: Confidentiality restrictions may apply to certain information on the Form I-730, depending on who submitted the information, who it relates to, and with whom it is being shared. Application Process Information on Green Cards for Afghan Lawful Permanent Residents with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) Afghan National Parolees - Information about Employment Authorization Information for Afghan Nationals Relocated to the United States Special Immigrant Visas The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health Department Directorieswebpage lists state, local, and territorial health departments, with more information on finding a vaccination location near you. Priority-3 Family Reunification: Spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, or parents of individuals already admitted to the United States as refugees or asylees are in this category. Fee Information: Through Sept. 30, 2023, there is no fee to file Form I-485 to adjust status on the basis of classification as an Afghan special immigrant, or for any associated biometric services or to file an associated Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility. For more information, see the Polygamous Marriages section. For more information, see the, Locate a copy of your Form I-94, passport, or other travel document showing you were paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or reasons of significant public benefit under INA 212(d)(5). For more information, see theGreen Card Eligibility Categories webpage. Continue to follow CDC guidelines. We will also continue our efforts to help Lawful Permanent Residents, as well as the many Afghans who have stood with us over the years, who are seeking to leave Afghanistan. If your application is approved, USCIS will mail your green card to you shortly after your adjustment of status interview. We are working with other agencies to ensure we receive the information we need in a timely manner to issue Green Cards promptly. If you move, you must give us your new address within 10 days of when your address changes. few days a go I asked IRC to support me in order to find out the status of my case but they replied like this: Dear Shafi . If you are an Afghan national relocated to the United States, the table below explains your specific medical requirements. Afghan evacuation flights to resume with streamlined process By James R. Webb Jan 27, 2022 An Afghan woman holds her children as she waits for a consultation outside a makeshift clinic at a. Attn: IV Paula Bronstein/Getty Images August 19, 2021, 12:42 PM Upon arrival, you must complete an immigration medical examination within 30 days of admission to remove conditions on your permanent resident status. If you did not complete the medical requirements before traveling to the United States or at a government-run location where these vaccination services are provided, you must report compliance with these medical requirements. On March 16, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. 7 min read . Keep the copy of the original Form I-693 given to you at the government-run facility for future use. Polygamous marriages are legal under Afghan law, but they are illegal in all states in the United States. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries) who are already in the United States. government reported a total average processing time for Afghan SIV applicants of 564 days. However, registration for TPS does not prevent you from: PLEASE NOTE: To be granted any other immigration benefit, you must still meet all the eligibility requirements for that particular benefit. If you are applying for a Green Card after you wereparoled into the United States due to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and you are an Afghan national or derivative family member (spouse or unmarried child younger than 21) with an approvedForm I-360 from USCIS or an approved Form DS-157 from DOS, follow the instructions below to submitForm I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Suite 100 This article provides an overview of the SIV program . The Department of State will contact you with departure options for your family members after receiving your Form DS-4317. At this time, the U.S. Embassy Kabul has suspended operations, including all consular services, and USCIS cannot fully process requests for parole for individuals in Afghanistan. Effective July 20, 2022, USCIS has transitioned the responsibility to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) petitions filed under the AAPA special immigrant program to the Department of State. USCIS will never ask you to transfer money to an individual or pay fees other than through your myUSCIS account. Below are some tips for completing Form I-765: Please note: Applications for Afghan nationals will receive priority scheduling at Application Support Centers to collect their biometrics. of your Form I-765, and we approve your application for employment authorization, USCIS will electronically send that data to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and SSA will assign you an SSN and issue you a Social Security card. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries. If you have questions or need to update your personal information with USCIS, visit the USCIS Contact Center to connect with a USCIS representative. 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