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Special
Immigrants Visa

The U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program is a pathway for individuals who have served as translators or interpreters for the U.S. Armed Forces or worked under Chief of Mission (COM) authority in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Only a few individuals are granted this visa yearly, typically leading to U.S. citizenship. There are three main U.S. citizenship special cases covered under the SIV program:

  1. Special Immigrant Visa for Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters
  2. Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqis - Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
  3. Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans - Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
Iraqi professionals working with U.S. government

Special Immigrant Visa for Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters

Eligibility Requirements

Up to fifty (50) persons can be granted SIVs yearly under this category. To be eligible for a U.S. Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be a national of Iraq or Afghanistan;
  2. Have worked directly with the U.S. Armed Forces or under COM authority as a translator or interpreter for at least 12 months;
  3. Obtain a written recommendation from a General or Flag Officer within the supported U.S. Armed Forces unit or from the Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy.

Visit the U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs for more information about eligibility for this visa category.

Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqis - Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. Government

Eligibility Requirements

Up to five thousand (5,000) Iraqis can be granted SIVs yearly under this category. To qualify for the Special Immigrant Visa for Iraqis employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. You must be a national of Iraq;
  2. You must have been employed by, or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq, specifically between March 20, 2003, and September 30, 2013, for at least one year;
  3. You must have provided "faithful and valuable service" to the U.S. government. This service must be verified in a letter of recommendation from a supervisor;
  4. You must be experiencing an ongoing threat due to your employment with the U.S. government.

Visit the U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs for more information about eligibility for this visa category.

Iraqi professionals working with U.S. government

Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans - Employed by/on behalf of the U.S. Government

Eligibility Requirements

Since 2009, there have been fifty thousand, five hundred (50,500) SIVs awarded under this category. To qualify for an Afghan SIV, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. You must be a citizen or national of Afghanistan;
  2. You must have been employed in Afghanistan by, or on behalf of the U.S. government or the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) or Resolute Support (RS) mission;
  3. You must have worked for at least 12 months between October 7, 2001 and December 31, 2024;
  4. You must have provided "faithful and valuable service" to the U.S. government or ISAF/RS. This service must be supported by a positive letter of recommendation, which can be issued by:
    1. The applicant's direct supervisor, or
    2. A higher-ranking individual in the chain of command.
  5. You must apply for this program no later than December 31, 2025.
Afghan nationals working with U.S. forces

How to Apply for U.S. Special Immigrant Visa

The special immigrant visa application process involves the following steps.

Person filling out petition form

Step 1: Submit Petition

Begin your application by filing a petition with USCIS. You will need to submit the following documentation to USCIS:

  • Completed Form I-360 - Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
  • Proof of Iraqi or Afghan nationality (passport or birth certificate) with an English translation if applicable
  • Documentation verifying your role as a translator/interpreter with the U.S. Armed Forces or under COM authority
  • Record of a completed background check and screening
  • A recommendation letter from a qualifying official
  • Filing fee payment

U.S. Special Immigrant Cost:

The current filing fee for USCIS Form I-360 - Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, is $435. For the most accurate information, including potential updates, you can refer directly to the USCIS "Our Fees" page.

Visa processing

Step 2: National Visa Center (NVC) Processing

Once your petition is approved, USCIS will send your case to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing. The NVC will create a case for you and send a Welcome Letter with login details for the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). You will complete form DS-260 at this portal, pay fees, submit required documentation and upload supporting documents here.

Online visa application

Step 3: Complete Online Visa Application (DS-260)

You can access the DS-260 form once you have submitted and the confirmation page, as you will need it for your visa interview. Note that your application is only valid after attending the interview with a U.S. consular officer.

Civil documents collection

Step 4: Collect Civil Documents

Gather required civil documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, issued by the official authority in your country. Non-English documents must include certified translations.

Document scanning

Step 5: Scan and Save Documents

After collecting your documents, scan and save them. Each scan must meet the following criteria:

  • File type: .pdf (preferred), .jpg, jpeg
  • Quality: No blurred or faded text
  • Scanned documents must be clear and black text on a white background, readable, and not be password-protected for screen reading. Avoid using zipped or password-protected files.
Document submission

Step 6: Submit Documents

Once you have scanned all required documents for your U.S. Special Immigrant Visa application, attach each scan to an email addressed to NVCelectronic@state.gov. The subject line of this email should include your unique case number, as listed on your Welcome Letter, to ensure that your application is processed correctly.

After sending your email, you will receive:

  1. An automatic response confirming receipt of your documents
  2. Documentarily Complete: If all required immigrant visa application forms and supporting documents are in order, you will be notified that your case is "documentarily complete." The NVC will then coordinate with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to schedule your visa interview once a date becomes available.
Visa interview

Step 7: Attend an Interview

Once the NVC schedules your visa interview, you will receive an Appointment Letter via email with the date and time. It is essential to follow these steps before your interview to ensure proper U.S. immigration:

  1. Schedule and Complete a Medical Examination: Each applicant, including dependent family members must undergo a medical exam conducted by an embassy-approved doctor, known as the Panel Physician, in the country where the interview will occur. Following the exam, the Panel Physician will send the results directly to the embassy. You will receive these results in a sealed envelope. Do not open this envelope. Instead, please bring it to your visa interview and present it to the consular officer.
  2. Register for a Courier Service: The courier service will handle the return of your passport and visa documents after the interview. Follow any additional pre-interview instructions provided by the NVC to ensure a smooth process.
  3. Gather Documents Required for the Interview: Regardless of age, each applicant must bring specific documents to the interview, including photographs and original or certified copies of all civil documents submitted to the NVC.

Documentation Needed for the Interview

You must bring all required original or certified documents to your visa interview. Failure to provide these may result in delays or denial of your visa. The following items are essential:

  1. Appointment Letter: Bring the original interview appointment letter received from the NVC.
  2. Passport: Ensure each applicant has an unexpired passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended entry date to the United States.
  3. Photographs: Provide two identical color photographs for each applicant, adhering to the U.S. Department of State's Photograph Requirements.
  4. DS-260 Confirmation Page: The confirmation page shows you completed the DS-260 online visa application form.
  5. Supporting Documents: Bring original or certified copies of all civil documents uploaded in CEAC. Originals will be returned after the interview.
  6. English Translations: Any documents requiring English translations not previously submitted to the NVC must be presented on the interview day.
  7. Visa Fees: If the NVC has already collected your visa fees, you need not pay again.
Iraqi professionals working with U.S. government

Receiving a Decision

After your visa interview, the consular officer will review your eligibility and approve or deny your visa. Here is what to expect in each case:

If Your Visa is Approved

If your visa is approved, it will be placed in your passport. Carefully review the visa for accuracy, including details such as your name and date of birth. Any mistakes should be reported to the embassy or consulate immediately for correction.

Before traveling to the U.S., you must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee. This fee covers processing your immigrant visa packet and producing your Green Card once you arrive in the United States. You can make payment online through the USCIS website. However, this fee is waived for children entering the United States under the Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant programs.

If Your Visa is Denied

If your visa is denied, the consular officer will provide a reason for the decision. Common grounds for ineligibility may include prior immigration violations or a criminal history. While not all applicants are eligible for a waiver of ineligibility, some may qualify. If you are eligible, the consular officer will guide you in applying for a waiver.

Administrative Processing

In some cases, your visa application may be placed in administrative processing. This additional step requires further background checks or verifications and may take up to 180 days to complete.

Administrative Processing means a temporary refusal, as your visa may still be approved once processing is complete, provided you meet all necessary special immigrant visa requirements.

Visit the USCIS website for more information on Special Immigrant Visas.

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