USCIS Extends Fee Exemptions and Accelerated Processing for Afghan Nationals

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the extension and expansion of previously declared filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for specific Afghan nationals. These measures aim to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan nationals and, in many instances, enable family reunification in the United States by expediting the processing of their requests for employment authorization, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), long-term status, immediate relatives' status, and related services. Explore the following webpages for detailed eligibility information on the various filing types available.

Until September 30, 2024, certain Afghan nationals qualify for the following fee exemptions and expedited processing:

Fee Exemptions:

1. Re-parole applications and requests to renew employment authorization and/or EADs filed on Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
2. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for an initial or replacement EAD for Afghan nationals applying based on being paroled into the United States under INA 212(d)(5) (eligibility category (c)(11)).
3. Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, filed by Afghan nationals seeking adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident based on Afghan special immigrant classification.
4. Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed with USCIS from within the United States on behalf of any Afghan national with an immigrant visa immediately available.
5. Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, filed by any Afghan national with an associated Form I-485.
6. Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, for an Afghan special immigrant visa holder.
7. USCIS Immigrant Fee for Afghan nationals.

Expedited Processing:

1. Re-parole applications and requests to renew employment authorization and/or EADs filed on Form I-131.
2. Form I-765 for those applying for initial or replacement EADs based on parole (eligibility category (c)(11)).
3. Form I-485 for Afghan nationals seeking to adjust status based on Afghan special immigrant classification, along with any associated Form I-601.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, filed with USCIS on behalf of an Afghan national (beneficiary) with a visa immediately available.