429:, signed into law on June 15, 2007, amended section 1059 by expanding the total number of beneficiaries to 500 a year for FY 2007 and FY 2008 only. In FY 2009, the number of visas available for this category reverted to 50 annually. In addition to these Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants, also see the USCIS Fact Sheet on Afghan and Iraqi Translators.
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531:
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ongoing serious threat as a consequence of employment by the U.S. government; not more than one written appeal of a COM denial, within 120 days of receiving the denial letter; and representation during the application process, including at relevant interviews and examinations, by an attorney or other accredited representative.
404:
This law extended the period of eligibility of Afghan SIV holders for resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits to up to eight (8) months from their date of admission or date of adjustment if applying domestically. For Afghan SIV holders already in the U.S. to be eligible for
320:
This law, signed on
January 17, 2014, extended the Afghan SIV Program. It authorizes the issuance of 3,000 visas to principal applicants in fiscal year (FY) 2014 and allows that any unissued visas from FY 2014 be allocated to FY 2015. It also establishes that the one-year employment period must have
362:
This law allowed up to 1,500 Afghan nationals who provided faithful and valuable service to the U.S. government, while employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in
Afghanistan after October 7, 2001, for not less than one year, and who have experienced or are experiencing an ongoing serious
341:
This law included provisions for: consideration of a credible sworn statement depicting dangerous country conditions, together with official evidence of such country conditions from the U.S government, as a factor in a determination of whether an applicant has experienced or is experiencing an
383:
This law initially made Afghan and Iraqi SIV holders eligible for the same resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits as refugees admitted under the U.S. Refugee
Admissions Program for up to six (6) months from their date of admission or date of adjustment if applying
117:
A recommendation letter from an
American citizen who supervised the applicant directly, or if that person cannot be found, a recommendation letter from a non-US citizen counter signed by a US citizen who was overseeing the contract. There is no official template, but applicants may use an
299:
This law, signed on August 8, 2014, extended the Afghan SIV Program. It authorizes the issuance of 1,000 visas to principal applicants by
December 31, 2014. It also extended the date by which applicants must apply for Chief of Mission approval from September 30, 2014 to December 31,
405:
uninterrupted benefits for an additional two months beyond the original six months (6) allowed under previous law, you must have been admitted to the U.S. on or after
September 10, 2008, or if applying domestically, have a date of adjustment of September 10, 2008 or later.
85:
amended this to allow inclusion of grants and cooperative "if the
Secretary of State determines, based on a recommendation from the Federal agency or organization authorizing such funding, that such alien contributed to the United States mission in
247:
must be otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa and otherwise admissible to the United States for permanent residence, except in determining such admissibility, the grounds for inadmissibility specified in section 212(a)(4) of the
228:
must have experienced or be experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of the employment by the United States
Government, as determined through a risk assessment conducted by the Chief of Mission (COM) or the designee of the
78:
By, or on behalf of, the U.S. government. State Dept has included those directly hired by the U.S. government, contractors, and subcontractors. It has previously not included those who worked under grants and cooperative agreements. The
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In addition to the program's enacting
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 legislation, the United States Congress has enacted various other statutes and amendments into public law with relevance to the S.I.V. program.
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535:
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467:
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As amended, section 1059 provides for SIV status for eligible Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters who have worked directly with United States Armed Forces or under Chief of
Mission (COM) authority.
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A signed threat statement (in English) that explains the threats that the applicant has faced as a result of qualifying employment. There is no official template, but applicants may use an
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must have provided faithful and valuable service to the United States Government, which is documented in a letter of recommendation from the employee’s supervisor that is approved by the
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commenced on or after October 7, 2001 and been completed on or before December 31, 2014 and that applicants must apply for Chief of Mission approval no later than September 30, 2014.
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threat as a consequence of that employment, to receive special immigrant visas (SIVs) annually through FY 2013, with the allocation of any unused visas from FY 2013 to FY 2014.
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2008 through 2012. This provision creates a new category of Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for Iraqi nationals who have provided faithful and valuable service to the
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Foreign nationals must self-petition for this special immigrant visa classification only if they can establish that they meet the following requirements:
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A HR letter confirming that the employment of applicant for or on behalf of the US Government. There is no official template, but applicants may use an
35:
701:
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must have been employed by, or on behalf of the United States Government in Iraq, on or after March 20, 2003, for a period of not less than one year;
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under section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009. A total of 34,500 visas have been allocated since December 19, 2014.
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553:
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or a successor mission in a capacity that required serving with US military personnel stationed at ISAF (or a successor mission)
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A biodata sheet containing their name, gender, marital status, etc. There is no official template, but applicants may use an
143:
179:", as amended by section 1 of Public Law 110-244, enacted on January 3, 2008, authorizes 5,000 Special Immigrant Visas (
163:
540:
568:"Text - H.R.3985 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021"
203:, and who have experienced or are experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of that employment.
132:
The applicant's national ID (Tazkera) copy (electronic version, or paper version with an English translation).
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H.R. 4594 Section 602(b) of Division F, Title IV, of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law 111-8
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421:, up to 50 Iraqi and Afghan translators working for the U.S. military have been eligible for SIVs each
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Provided faithful and valuable service to the US government as documented by a recommendation letter
30:
199:, while employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq, for not less than one year after
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681:
472:
40:
507:"Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans - Who Were Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. Government"
233:
222:
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If available, copies of the contract between the applicant's employer and the US Government.
136:
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domestically. The period of eligibility was later extended under subsequent legislation.
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473:"Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqis – Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government"
101:
Must be experiencing a serious and ongoing threat as a consequence of such employment.
695:
652:"Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans - Who Worked for/on behalf of U.S. Government"
619:"Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans - Who Worked for/on behalf of U.S. Government"
176:
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SIV Program for Iraqi Nationals Who Worked for or on Behalf of the U.S. Government
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Section 1244 of this legislation, entitled "Special Immigrant Status for Certain
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331:
H.R. 3304 Section 1219 of Division A, Title XII, Subtitle B of Public Law 113-66
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182:
111:
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Employed for at least one year between October 7, 2001, and December 31, 2023
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National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, Public Law 109-163
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H.R. 3547 Section 7034(o) of Division K, Title VII of Public Law 113-76
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52:
For Afghan nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government
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For Iraqi Nationals Who Worked for or On Behalf of the U.S. Government
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If available, copies of any badges that were issued to the applicant.
252:(8 U.S.C. 1182 (a)(4)), relating to "public charge" shall not apply.
113:, put their name and date of birth in the subject line, and attach:
36:
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181
82:
Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021
541:"Status of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program Jan 2019"
329:
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014
56:
The Department of State has authority to issue SIVs to
16:Programs for receiving visas to the United States
236:and appropriate screening as determined by the
452:, Embassy of the United States, Baghdad, Iraq
287:Emergency Afghan Allies Extension Act of 2014
8:
592:"HOW TO APPLY FOR CHIEF OF MISSION APPROVAL"
392:The Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2008
308:The Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2014
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413:For Iraqi National Translators/Interpreters
289:H.R. 5195 (Section 1 of Public Law 113-160)
191:for Iraqi employees and/or contractors for
350:The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009
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33:. The program is administered under the
29:) programs are programs for receiving a
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371:The Omnibus Appropriations Act for 2009
7:
600:U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets
549:U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets
512:U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets
478:U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets
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605:United States Department of State
554:United States Department of State
517:United States Department of State
483:United States Department of State
702:Visa policy of the United States
585: This article incorporates
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534: This article incorporates
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500: This article incorporates
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466: This article incorporates
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425:(FY). Public Law 110-36, which
250:Immigration and Nationality Act
72:Being a national of Afghanistan
238:Secretary of Homeland Security
135:If available, the applicant's
1:
450:Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)
394:H.R. 2764 Public Law 110-161
146:that meets the requirements.
129:that meets the requirements.
122:that meets the requirements.
215:must be a national of Iraq;
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417:Under section 1059 of the
373:H.R. 1105 Public Law 111-8
155:The completed and signed
232:must be able to clear a
687:special-immigrants.com
587:public domain material
536:public domain material
502:public domain material
468:public domain material
110:Applicants must email
23:Special Immigrant Visa
43:on January 28, 2008.
662:on January 19, 2014.
629:on January 19, 2014.
427:President Bush, Jr.
164:unofficial template
144:unofficial template
127:unofficial template
120:unofficial template
106:Application process
677:iraq.usembassy.gov
68:Requirements are:
31:United States visa
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570:. July 22, 2021.
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223:Chief of Mission
58:Afghan nationals
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41:signed into law
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671:External links
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193:fiscal years
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86:Afghanistan"
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47:SIV programs
39:, which was
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423:fiscal year
207:Eligibility
157:DS-157 form
64:Eligibility
437:References
189:per annum
696:Category
279:Summary
244:); and,
183:Kennedy
225:(COM);
177:Iraqis
595:(PDF)
589:from
544:(PDF)
538:from
504:from
470:from
300:2014.
139:copy.
274:Date
229:COM;
181:The
91:ISAF
21:The
269:Law
242:DHS
89:By
27:SIV
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