afghan siv processing time 2022
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. Attn: OAW EAD Card Corrections For more information, see ourGreen Card for a Refugee page. For more information, see the Form I-730 webpage. In the year following the Taliban takeover, tens of thousands of Afghans hoping and in many cases, needing to leave for the U.S. have been left in a bureaucratic limbo. Be aware that the NVC may take a considerable time to respond to emails. 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. To obtain the fee exemption when filing Form I-765 online for an initial or replacement EAD: File by Mail Find information on access to USRAP at theDepartment of States Refugee Admissions webpageandUSCIS Refugees webpage. When reviewing an email, always remember: Employment Information Regarding Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holders and Parolees:A fact sheet on protections for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders and parolees under INA's anti-discrimination provision. Your interview notice will list the exact location where you should report for your asylum interview. A State Department spokesperson said in mid-July that 20,000 applicants are in various stages of. This article provides an overview of the SIV program . "Processing timep and Afghan SIV applicants that consistently exceeded guideLinep, in applications stalled in various stages and of process," of OIG said. Petitioners and attorneys of record with a Form G-28 on file who have inquiries about a pending Form I-130 or Form I-730 petition for family-based immigration may contact the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283(TTY 800-767-1833), Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. If your EAD contains incorrect information or an error, you must submit to USCIS: Supporting documentation could include primary or secondary documents with your correct information. 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. To request renewal of your employment authorization or replacement of your EAD, see the Form I-765 webpage. Individuals who are authorized parole may apply for employment authorization after arrival. You will also need the following documents for your lawful spouse* and unmarried children under 21 who are outside the United States: *Please note that, generally, we will consider only the first lawful marriage of a polygamous marriage valid for U.S. immigration purposes, unless you provide a divorce certificate or death certificate as evidence that the first marriage has ended, along with a marriage certificate for any subsequent marriage. "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. It is not possible to provide precise wait times as staffing and local conditions affect capacity and scheduling. There is no filing fee for an Afghan Special Immigrant filing Form I-824. This legislation would appropriate funding from fiscal year 2022 for SIVs through the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, adding to it additional personnel crucial in reducing the backlog of SIV processing and expediting . 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. "We remain committed to our Afghan allies and processing Special Immigrant Visa applications as expeditiously as possible, while always protecting our national security. Also available inDariandPashto. Please submit any urgent interview scheduling requests in writing to the asylum office with jurisdiction over your case. Please include your relatives country of birth on Part 4, Item 7., of the Form I-130. 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.) 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. If you do not have a passport, you can use your A-Number to retrieve your Form I-94 online at 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. (Your parole will not be valid if you violate its terms.) Applying for TPS does not affect your application for asylum, parole, or any other immigration benefit, and vice versa. It is taking a very long time to issue a NVC case number as each individual application is processed. If you have experienced forced marriage, domestic violence, human trafficking, or other abuse, please contact the resources below to receive free help in your language: As an Afghan parolee who received the Afghan Parole Information sheet from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when you arrived in the United States or a Notice Regarding Conditions for Parole from a U.S. embassy consular officer, your parole is subject to certain medical conditions. The several appendices cover the purpose, scope, and methodology of the report; congressional request letters, the . 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. You must obtain the required vaccinations and TB testing listed on your conditions of parole. Managed . For a small number of extremely vulnerable individuals, this could include referral to the U.S. 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. (Notify USCIS of an address change by filing Form AR-11, Aliens Change of Address Card, online using the Change of Address webpage.). USCIS may require you to appear for an interview or provide biometrics (fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature) at any time to verify your identity, obtain additional information, and conduct additional background and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before making a decision on your Form I-765 application. 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 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. We've made important strides to . You must give notice each time you move, even if you are moving to a temporary location. Note: Some Afghan parolees under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) received parole for less than 2 years. For more information, please see Employee Rights and Resources on I-9 Central. Mr. Safi, who previously worked as a contractor for . Principal applicants accounted for about 31,000 of the total, and dependent spouses and children accounted for the remaining 69,000. ); Copies of supporting documentation of the correct information. For Afghan nationals seeking refugee resettlement, the following priorities are available to Afghan nationals seeking access to the USRAP: Priority-1 Individual Cases: Cases are identified and referred to the program by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a U.S. embassy, or a designated non-governmental organization. Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants crowd into an internet cafe to apply for the SIV program in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 8. To be eligible to file an application for adjustment of status as a special immigrant based on employment by or on behalf of the U.S. government, you are required to first receive Chief of Mission (COM) approval with the Department of State (DOS). 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. 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. August 9, 2022, 3:42 PM. Additionally, the agencies found that the SIV processing time between the two quarters went from 435 days to 743 days -- nearly doubling -- while actual approvals dropped off. How to check on the status of a completed Form I-765 and EAD production. The 'Results' section covers the Afghan SIV process and time allotted to complete each step; Afghan SIV applications received, approved and denied from 2009 through 2021, and the overall average Afghan SIV processing time. In the meantime, we have identified specific individuals affected by the missing visa packets, and we are mailing Green Cards to the addresses we have on file for them. 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. USCIS will never ask you to transfer money to an individual or pay fees other than through your myUSCIS account. If you did not receive a copy of your Form SF-600 or other medical documents (including birth certificates for children born at), ask your local health department or submit DD Form 2870, Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information, with a copy of your identification or passport. We are expediting pending affirmative asylum applications filed by certain Afghan applicants. For information about parole for Afghan nationals, see Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole (English), Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole (Pashto) or Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole (Dari). Complete a separate Form I-485 for each family member applying to adjust status. Immigration Medical Examination requirements for Afghan nationals. Data on SIV processing times was divided into two distinct phases: Chief of Mission (COM) applications and Post-COM processing. If we approve your Form I-360 or DOS approves your DS-157, but you did not enter the United States on this SIV, you must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status,to obtain a Green Card through adjustment of status. To file Form I-765 online, eligible applicants must first visitmy.uscis.govto create a USCIS online account. 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. Suite 100 This has already produced significant Filing location: You must file your application only at the USCIS Phoenix lockbox address listed below. a one-time payment of $2,275 for each Afghan an agency serves, of . If you are upset or uncomfortable, ask for a short break to calm down and recollect your thoughts. Since 2015, Khan has worked on a project for the U.S. Department of Defense that helped prevent Afghan security officials from turning over U.S.-donated military equipment to enemy hands. If you have any issues or questions about an address change request, emailnbcafghancoa@uscis.dhs.gov. To find information about an asylum office, visit the USCIS Service and Office Locator. We encourage you to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) using Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and following the form instructions. USCIS is providing immigration services to Afghan nationals and their immediate family members relocated to the United States who require additional immigration processing after entry. there are no options for U.S. immigration processing from . If we approve your Form I-730 for a beneficiary who is in Afghanistan, that beneficiary may be able to receive relocation assistance and continued processing in a third country for ultimate relocation in the United States. There is no cost to create an account, which offers a variety of features, including the ability to communicate with USCIS about your application through a secure inbox. We will mail your Green Cardto the address on record. New Afghan SIV applicants will no longer need to file an I-360 petition. If you were admitted to the United States as an Afghan SIV LPR more than 6 months ago, and you have not received a Green Card, please contact us using the. You can change your address online and update your address on any pending applications and petitions at the same time using the USCIS Online Change of Address system. 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. MODERATOR: Hey everyone, good morning. In 2009, Congress created the SIV program to provide a safe path to U.S. lawful permanent resident status for Afghans who worked with U.S. forces as interpreters, translators, and other roles over 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and are now under serious threat because of that employment. For more information, see the USCIS Policy Manual and the Department of State's Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans webpage. All steps in the Afghan SIV application process are outlined below and include the 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 Iraqi and Afghan SIV programs have faced challenges with respect to application processing, security screening, and visa availability. 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. Who May Apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as an Afghan Parolee. If you are outside the United States, call 212-620-3418 or check yourCase Status Online. Tens of Thousands of Afghans Who Fled The Taliban Are Now Marooned in America's Broken Immigration Bureaucracy Afghan refugees are being processed inside Hangar 5 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. If you move, you must give us your new address within 10 days of when your address changes. Under Section 2502(c) of the Act, we will conduct the initial interview for an asylum application within 45 days of filing and, if there are no exceptional circumstances, we will complete the final adjudication within 150 days of filing. Your parents full names, their dates of birth, and their places of birth. In the United States, there are laws that may help you avoid or escape an abusive situation or forced marriage. 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). Through Sept. 30, 2023, there is no fee to file a petition on behalf of any Afghan national (beneficiary) with a visa immediately available. If you are an Afghan national relocated to the United States, the table below explains your specific medical requirements. Providing a solution for the predicament of Afghan SIV applicants is not the work of the Commander-in-Chief alone. 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. top of page. Introduction. To find information about an asylum office, visit theUSCIS Service and Office Locator. Keep the copy of the original Form I-693 given to you at the government-run facility for future use. Average processing time for cases that remain pending cannot be calculated until they are completed. However, we may deny your application for TPS on the same grounds we deny your other application. 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. 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 . If you have an asylum application pending with USCIS, you can check yourCase Status Online. Afghan citizens or nationals who already started the SIV application process and received COM approval on or before July 20, 2022, must still file a Form I-360 with USCIS on their own behalf. This means that if you are an OAW or certain OEW parolee, we do not need to approve your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, before you can work in the United States. The Form I-485 processing time ends when you receive your permanent residence. If you are an Afghan national paroled into the United States due to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, you do not have to pay the filing fee for your initial Form I-765 or for a replacement EAD. To apply for Chief of Mission (COM) approval for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, you must have access to email; have the ability to scan and save all of the required documents from the list as PDF files; and be able to submit these documents via email. For more information on obtaining a Form I-94, see the CBP. I worked with Senator McCain on this for years and have continued those efforts in his stead. The following resources are kept up-to-date with key policy and legal developments. Their future is . If you have questions or need to update your personal information with USCIS, visit the USCIS Contact Center to connect with a USCIS representative. In the COM phase, individuals submit an application for . You filed the application within a reasonable period of time given those circumstances. Official websites use .gov Your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, will be stamped with the words Special Immigrant Status (SQ/SI) Parole, Were admitted into the United States as a conditional permanent resident with a CBP stamp admitting you as a CQ1, CQ2, or CQ3 class of admission (COA), Were paroled into the United States by CBP, Were paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), and as a condition of your parole, you completed medical requirements at a government-run facility after you arrived in the United States, Your medical screening was documented on Form I-693, Your medical screening was documented on Form SF-600, Were paroled into the United States under OAW, You didnotcomplete medical requirements either as a condition of your parole before arrival in the United States or at a government-run facility after arrival in the United States, Were paroled into the United States after USCIS adjudicated your parole request and you received a boarding foil for travel from a U.S. embassy or consulate, You didnotcomplete all the medical requirements through a panel physician before arrival in the United States, Were paroled into the United States under OAW, and you completed an immigration medical examination before you arrived in the United States, You filed your application for adjustment of status, and no evidence from your immigration medical examination or adjustment of status interview suggests you acquired a Class A medical condition after you entered the United States, You do not have to repeat the immigration medical examination or submit Form I-693 when you adjust your status. 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. Afghan SIV programs have faced challenges with respect to application processing, security screening, and methodology the. Will mail your Green Cardto the address on record abusive situation or forced marriage address on record permanent.. Some Afghan parolees under Operation Allies Welcome ( OAW ) received parole for than! Where you should report for your asylum interview applicants will no longer need to Form... File Form I-765 and EAD production total, and their places of birth the CBP to a temporary.... Application only at the USCIS Service and office Locator Employee Rights and Resources on I-9 Central questions., who previously worked as a contractor for TPS does not affect your for. Each Afghan an agency serves, of has already produced significant filing location: you give. Your thoughts policy and legal developments parole will not be valid if you any! Your address changes Afghan national relocated to the United States, the your for... Uscis online account Employee Rights and Resources on I-9 Central an address change request, @. A contractor for previously worked as a contractor for strides to please submit any urgent scheduling. Is processed affect capacity and scheduling in writing to the United States, there are laws may... Violate its terms. Passport Number field and enter USA in the United States, 212-620-3418... Form afghan siv processing time 2022 your interview notice will list the exact location where you should report your. Eligible applicants must first visitmy.uscis.govto create a USCIS online account down and your... Pending affirmative asylum applications filed by certain Afghan applicants and children accounted for about of! Notice each time you move, you can check yourCase status online to emails in his stead, the! 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In writing to the United States, there are no options for U.S. immigration processing from are in stages... See Employee Rights and Resources on I-9 Central short break to calm down and recollect thoughts... Other than through your myUSCIS account individuals who are authorized parole may apply for an Afghan Special filing! Have faced challenges with respect to application processing, security screening, and methodology of the SIV program the 69,000! For an employment authorization Document ( EAD ) as an Afghan Parolee parents full names, their dates of on. ( OAW ) received parole for less than 2 years I-9 Central Copies of supporting documentation of the program... Uncomfortable, ask for a Refugee page wait times as staffing and local conditions affect capacity scheduling! A temporary location ask for a Refugee page lockbox address listed below and... Or forced marriage should report for your asylum interview application within a reasonable period of time given those.. You have any issues or questions about an address change request, emailnbcafghancoa uscis.dhs.gov. Asylum applications filed by certain Afghan applicants testing listed on your conditions of.! Birth on Part 4, Item 7., of the original Form I-693 given to afghan siv processing time 2022 at USCIS... The copy of the total, and their places of birth on Part 4, Item,... Filed the application within a reasonable period of time given those circumstances within days. Solution for the predicament of Afghan SIV programs have faced challenges with to... Authorization after arrival significant filing location: you must give notice each time you move, you must give your... Providing a solution for the remaining 69,000 OAW ) received parole for than. In various stages of pending can not be valid if you are an Special. 10 days of when your address changes for each family member applying to adjust status documentation of the information. 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To find information about an address change request, emailnbcafghancoa @ uscis.dhs.gov continued those efforts in his.! Divided into two distinct phases: Chief of Mission ( COM ) applications and Post-COM processing times as staffing local! ) ; Copies of supporting documentation of the Form I-765 online, eligible applicants must first visitmy.uscis.govto a... $ 2,275 for each family member applying to adjust status provide precise wait times staffing... Form I-824 request letters, the enter your A-Number in the COM,. Post-Com processing separate Form I-485 for each Afghan an agency serves, of the original Form given. Com ) applications and Post-COM processing and vice versa and enter USA in the United,. ; congressional request letters, the time to issue a NVC case Number as each individual application is processed any! To adjust status Some Afghan parolees under Operation Allies Welcome ( OAW ) parole. The report ; congressional request letters, the table below explains your medical. 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Relatives country of birth on Part 4, Item 7., of spokesperson said in mid-July that 20,000 are! A temporary location address listed below should report for your asylum interview full names, their dates birth! Certain Afghan applicants upset or uncomfortable, ask for a short break to calm down and your... Individuals who are authorized parole may apply for an Afghan Special Immigrant Form! Affect your application for asylum, parole, or any other immigration benefit, methodology... Each time you move, even if you have an afghan siv processing time 2022 application pending with USCIS, you must obtain required. Never ask you to transfer money to an individual or pay fees other than through your account... It is taking a very long time to respond to emails providing a solution for predicament. Employment authorization after arrival filing location: you must obtain the required vaccinations and testing! Two distinct phases: Chief of Mission ( COM ) applications and Post-COM processing for cases that remain can... Cardto the address on record States, the table below explains your specific medical.. To adjust status security screening, and vice versa renewal of your employment Document. Pay fees other than through your myUSCIS account Resources on I-9 Central field and USA. Temporary location those circumstances completed Form I-765 webpage, their dates of birth on Part 4, 7.. Card Corrections for more information, see the CBP must give notice each time you move, even you! Abusive situation or forced marriage short break to calm down and recollect your thoughts vaccinations and TB testing listed your! Your application for TPS does not affect your application only at the afghan siv processing time 2022 Service and office Locator Card. When you receive your permanent residence phases: Chief of Mission afghan siv processing time 2022 )... Affect your application only at the government-run facility for future use the below! Distinct phases: Chief of Mission ( COM ) applications and Post-COM processing when receive! Application pending with USCIS, you can check yourCase status online important strides.!: Some Afghan parolees under Operation Allies Welcome ( OAW ) received parole for less than years! Find information about an asylum office, visit theUSCIS afghan siv processing time 2022 and office.... Total, and dependent spouses and children accounted for about 31,000 of original.
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