SIV Special Immigrant Visa for Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for the United States
The special immigrant visa programmes give permanent residence to Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government, and to their families, on the theory that the work put them in danger. There are several distinct authorities with separate number pools and separate deadlines. As of September 2026 the Afghan programme is closed to new applicants, is barely issuing visas, and is running only because a federal court ordered the government to keep adjudicating.
- Срок
- permanent
- Продление
- Not applicable. Residence is unconditional and renewed on Form I-90 every ten years. The programme authorisations themselves are what expire, not the individual's status.
- Работа
- Yes, without restriction from admission. Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants admitted on an SIV are eligible for the same resettlement benefits as refugees for a statutory period, though as of 2026 the relocation and resettlement infrastructure has been dismantled.
- Члены семьи
- The principal's spouse and unmarried children under 21 are derivatives and are counted separately in the programme statistics. As of 31 March 2026 there were 63,374 derivatives awaiting interview scheduling in the Afghan programme alongside 15,522 principals.
- Путь к грин-карте
- The SIV is the green card - the holder is admitted as a lawful permanent resident. Applicants already in the United States may instead adjust status, and the I-485 filing fee is waived for Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants. Naturalisation follows five years after admission.
- Срок рассмотрения
- Grim, and getting worse. As of 31 March 2026 the Afghan programme reported total U.S. government processing time of 931 calendar days, with Chief of Mission adjudication alone averaging 506 days. 66,126 principals were pending Chief of Mission review and a further 15,522 principals plus 63,374 derivatives were waiting for an interview to be scheduled. Interview volume collapsed through early 2026: 1,233 in January, 456 in February, 160 in March.
- Годовая квота и очереди
- The Afghan programme under the Afghan Allies Protection Act has been authorised 50,500 principal numbers since 19 December 2014, the last tranche of 12,000 added by the FY2024 appropriations act on 23 March 2024. As of 31 March 2026, 44,522 had been used and 5,978 remained, and no further tranche has been added. The Iraqi SQ programme under section 1244 has 2,288 used and 212 remaining. The Iraqi SI translator programme under section 1059 runs at 50 a year and remains active. These pools are separate from the EB-4 preference limit, and the September 2026 Visa Bulletin lists no final action date for SQ or SI. The bulletin's note H records that the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act may affect certain current and former U.S. government employees abroad applying under INA 101(a)(27)(D), and states expressly that it does not affect Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI visas.
Кто подходит
- Afghan SQ - Afghan nationals who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan, or by the International Security Assistance Force, under the Afghan Allies Protection Act, plus their spouses and unmarried children under 21
- Afghan and Iraqi SI - translators and interpreters who worked directly with the U.S. armed forces or under Chief of Mission authority, under section 1059 of the FY2006 National Defense Authorization Act
- Iraqi SQ - Iraqi nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq, under section 1244 of the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act. This programme has been closed to new applicants since 30 September 2014
- Separately, certain current and former employees of the U.S. government abroad, and surviving spouses and children of deceased employees, under INA 101(a)(27)(D) - a different authority from the Afghan and Iraqi programmes
Требования
- Qualifying employment for or on behalf of the U.S. government, for the period the relevant statute requires
- A favourable written recommendation or letter of recommendation from a supervisor
- Chief of Mission approval, which is the first and slowest gate
- Evidence of an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of the employment, where the statute requires it
- Passing background and security checks
- Admissibility under INA 212(a) or an available waiver
- A medical examination, and an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate that will accept the case
Как подать
- 1
Afghan programme: applications for Chief of Mission approval closed on 31 December 2025, and the window for supplying supporting documentation on already-pending Chief of Mission applications closed on 5 June 2026. New applications are no longer accepted. What survives is an appeal, which must be filed within 120 days of a denial.
- 2
Iraqi SQ: closed to new applicants since 30 September 2014. Iraqi SI under section 1059 remains active at 50 visas a year.
- 3
For a pending case: Chief of Mission approval comes first, then Form I-360, then the National Visa Center stage and interview scheduling.
- 4
Embassy Kabul has been closed since 31 August 2021, so the National Visa Center schedules Afghan cases at any immigrant visa post worldwide. The applicant chooses the post and bears the cost of getting there. Reporting that particular posts are designated hubs is unverified - the Department's own guidance is post-agnostic.
- 5
Complete the medical examination and attend the interview.
- 6
If already in the United States, file Form I-485 instead, with no filing fee.
Сборы и формы
| DS-260 immigrant visa application processing, other immigrant visa applications including special immigrant visa applicants | $205 per person; certain Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applicants pay no fee |
| Form I-360 for Afghan and Iraqi translators and U.S. government employees | $0 |
| Form I-485 adjustment of status for an Afghan or Iraqi special immigrant visa holder | $0 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $0 for Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa holders |
| Medical examination and vaccinations | set by the panel physician |
Что изменилось в 2025 и 2026 годах
- 26 January 2025 - U.S. government relocation flights for Afghan allies were paused, and relocation assistance has been suspended since. The CARE and Enduring Welcome programmes closed in mid-2025. Camp As Sayliyah, holding 1,039 Afghans, is scheduled to demobilise on 30 September 2026.
- 16 December 2025 - Presidential Proclamation 10998 (90 FR 59717), effective 1 January 2026, suspended entry for Afghan nationals and removed the Afghan special immigrant visa categorical exception that Proclamation 10949 had carried. The only surviving special immigrant exception is for INA 101(a)(27)(D) government employees, a different authority. The practical result is that a person can be found qualified and still not be admitted.
- 31 December 2025 - the Afghan Chief of Mission application deadline expired and was not extended. The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 119-60 of 18 December 2025, contained no extension.
- 6 February 2026 - in Afghan and Iraqi Allies v. Rubio, No. 18-cv-01388-TSC (D.D.C.), the court granted a motion to enforce, holding that officials have no authority, statutory or otherwise, to unilaterally suspend processes Congress has required them to expedite. The order compels adjudication, not issuance.
- 2 March 2026 - Embassy Baghdad went to ordered departure, which affects Iraqi cases interviewing there.
- 5 June 2026 - the window closed for supplying supporting documents on pending Afghan Chief of Mission applications.
- The Department of State's own reporting states that no Afghan special immigrant visas have been issued to applicants applying with Afghan passports so far in calendar year 2026. Issuance in the second quarter of FY2026 was three visas in total.
- 20 July 2026 - public charge final rule rescinding the 2022 regulations, effective 18 September 2026. Afghan and Iraqi interpreters are exempt from the public charge ground.
Где чаще всего ошибаются
- Assuming the programme is open. Afghan Chief of Mission applications closed on 31 December 2025 and there is no new-application route.
- Assuming Chief of Mission approval leads to a visa. Proclamation 10998 suspends entry for Afghan nationals and has removed the SIV exception, so approval and admission have come apart.
- Missing the 120-day appeal window after a Chief of Mission denial. It is the only remaining avenue.
- Waiting for a designated processing post. There is none; the applicant selects an immigrant visa post and funds their own travel to it, from a country most cannot legally leave.
- Confusing the Afghan and Iraqi programmes with INA 101(a)(27)(D). The FY2024 NDAA changes affect the latter and expressly do not affect SQ and SI applicants.
- Planning on resettlement support. Relocation flights have been paused since January 2025 and the CARE and Enduring Welcome programmes closed in mid-2025.
Также в категории Special immigrant
Не уверены, что это ваша виза? Опишите свою ситуацию. Опишите свою ситуацию, и поисковик назовёт варианты, которые стоит изучить. Это не юридическая консультация: право на визу зависит от фактов, которых страница не видит.