On November 22, 2022, USCIS announced that it is extending and expanding previously announced filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for certain Afghan nationals. These actions will help Afghan nationals resettle, and in many cases reunite with family, in the United States by enabling USCIS to process their requests for work authorization, long-term status, status for immediate relatives, and associated services more quickly. USCIS encourages one to use the webpages below to learn more about the eligibility details for each type of filing one may wish to pursue.

Certain Afghan nationals are eligible for the following fee exemptions and expedited processing, through September 30, 2023:

Fee Exemptions

• An initial or replacement Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for Afghan nationals who are applying for work authorization on the basis of parole (eligibility category (c)(11));
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to adjust status on the basis of Afghan special immigrant classification, and any associatedForm I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility;
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed with USCIS in the United States on behalf of any Afghan national (beneficiary) with a visa immediately available;
• Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, for an Afghan holding a Special Immigrant Visa;
• Form I-601 for any Afghan national with an approved Form I-130 with a visa immediately available; and
• USCIS Immigrant Fee(Form I-551) for Afghan nationals.

Expedited Processing

• An initial and replacement Form I-765for those applying for employment authorization on the basis of parole (eligibility category (c)(11));
• Form I-485for Afghan nationals seeking to adjust status on the basis of Afghan special immigrant classification, and any associated Form I-601;
• Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, filed by certain Afghan parolees as described in Section 2502(a) of the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act;
• Form I-130, filed with USCIS in the United States on behalf of an Afghan national (beneficiary) with a visa immediately available, and any associated Form I-601; and
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, filed with USCIS on behalf of an Afghan national (beneficiary) with a visa immediately available.

The Information for Afghan Nationals page has additional information for Afghans.

We regularly update our blog section to acquaint the community with to latest changes in Immigration policies. Please note the information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be nor should it be construed as legal advice. We can promptly and efficiently represent clients located anywhere in the US or abroad on US Immigration Policies. If you seek further clarification, don't hesitate to contact SanSha Law Office at [email protected] or call us at 469-777-6161.