Resources

In anticipation of the new presidential administration in early 2025, we are providing the following advisories:

1. First, if you are an Afghan parolee who relies entirely on your humanitarian parole to live and work legally in the United States, we strongly encourage you to consider applying for TPS or asylum as well.  If the new President does eliminate parole status, it will be important for you to have another status such as TPS or asylum, with which you can continue to work and live legally in the United States.

2.  Second, we strongly advise you to NOT be outside of the United States on January 20th.  January 20th is the day that the new President will take power, and if he declares a travel ban on certain immigrants, it is possible that you would not be able to return to the United States, even if you have a travel permit or even a green card.  It will be safer to be in the United States on January 20th.  If we find that the new President does NOT impose a travel ban, you can always travel later in the year. 

If you need help applying for TPS or asylum, you should contact an immigration attorney or accredited representative as soon as possible to help you file one or both of these applications. 

ALL Iowa partner Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice has video recorded this information in Dari and Pashto, provided below. ALL Iowa partner Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Dubuque has videorecorded Know Your Rights information in Dari and Pashto explaining the legal rights of non-US citizens when interacting with immigration officials or the police. Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Dubuque also provides links to guide safety planning, including documents to assist with obtaining power of attorney and durable power of attorney for minor children, as well as a Know Your Rights printable handout.

There may be several immigration options available to Afghan nationals to obtain temporary or permanent legal immigration status in the United States, which you can read more about below.

General information about immigration options for Afghan nationals is also available from:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

• U.S. Department of State

• International Refugee Assistance Project 

• Project ANAR

• Refugee Translation Project

What is a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for Afghans?

SIV is a special immigration program that provides permanent immigration status to eligible Afghans who were employed by or on behalf of the US government, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), or a successor mission in Afghanistan, between October 7, 2001 and December 31, 2023. This employment must have been for a minimum of one year, and eligible Afghans must have: 1) provided faithful and valuable service to the US government, ISAF, or successor mission as documented in a positive letter of recommendation, and; 2) experienced or are experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of that employment.

Additional information about SIV for Afghan nationals is available from:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

• United States Department of State

• International Refugee Assistance Project 

• PARS Equality Center

What is Asylum?

Asylum is a type of protected immigration status for people in the United States who fear to return to their country of origin.  If you are approved for asylum, you will be protected from deportation and you will be given permission to live and work in the United States.  To be approved for asylum, you must show that you meet the following criteria:

• You have been persecuted in the past or have a well-founded fear of persecution in your country of origin.

• The persecution is because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

• You fear persecution by the government of your country of origin, or the government of your country of origin won't protect you from this harm.

• You would not be safe if you moved to a different part of your country of origin.  

It is generally required to apply for asylum within 1 year of your arrival in the United States, though there are some exceptions.  There is no fee to apply for asylum.  

Additional information about asylum for Afghan nationals is available from:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

  • Including several videos for Afghan Nationals Applying for Asylum

• PARS Equality Center

Find answers to some frequently asked questions about asylum here. 

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans?

TPS is a type of legal status allowing Afghans to remain temporary in the United States, and to have employment authorization even beyond the expiration of their current parole status.  TPS will be especially important for Afghans whose applications for some kind of permanent status take longer than one year to process, and for Afghans who may not qualify for any of the current forms of immigration permanent status.  TPS is currently available only to Afghans who arrived in the U.S. before March 15, 2022.  

You can learn more about TPS on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service's website, and on this USCIS webpage for Afghan Nationals.

Find answers to some frequently asked questions about TPS here. 

There are several different immigration options for Afghans to reunite with their family.  Your options are based on your immigration status and how you entered the United States.

Additional information about family reunification is available from:

• U.S. Department of State

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Afghanistan

• American Immigration Lawyers Association - Find Resources for Assisting Afghan Clients

• U.S. Department of State - Afghanistan Inquiries

• The Advocates for Human Rights 

• International Refugee Assistance Project -

• PARS Equality Center

• Refugee Processing Center Refugee Council USA

• CLINIC Legal 

  • Webinar Series: Fundamentals of Asylum Law

• American Immigration Lawyers Association 

  • Find Resources for Assisting Afghan Clients

• Immigration Justice Campaign

  • Afghan Asylum

• VECINA

  • Representing Afghan Nationals in Affirmative Asylum Proceedings

  • Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans

  • Requesting Employment Authorization for Asylum Seekers

• International Refugee Assistance Project 

• Afghans For A Better Tomorrow - A group of dedicated progressive organizers in the Afghan diaspora devoted to a vision for a peaceful Afghanistan.

• Afghans in Therapy - A project to destigmatize and make accessible mental health and therapy in the Afghan community.

• Afghan American Artists and Writers Association - A collective that organizes community exhibitions, creative workshops, and public commentaries in order to showcase pivotal diasporic works to a broad audience. 

• Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children & Families - An Office within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services with information regarding Afghan Assistance Resources.

  • "Resettlement Services Continue after 90 Days"

  • "TIPS: Responding to Human Trafficking Among Individuals from Afghanistan"

• USA Hello - A nonprofit organization that offers practical information and resources for newly arriving Afghans to the USA. Information is available in English, Dari, and Pashto on services and benefits, immigration, jobs, daily life, American culture, and more.

• Refugee Translation Project - The Refugee Translation Project provides free professional translation support to people seeking asylum and other immigration relief, translates information to help displaced persons access vital resources, and offers employment opportunities to asylees, so that refugees can transition to a life of safety and security.