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The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was created to provide a pathway to safety for Afghan nationals who worked with the U.S. government or military—often as interpreters, contractors, or support staff—putting their lives at risk to assist American missions.

Even years after the U.S. withdrawal, thousands of qualified SIV applicants remain in Afghanistan, living in hiding under daily threat. Many were approved or in process for an SIV  during the fall of Kabul in 2021 but were left behind when evacuations stopped. In order to receive an SIV they must interview at a US embassy, of which there are none in Afghanistan. They must travel to a third country for their interview. They cannot leave safely without help.

There is no active U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Every SIV applicant must travel to a U.S. Embassy in a third country (such as Pakistan, Qatar, or Albania) to complete the interview and visa process. This travel is extremely expensive, dangerous, and often logistically impossible without assistance.

Costs include:

• Visas
• Flights to a third country
• Temporary lodging and food
• Immigration medical exams and visa fees

The average cost per case ranges from $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the route and family size.

Yes. SIV applicants undergo rigorous multi-agency U.S. background checks that include security screening, biometric data, and documentation proving their work with the U.S. government. Most applicants have already been pre-screened and are simply waiting for final interviews.

Evacuating Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients is a matter of life and death. Many of these individuals and their families are still in hiding or on the run from the Taliban, who continue to target those who worked with the U.S. military and government. Every day they remain in Afghanistan, they face the threat of violence, imprisonment, or worse.

Adding to this crisis, many SIV holders have been separated from their families, creating devastating emotional and psychological stress for both parents and children. Reuniting these families is not just a humanitarian imperative—it’s a moral obligation.

Time is also running out: the SIV program, which provides a legal pathway to safety for these allies, is limited in number and is currently set to expire in December 2025. If action isn't taken swiftly, many deserving individuals could be left behind with no way out. There might not be enough visas or a program extension for those applying, which makes it even more urgent for those hoping to reunify with family to get out now.