If you have already applied and want to check the status of your application, call the US Department of State at +001-603-334-0828 you will need your SIV number and date of birth. If you need help finding a medical provider to meet these requirements, visit the CDCHealth Department Directorieswebpage. You entered the U.S. using your immigrant visa, You Have not yet paid the immigrant visa fee, You must pay the immigrant visa fee online before your permanent resident card can be processed. Green Card Delays for Afghan Special Immigrants. In general, an unaccompanied child is a person under the age of 18 who does not have lawful immigration status in the United States and who does not have a parent or legal guardian in the United States who can provide care and physical custody. This petition has a 2-year filing deadline. The attestation should state that the information in the statement you provided is valid. U.S. Department of Homeland Security July 18, 2022 Statement by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to the thousands of brave Afghans who stood side-by-side with us over the course of the past two decades. If you did not enter a physical address because it is not safe for you to disclose it, then you may get emails from uscis.gov. TPS does not lead to any immigration status, including lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card). A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Filing Form DS-4317 will not prevent you from filing a Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, if you are granted asylum or refugee status in the United States. If you need a break, you can ask for one. Email addresses from the U.S. government always end in (.gov). USCIS will review whether we need to update your EAD validity date. There are many forms of abuse and exploitation, including domestic violence, forced marriage and human trafficking. . In the past, we relied on receiving these paper packets to issue Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards). Once the immigration medical examination is complete, the civil surgeon annotates the results on Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Alert: If you are filing Form I-130 on behalf of your Afghan national relative whose country of birth in Part 4, Item 7, is not Afghanistan, please write OAW at the top of your Form I-130 to be considered for a fee exemption that is effective through Sept. 30, 2023. Report your compliance at theAfghan Parolee Vaccination Statuswebpage. 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. 2501 S State Hwy 121 Business [For parole requests filed on behalf of Afghan nationals, USCIS is currently prioritizing the parole applications for Afghan nationals outside of Afghanistan over those who are in Afghanistan given the availability of completing processing for parole beneficiaries in a location with those individuals at a U.S. embassy or consulate, but we continue to process parole applications for individuals in Afghanistan as well.]. Update on Special Immigrant Visa Processing Press Statement Ned Price, Department Spokesperson June 9, 2022 The Department of State remains committed to processing Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications from Afghan partners as expeditiously as possible. If such individuals apply for a Special Immigrant Visa outside of the United States or apply to adjust status in the DS-157 USCIS will provide additional guidance to employers about completion of the Form I-9. Looking for U.S. government information and services? 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). In addition, all Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers located in third countries should register with the nearest United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office. For more information on getting an SIV overseas, see the Consular Processingpage. 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. Upon arrival, you must complete an immigration medical examination within 30 days of admission to remove conditions on your permanent resident status. 7 min read . In 2020, the government agreed to a plan stipulating that SIV application decisions must be made within 120 days and that it would report its progress in clearing the applications backlog every. Review our. However, we may deny your application for TPS on the same grounds we deny your other application. We are expediting pending affirmative asylum applications filed by certain Afghan applicants. More asylum-related information for Afghan parolees is available at Afghan Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) Parolee Asylum-Related Frequently Asked Questions. Lewisville, TX 75067. 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. 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. If you are upset or uncomfortable, ask for a short break to calm down and recollect your thoughts. 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. Package all Forms I-485 for your family in a single envelope. 5109 Leesburg Pike Skyline Six, If you have a family member who is eligible to file, See below for information on Special Immigrant Status, Family-Based Immigration Petitions (Form I-130 or. If you still need to complete the immigration medical examination in the United States, a civil surgeon designated by USCIS must perform the examination. You will need the receipt number we provided you after you filed your application. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) or another country's resettlement program. In that report, OIG made three recommendations to CA to address deficiencies. While the U.S. government has withdrawn its personnel from Kabul, we will continue to assist U.S. citizens and their families in Afghanistan from Doha, Qatar. In the United States, there are laws that may help you avoid or escape an abusive situation or forced marriage. For noncitizens who are not covered under the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (PDF), we will prioritize affirmative asylum applications within the parameters indicated on the general Affirmative Asylum Interview Scheduling webpage. A detailed explanation of the card error (such as incorrect name, date of birth, etc. Note: Some Afghan parolees under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) received parole for less than 2 years. If you have been persecuted or have a fear of future persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, you may be eligible for asylum. 2022, you may file your fee exempt Form I-765 online. 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. 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. We are working with other agencies to ensure we receive the information we need in a timely manner to issue Green Cards promptly. If we approve your Form I-360, we will forward the approved petition to the DOS for consular processing of your SIV. 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. Who May Apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as an Afghan Parolee. For these parolees, their unexpired Form I-94 is an acceptable List A receipt that shows their identity and employment authorization for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. You filed the application within a reasonable period of time given those circumstances. To request renewal of your employment authorization or replacement of your EAD, see the Form I-765 webpage. IOM is taking steps to deliver both EADs and Social Security cards. If you completed Form I-765 at a U.S. government reception center or safe haven, you might have the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Washington, D.C. as your address of record. USCIS reviews all parole requests for all nationalities to determine whether the request warrants expedited processing for an urgent or time-sensitive reason and is not expediting parole requests based on nationality alone. This page provides information for Afghan nationals. For the fees for petitions filed at the U.S. Emmbassy or Consulate, contact the applicable Embassy or Consulate. The Biden Presidency Facts First 2022 Midterms Audio . 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. Be sure to complete all sections of the form. The Afghanistan SIV process covers Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). We may also grant TPS to eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country. Your admission as a lawful permanent resident would not be contrary to the national welfare, safety, or security of the United States. Attn: AFGHAN NFB (Box 21281) It is important to include with your address change request the receipt number for any pending cases with USCIS, so we can update the address associated with those cases. 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). Operation Allies Welcome Expeditious Processing for Asylum Applications. The several appendices cover the purpose, scope, and methodology of the report; congressional request letters, the . Given this precedent, this commentary suggests Congress should act to provide a more secure future for the more than 72,000 Afghans who were airlifted to the United States under an uncertain immigration status . Keep the copy of the Form SF-600 you received. For information on locating legal services, please visit theFind Legal Serviceswebpage. The Department of State will contact you with departure options for your family members after receiving your Form DS-4317. If you do not have a passport, you can use your A-Number to retrieve your Form I-94 online from the site above by choosing Get Most Recent I-94. Enter your A-Number in the Passport Number field and enter USA in the Passport Country of Issuance field. The following resources are kept up-to-date with key policy and legal developments. You must demonstrate you experienced or are experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of your employment by the U.S. government. The Iraqi and Afghan SIV programs have faced challenges with respect to application processing, security screening, and visa availability. 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. You can qualify for an exception if you can show: Generally, maintaining valid status or parole until a reasonable period before filing the asylum application is considered an extraordinary circumstance. If you are an Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) asylum applicant, your asylum interview might take place at a USCIS field office. Visit the Department of States Afghanistan Family Reunification webpage and navigate to the If You Are a Parolee section for more detailed information. ), In Part 2, Question 27, Information About Your Eligibility Category, write in (c)(11). This is the category number for parolees. 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 . For questions related to pending humanitarian parole requests, please email HumanitarianParole@uscis.dhs.gov. ); Copies of supporting documentation of the correct information. In Part 1, Reason for Applying, select 1.a., Initial permission to accept employment, In Part 2, list your country of birth as Afghanistan. (Questions 19.c.) 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. . However, with significant backlogs in most categories and continuing staffing shortages, wait times for interviews are lengthy. For individuals in the United States with COM requests pending on July 20, 2022, please reference the chart below. 117-43 who did not receive an OAR class of admission on your I-94, please contact CBP at oawi94adjustments@cbp.dhs.gov to update your class of admission, if appropriate. In addition, if you are a principal refugee admitted to the United States within the past 2 years or a principal asylee who was granted asylum within the past 2 years, you may use the Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Petition, to request follow-to-join immigration benefits for a qualifying spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age. Continue to follow CDC guidelines. Generally, we will only consider the first marriage of a polygamous marriage valid for immigration purposes. To find information about an asylum office, visit the USCIS Service and Office Locator. You are a citizen or national of Afghanistan, or you have no nationality and last habitually resided in Afghanistan; You were paroled into the United States between July 30, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022; and, You were paroled into the United States after Sept. 30, 2022, and, You are the spouse or child of an individual who meets Category 1 above, or, You are the parent or legal guardian of an individual who meets Category 1 above and who is determined to be an unaccompanied child as defined under 6 U.S.C. Biographic information or supporting documents provided for prior USCIS or U.S. government applications or petitions, or other official records including: DS-157, Chief of Mission approval notice; Religious or medical records containing your name and date of birth; or, School or employment records containing your name and date of birth; or. If you move, you must give us your new address within 10 days of when your address changes. Applying for any other immigration benefit or protection for which you may be eligible. As of June 2022, an Afghan national applicant was required to complete a three-phased process to receive an SIV: Chief of Mission (COM) approval, I-360 petition, 4 and visa application. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, An official website of the United States government, 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, Green Cards for Afghan Nationals who were admitted in Diplomatic Status (Section 13), Afghan National Parolees - Reunification for Immediate Family Members, Resources for Victims of Abuse, Violence or Exploitation, Afghan National Parolee Vaccination Status and Immigration Medical Examinations, Information Sheets for Afghan National Parolees Departing Safe Havens, To protect your privacy, please do not include any personal information in your feedback. During a designated period, TPS beneficiaries (or individuals found preliminarily eligible for TPS after an initial review of their cases, called prima facie eligible): Once an individual has TPS, the Department of Homeland Security cannot detain them on the basis of their immigration status in the United States. . Release Date: June 14, 2022 . 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. P.O. Javed, 38, an SIV applicant in Kabul, said he lives in fear every day because he worked as an operations manager and translator at Bagram airbase, the largest US military installation in Afghanistan. We've made important strides to . 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. If you have questions or need to update your personal information with USCIS, visit the USCIS Contact Center to connect with a USCIS representative. and 18.b. For a small number of extremely vulnerable individuals, this could include referral to the U.S. For questions related to pending refugee cases, please emailrefugeeaffairsinquiries@uscis.dhs.gov. You are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or are eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or other form of relief. See the Social Security Administrations Types of Social Security Cards webpage. If the U.S. government helps your family members depart Afghanistan, they will only be able to enter the United States if U.S. immigration officials approve their entry. 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