The Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) program allows Afghans who face threats or danger due to their work with the U.S. Government or its contractors in Afghanistan to resettle in the United States.
To be eligible, Afghans must have been employed in Afghanistan by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for at least one year since October 7, 2001.
SIV allows eligible individuals and their eligible family members to apply for permanent residence in the United States.
People who receive SIVs enter the U.S. with lawful permanent residence (also known as a green card).
Eligibility
People who served the United States and its contractors in these roles are eligible for the SIV program:
- Interpreters and Translators
- U.S. Government Direct-Hire Employees
- Contractors with U.S. Government Installation Badges
- Afghan third party contractors or subcontractors employed on behalf of U.S. government entities such as USAID
- Other U.S. government contractors
SIV applicants can included their spouses and unmarried children younger than age 21 in their application.
If an employee of the U.S. government performed at least 15 years of service or was killed in the line of duty, spouses or children may be granted SIVs.
Who are you?
Family Members

Important Notes
- While your SIV application is pending, you may apply for humanitarian parole or be eligible for other alternative options.
- If you have already been scheduled for an interview or were interviewed as a refugee but are eligible for the SIV, you can file both applications simultaneously.
- The refugee and SIV programs differ in process and eligibility, but both processes take several months to complete.
- Registration and application for either program is not a guarantee of eventual admission to the U.S.