Afghan families in the U.S. continue to worry about their loved ones abroad given the lack of clarity in pathways for them to reunite. Some organizations are maintaining evacuation lists for SIV-approved Afghans and family members and other groups. Contact your resettlement agency for assistance with evacuation lists.
You can also look at these additional resources to support Afghans with relocating compiled by Women for Afghan Women.
To be eligible for an SIV, you must have been employed by the U.S. government, a U.S. contractor, or ISAF in Afghanistan for at least one year. This is a lengthy process that requires the support of a prior U.S. employer.P1 and P2 are options for Afghans who do not qualify for SIV to seek U.S. resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Process. You must be referred by the U.S. government, or a U.S.-affiliated company that employed the Afghan citizen in Afghanistan. However, this process is likely to take years given the priority of SIVs in Afghanistan.
Humanitarian Parole is difficult to obtain as it requires access to a U.S. embassy. Starting on Oct. 1, 2022 the U.S. is no longer allowing Afghans to enter the country under the humanitarian parole authority absent a “very small number of cases” with unique circumstances.
For information about parole for Afghan nationals, see USCIS’ Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole page in English, Pashto or Dari.
For questions related to pending humanitarian parole requests, please email HumanitarianParole@uscis.dhs.gov.
Refugees and asylees can apply for both the P-3 Family Reunification and Following-to-Join Family Reunification through Form I-730 if eligible.
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) provides Priority 3 (P-3) Family Reunification access to Afghans who were granted asylum in the U.S. Parents, spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21 of the U.S.-based asylee or refugee can participate. You must contact a resettlement agency in your area to file an Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) petition.
If you were granted asylum in the United States in the last two years, you can petition for your spouse and children to receive derivative refugee or asylee status by filing Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition on their behalf. This petition has a two-year filing deadline, but petitions may be accepted after two years for humanitarian reasons.