United States•North America3 months
Free
Indefinite
No
Not Required
Allowed
Available
Allowed
Afghan nationals who worked as translators/interpreters or were employed by the U.S. government or ISAF in Afghanistan.
747 chars — 3 paragraphs (276/310/157) per skill hard caps
COM application fee | 0 USD |
Immigrant visa application processing fee (DS-260) | 0 USD |
Medical examination (self-relocated applicants only) | — |
| COM review | 3 months – 3 months |
| Full pipeline (COM + NVC + interview) | 6 months – 2 years |
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
Cumulative cap of ~50,500 principal applicant visas since 2014; approximately 5,900 numbers remaining as of early 2026
AfghanistanAfghan citizen or national
Worked for the US government or ISAF/Resolute Support for at least 12 months between October 7, 2001 and December 31, 2024
Faithful and valuable service demonstrated via supervisor recommendation letter
COM application submitted by December 31, 2025, with all supporting documentation submitted by June 5, 2026
Admissible to the US for LPR status, or eligible for inadmissibility waiver
Must be outside Afghanistan for interview at a US embassy or consulate
Education
none or higher
Experience
1+ years
DS-157 (Petition for Special Immigrant Classification)
HR employment letter from US government employer
Letter of recommendation from supervisor or chain of command
Evidence of Afghan nationality
Valid passport (biographical page)
Birth certificate or tazkera with certified English translation
Marriage/divorce certificates (if applicable)
Police certificates (if lived outside Afghanistan 12+ months since age 16)
Refugee Benefits Election Form
DS-0234 Special Immigrant Visa Biodata Form
Two recent passport-style photos
Certified English translations for all non-English documents
| DS-157 Petition for Special Immigrant Classification for Afghan SIV Applicant | Fill online |
| DS-260 Online Immigrant Visa Application | Fill online |
| Application Steps | Submit COM application by email to AfghanSIVApplication@state.gov (deadline was December 31, 2025); … | travel.state.gov |
| Dependent Visa | Spouse and children | travel.state.gov |
| Fee Breakdown | COM application fee: 0 USD; Immigrant visa application processing fee (DS-260): 0 USD; {"label":"Med… | travel.state.gov |
| Fees | No fee (application processing fee waived; COM application free) | travel.state.gov |
| Forms | DS-157 (Petition for Special Immigrant Classification — COM stage); DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Ap… | travel.state.gov |
| Forms · 0 · description | — | |
| Forms · 0 · url | — | |
| Forms · 1 · description | — |
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