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SQ — Afghan Special Immigrant

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

3 months – 2 years

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

Free

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote work OK

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

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

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Cost Breakdown

COM application fee$0 USD

Immigrant visa application processing fee (DS-260)$0 USD

Medical examination (self-relocated applicants only)—

Processing Time

COM review	3 months
Full pipeline (COM + NVC + interview)	6 months – 2 years

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Annual Cap & Quota

Cumulative cap of ~50,500 principal applicant visas since 2014; approximately 5,900 numbers remaining as of early 2026

Eligible Nationalities (1)

Afghanistan

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Afghan 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 qualifying for inadmissibility waiver

Must be outside Afghanistan for interview at a US embassy or consulate

KEY CRITERIA

Experience

1+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

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

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Grants immediate Lawful Permanent Resident status upon admission
Automatic work authorization as LPR — no separate filing required
Derivative beneficiaries (spouse and unmarried children under 21) may accompany or follow to join
No application or visa processing fee
Path to US citizenship after 5 years of LPR status (3 years if married to a US citizen)

Worth Knowing

Visa issuance and US entry suspended under Presidential Proclamation 10998 (effective January 1, 2026) for Afghan nationals
COM application deadline was December 31, 2025 — no new applications are accepted
Supporting documentation deadline for pipeline applicants: June 5, 2026
Approximately 5,900 visa numbers remain against ~33,883 approved principal applicants in the pipeline — severe shortage
February 2026 federal court order mandates processing of pipeline cases but does not compel visa issuance or entry
National Interest Exceptions (granted by Secretary of State or DHS) are available but rare
H.R. 6443, which would cancel all unadjudicated applications, is pending in Congress as of 2026
Self-relocated applicants are responsible for medical examination costs

Application Process

Submit COM application by email to AfghanSIVApplication@state.gov (deadline was December 31, 2025)

Submit all supporting documentation for the COM application by June 5, 2026

Receive COM approval — denials may be appealed within 120 days

Complete DS-260 online immigrant visa application via CEAC portal

Submit supporting documents to NVCSIV@state.gov

Schedule and attend in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate

Complete medical examination (required for self-relocated applicants after interview scheduling)

Await visa issuance — currently restricted under Proclamation 10998

Application Forms

DS-157 Petition for Special Immigrant Classification for Afghan SIV Applicant	Fill online
DS-260 Online Immigrant Visa Application	Fill online

Verified Claims (29)

Last verified May 30, 2026

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

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Forms · 1 · description

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Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Afghan 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 qualifying for inadmissibility waiver

Must be outside Afghanistan for interview at a US embassy or consulate

KEY CRITERIA

Experience

1+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

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

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Grants immediate Lawful Permanent Resident status upon admission
Automatic work authorization as LPR — no separate filing required
Derivative beneficiaries (spouse and unmarried children under 21) may accompany or follow to join
No application or visa processing fee
Path to US citizenship after 5 years of LPR status (3 years if married to a US citizen)

Worth Knowing

Visa issuance and US entry suspended under Presidential Proclamation 10998 (effective January 1, 2026) for Afghan nationals
COM application deadline was December 31, 2025 — no new applications are accepted
Supporting documentation deadline for pipeline applicants: June 5, 2026
Approximately 5,900 visa numbers remain against ~33,883 approved principal applicants in the pipeline — severe shortage
February 2026 federal court order mandates processing of pipeline cases but does not compel visa issuance or entry
National Interest Exceptions (granted by Secretary of State or DHS) are available but rare
H.R. 6443, which would cancel all unadjudicated applications, is pending in Congress as of 2026
Self-relocated applicants are responsible for medical examination costs

Application Process