Avast ye scurvy landlubbers! Them Afghan visa seekers be stuck in Davy Jones' locker, nay progress to be seen since the US cut anchor!
2023-09-03
Ye scurvy dogs seekin' a safe haven, those who've backed the U.S. gov'nment in Afghanistan be waitin' o'er five long years, while the bloody Taliban be huntin' 'em down like rats! Arrr, a dire situation, indeed.
In August 2021, a man named Sayyid, who worked as a field support representative for a U.S. company in Afghanistan, watched in fear as the Taliban took control of the country. He described feeling like a prisoner facing execution. Sayyid had supported the Afghan military by working on their radio network systems, putting himself in danger. He recalled an incident where the Taliban fired a rocket at his car, but miraculously, nobody was injured. This event heightened his fear and paranoia.Sayyid was eligible for the Afghan special immigrant visa (SIV) program, which grants permanent residence in the U.S. for those who have worked for the U.S. government. In April 2021, he created a union to help his colleagues apply for SIVs. However, he did not submit his own application until August 2021, when it became clear that the Afghan government could not repel the Taliban.
Sayyid is now among more than 152,000 SIV applicants who remain in Afghanistan, waiting for their applications to be processed. The SIV program has faced criticism for its shortcomings, particularly the difficulty of obtaining the necessary documentation for approval. The Department of Defense initiated Project Rabbit to assist with verifying employment, but it has been overwhelmed with a backlog of cases.
Sayyid received his COM approval in June 2022, ten months after submitting his application. However, even with improved processing times, it is estimated that it will take the State Department 5½ years to work through the backlog of SIV applications. Delays in obtaining documentation and the Taliban's control over Afghanistan have made it difficult for applicants like Sayyid to find work and secure the necessary passports for evacuation.
Despite the challenges, organizations like No One Left Behind have been working to relocate SIV applicants and their families out of Afghanistan. They have moved hundreds of individuals, but the process remains urgent due to reports of murders and threats against SIV applicants and their allies.
Sayyid's two-year wait and the stress it has caused have taken a toll on him, leading him to question whether the future he is waiting for is worth the effort.