March 20, 2024
Yesterday, Congressional negotiators confirmed that a bipartisan funding bill will authorize 12,000 additional Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and extend the program through 2025. Without action, the number of authorized Special Immigrant Visas would run out before the end of the year, leaving hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies and their families with no pathway to safety.
Adam Bates, Supervisory Policy Counsel at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), responded:
- The authorization of additional visas extends a vital lifeline for Afghans who risked their lives on behalf of the U.S. mission in their country, but it’s not nearly enough to fulfill the promises the U.S. government made to Afghan allies.
- With an application backlog of more than 100,000, many of whom have waited for years, Congress must continue authorizing additional visas until every eligible applicant has one.
- Authorizing additional visas is only the first step, the Biden administration must commit to processing SIV applications with the urgency its commitment to Afghan allies demands.
An earlier version of this press release stated 2026 based on previous reports. The final text of the bill is available here.
Additional Resources
Learn more about IRAP’s advocacy on behalf of Afghan allies: HERE
Read about IRAP’s class action lawsuit challenging SIV delays: HERE
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
Source: refugeerights.org