General FAQs
By what date may I apply for Chief of Mission approval?
Who is the Chief of Mission (COM)?
What about my family? Can my family members immigrate with me?
What happens if the principal applicant dies after approval of the petition?
Document FAQs
What is required in the HR letter from my employer?
Who may submit the letter of recommendation?
Is there a template or format for the letter of recommendation?
Filing FAQs
When the numerical limit of visas is reached, will my petition be rejected and have to be refiled?
As an Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipient, am I eligible for any benefits?
Am I eligible for Resettlement Benefits?
How do I obtain a travel loan?
How will I know which agency is responsible for providing services to me in the U.S.?
What if I already have a file with UNHCR or a UN number? What should I do?
Are other benefits available to me, if I decline benefits from the Department of State?
Interview FAQs
If I am in Afghanistan, can my interview be conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul?
May my family accompany me or follow to join me in the United States?
May an attorney or other representative accompany me to the visa interview?
Is there a visa application fee?
Will I receive my visa on the same day as my interview?
At what point can I begin to make travel arrangements, sell property, and/or give up my job?
Project Rabbit
What challenge does Project Rabbit seek to address?
Can Project Rabbit assist all Afghan SIV applicants who were employed by DoD contractors?
Are other agencies/offices outside of DoD using Project Rabbit?
How do Afghan SIV applicants who were employed by DoD contractors take advantage of Project Rabbit?
Can Project Rabbit expedite other Steps in the Afghan SIV process or provide emergency assistance?
General FAQs
By what date may I apply for Chief of Mission approval?
You must submit an application including, at a minimum, name, date of birth, evidence of Afghan nationality, and an email address, to the National Visa Center (NVC) no later than December 31, 2024. However, only complete Chief of Mission (COM) applications containing all required documents and information will be accepted and forwarded to the COM designee for a decision. Applicants who meet the December 31, 2024 deadline may provide additional required information or documentation following that date.
Who is the Chief of Mission (COM)?
The Chief of Mission (COM) is the principal officer in charge of a diplomatic mission. [Pursuant to section 602(b)(2)(D)(i) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-8), COM approval functions required for an SIV may be performed by a designee of the appropriate Chief of Mission. This individual is called the Chief of Mission Designee or COM Designee.]
How do I transfer my SI or SQ Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) case from one embassy or consulate to another?
[You may only transfer your SIV case to a specific embassy or consulate once it has reached to interview stage, and the receiving embassy or consulate must have immigrant visa processing capabilities.] If you would like to transfer your SI or SQ SIV case to another embassy or consulate, please follow the steps below:
What about my family? Can my family members immigrate with me?
Your spouse, as well as unmarried children younger than age 21, may be granted SIVs, and may travel with you or may follow to join you after you have been admitted to the United States. Your family may not immigrate to the United States on their SIVs before you.
If I have already been scheduled for an interview or have been interviewed as a refugee, but am also eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa, which application should I pursue?
You determine which route you choose to pursue. Both processes take several months to complete. Registration and application for either program is not a guarantee of eventual admission to the United States. The refugee and SIV programs have different application processes and eligibility requirements, but the resettlement support and other benefits upon admission to the United States are the same for both. Please consult the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration website for more information about accessing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
If I have a record of disciplinary actions that have been taken against me, will I be automatically disqualified from receiving a visa under this program?
The Chief of Mission, or his/her designee, will assess the gravity of the reasons for the disciplinary action and whether your record as a whole, notwithstanding the disciplinary actions, is one of faithful and valuable service. It will generally be more difficult for you to demonstrate faithful and valuable service if the record reflects that disciplinary action has been taken against you.
What happens if the principal applicant dies after approval of the petition?
A spouse or child may, in some circumstances, still be eligible for a special immigrant visa if before his death the principal applicant submitted a COM application listing the spouse or child as accompanying him.
Document FAQs
The Emergency Supplemental Security Appropriations Act, 2021, enacted on July 30, 2021, decreased the required length of service to one year for Afghan applicants. What required length of service must I demonstrate?
All applicants for Chief of Mission (COM) approval must demonstrate one year of qualifying service. You are considered to have submitted an application for Chief of Mission (COM) approval if you sent an email to the National Visa Center indicating you are seeking COM approval and providing, at a minimum, your name, date of birth, evidence of Afghan nationality, and email address.
What is required in the HR letter from my employer?
Who may submit the letter of recommendation?
What if I am unable to locate or need assistance contacting my former U.S. military or Department of Defense supervisor?
What if it is not possible for me, as a contract employee employed on behalf of the U.S. government, to obtain this recommendation from a U.S. citizen supervisor?
Why do applicants who were employed by contractors or subcontractors on behalf of the U.S. government qualify for the SIV program, but applicants who were employed by contractors or subcontractors on behalf of ISAF, or a successor mission, do not?
I began working for ISAF and I now work for Resolute Support Mission (RSM) following the transition from ISAF to RSM. Will I qualify for the program?
Is there a template or format for the letter of recommendation?
Filing FAQs
When the numerical limit of visas is reached, will my petition be rejected and have to be refiled?
Resettlement Benefits FAQs
As an Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipient, am I eligible for any benefits?
The U.S. Department of State’s Reception and Placement (R&P) Program covers only your first 30-90 days in the United States.
Am I eligible for Resettlement Benefits?
Yes. Afghan special immigrants are eligible for the same resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits as refugees admitted under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, for a period of up to eight (8) months after being admitted to the United States.
If you wish to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s Reception and Placement (R&P) Program, which provides basic living assistance and limited support for up to the first 30 – 90 days after you arrive, you must apply for it before you arrive in the United States.
To apply, you must return scanned, signed copies of the Refugee Benefits Election Form (PDF - 364 KB) (signature required) and the Special Immigrant Visa Biodata Form (DS-0234) (PDF - 312 KB) included in the visa instruction packet for each family member immigrating with you to the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) at SIV_OPE@IOM.int as soon as possible but no later than 10 calendar days after the date your visa is issued. In addition, you must submit to RPCa scanned copy of your visa as soon as possible but no later than 30 calendar days prior to the visa’s expiration. You should not wait to submit the Refugee Benefits Election Form and the Special Immigrant Biodata Form (DS-0234) until visa issuance. All three items must be received by NVC prior to the deadlines indicated above. Failure to do so will result in the denial of any future request for Department of State-funded resettlement benefits. Additional information about Department of State-funded benefits can be found here.
If you decline Department of State-funded resettlement benefits, you may still be eligible to receive benefits funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS/ORR). Unlike Department of State-funded benefits, HHS/ORR-funded benefits can be claimed upon arrival in the United States. Additional information about HHS/ORR-funded benefits can be found here.
Per the instructions on the "Special Immigrant Visa Biodata Form (DS-0234)", it is to be completed by each beneficiary.
Does that mean each member of my family needs to complete a form or is one form sufficient for all family members included on the SIV case?
You must complete a separate form for each family member and return it to the National Visa Center (NVC) at NVCSIV@state.gov or the RPC at SIV@wrapsnet.org.
How do I obtain a travel loan?
What if I have to travel immediately and cannot arrange travel through the International Organization for Migration (IOM)?
How will I know which agency is responsible for providing services to me in the U.S.?
If I elect to receive refugee benefits, what help will I receive once I am in the U.S., and from whom?
The Department of State funds nine (9) Resettlement Agencies that participate in the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program under a cooperative agreement. These agencies have over 300 affiliated Reception and Placement offices across the United States. The resettlement agency is responsible for providing initial reception and placement services and assisting refugees and SIV beneficiaries to achieve economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. All refugees and SIV recipients who elected to participate in the program are provided with sponsorship and resettlement services appropriate to their personal circumstances by one of these organizations.
The U.S. government has established guidelines and provides funding for the resettlement services that you will receive upon arrival in the United States. Your resettlement agency will have a local office in or near the town where you will be resettled and will provide basic living assistance and support for up to the first 30-90 days after you arrive. The following are some of the things you should expect to do and/or receive during your first weeks in the United States.
The resettlement agency to which you are assigned will:
With assistance from the resettlement agency, if needed, you will need to:
The program would not succeed without volunteers in communities across the United States to assist with these activities. The following organizations provide initial resettlement services to refugees and SIV recipients. You may learn more about them from information provided in their websites.
Agency |
Agency Website |
Church World Service (CWS) |
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Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) |
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Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) |
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Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) |
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International Rescue Committee (IRC) |
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Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service (LIRS) |
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U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) |
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United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) |
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World Relief (WR) |
What if I already have a file with UNHCR or a UN number? What should I do?
If you meet the eligibility criteria of the SIV Program, you may apply for an SIV even if you are already registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and/or have an application pending with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
Are other benefits available to me, if I decline benefits from the Department of State?
If you decline to receive Department of State-funded resettlement benefits, you may still be eligible to receive benefits funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS/ORR). HHS/ORR-funded benefits are administered by states and are available through state benefit-granting agencies. After arrival in the United States, you may apply for these benefits in the state in which you reside. SIV recipients who elect to participate in the U.S. Department of State Reception and Placement (R&P) Program will be assisted in applying for HHS/ORR-funded benefits by the resettlement agency providing their R&P services. If you do not elect to participate in the Department of State’s R&P Program, you must apply for these benefits on your own by contacting the State Refugee Coordinator in the U.S. state in which you live.
Interview FAQs
If I am in Afghanistan, can my interview be conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul?
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, is currently closed for interviews. If you are in another country, the interview will be conducted at the closest U.S. embassy or consulate that adjudicates immigrant visa applications. You can find a list of our embassies and consulates at http://www.usembassy.gov.
May my family accompany me or follow to join me in the United States?
Yes, your spouse, as well as your unmarried children under age 21, may accompany you to the United States or follow to join you in the United States. Any family members age 14 or over must also attend the visa interview. You must provide proof of the marriage relationship to your spouse and the parental relationship to your children. Your family members may not enter the United States before you.
You must bring your spouse and children age 14 or over with you to your visa interview. This will facilitate having all eligible family members travel to the United States together. If it is not possible for your family members to travel to the interview with you, they will be required to schedule interviews at a later date and may follow to join you in the United States at a later time.
If you marry, or have a child, after your SIV petition is approved but before you travel to the United States, your new spouse or child may be added to the original petition. You should immediately contact the U.S. embassy or consulate where your interview took place, to notify consular officials that your new spouse or child should be added to the petition and an interview scheduled. If you marry a non-U.S. national after you have already traveled to the United States, you may file a family-based petition for your spouse.
May an attorney or other representative accompany me to the visa interview?
An attorney or other accredited representative may represent you during the SIV application process, including at relevant interviews and examinations. Such representation is not to be the expense of the U.S. government.
Will the U.S. government pay the cost of my travel to the interview or provide accommodations at the interview site?
No. When preparing for your visa interview, please plan for the possibility that you may need to stay for more than one day in the city where your interview takes place. You will not be able to complete your medical examination and interview on the same day. Some medical exams may require tests with delayed results.
Can the U.S. Embassy arrange for my entry visas and guarantee admission to another country for my visa interview?
No. While embassies and consulates work closely with their host-country counterparts to ensure coordination on important programs, such as this SIV program, the final decision about whom to admit into a country rests with the government of that country. If you have difficulty entering another country for your visa interview, you may request your case be transferred to another immigrant visa issuing post. To request a case transfer, contact the post where your case is currently scheduled for interview.
Is there a visa application fee?
No. Under this particular program, there is no immigrant visa application fee. You are required to pay all costs associated with the medical examination.
Will I receive my visa on the same day as my interview?
At the conclusion of your interview, the consular officer will let you know if there are any problems with your case that might prevent issuance of a visa, or if there is missing documentation that you need to provide. However, even if your SIV visa interview is successful, you will not receive your visa on the same day. All SIV cases require additional administrative processing after the interview.
At what point can I begin to make travel arrangements, sell property, and/or give up my job?
You should NOT sell property and/or give up employment until the U.S. embassy or consulate has issued an SIV visa and the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) has referred your case to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for travel arrangements.
What challenge does Project Rabbit seek to address?
Project Rabbit seeks to assist Afghan SIV applicants who are unable to locate or contact former employers in order to obtain an employment verification letter and/or a letter of recommendation. Project Rabbit interfaces with participating DoD contractors to assist in matching contractor provided human resources (HR) data and employment records with information included in SIV applications submitted to the Department of State.
Can Project Rabbit assist all Afghan SIV applicants who were employed by DoD contractors?
Project Rabbit only assists with employment verification for Afghan SIV applicants who worked for participating employers. If an applicant worked for a DoD contractor who is not currently participating in Project Rabbit, efforts will be made to contact the employer and invite them to participate. Employer participation in Project Rabbit is voluntary.
Are other agencies/offices outside of DoD using Project Rabbit?
Currently, only DoD is participating in Project Rabbit. SIV applicants who worked in support of other U.S. government entities should follow the instructions on this site.
How do Afghan SIV applicants who were employed by DoD contractors take advantage of Project Rabbit?
Step 1: Apply for a Special Immigrant Visa
Step 2: Wait to receive a NVCSIV case number from the State Department
Step 3: Project Rabbit pulls active SIV cases from the State Department on a recurring basis
Step 4: Project Rabbit forwards active SIV cases to participating employers for employment verification
Step 5: Project Rabbit forwards employment verification data to the State Department
Can Project Rabbit expedite other Steps in the Afghan SIV process or provide emergency assistance?
No, Project Rabbit can only assist with the employment verification portion of the Chief of Mission (COM) approval application (Step 1 of the Afghan SIV application process). Project Rabbit cannot aid with additional Steps in the process or provide emergency assistance.