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SIV Application Information

Understanding the Special Immigrant Visa program.

Wartime allies preparing documentation

What is the SIV

Congress created three Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programs to provide a legal pathway to U.S. residency for Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for or alongside the U.S. government and face ongoing threats because of that service. These programs recognize a direct debt: these allies took on personal risk to support the American mission, and the United States promised them safety in return.

SIV issuance is paused for our wartime allies, but our work for allies is not. No One Left Behind advocates for restoration of both programs and supports allies with pending cases at every stage.

Current program status as of October 2026

The Afghan SIV Program

Afghan SIV issuance has been suspended since January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998.

On February 6, 2026, a federal court ordered the government to continue processing pending Afghan SIV cases. Interviews and adjudications continue. Visas are not being issued.

The deadline to apply for Chief of Mission approval in this program was December 31, 2025. No new applications will be accepted unless Congress extends the deadline.

The Iraqi SIV Program

Iraqi SIV issuance was suspended on January 21, 2026.

The deadline to apply for Chief of Mission approval in this program was September 30, 2014. No new Chief of Mission applications will be accepted for this program.

The SIV for Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters Program (“1059”)

SIV issuance is suspended under this program for Afghan applicants.

This program is accepting new applications. For application requirements, please see the U.S. Department of State’s guidance here.

*Please note: this program requires a favorable written recommendation from a general or flag officer in the chain of command of the U.S. Armed Forces unit the applicant supported, or from the Chief of Mission in Baghdad or Kabul. It is capped at 50 principal applicants per fiscal year; spouses and children do not count toward the cap.

Who Is Eligible

The application window is closed for the Afghan and Iraqi SIV programs.

Afghan SIV program
The deadline to apply for Chief of Mission approval, the required first step, was December 31, 2025. Applications submitted prior to the deadline are still being processed.
Iraqi SIV program
Closed to new applications in 2014.
1059 program
The program for Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters is still accepting applications, though it has narrower eligibility and more restrictive documentation requirements.

The requirements below still govern cases already in the pipeline.

To qualify for an Afghan or Iraqi SIV, an applicant generally must meet the following requirements:

  • Have worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan or Iraq. For the Afghan program, this includes employment with the International Security Assistance Force.
  • Have at least one year of faithful and valuable service.
  • Be experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of that employment.
  • Have a letter of recommendation from their direct supervisor, along with verification of employment.

Eligibility requirements differ slightly between the Afghan SIV and Iraqi SIV programs. If you have a pending case and are unsure where it stands, NOLB's team can help you assess it directly.

160,000

Afghan SIVs issued since 2009

23,431

approved applicants in the visa queue (Jan. 2026)

5,970

visas remaining (Dec. 2025)

How Pending Cases Move Through the Pipeline

New applications closed on December 31, 2025. For allies already in the pipeline, cases move through these stages:

1

Submit Form DS-157 (and supporting employment documentation)

Applicants filed an initial application with proof of qualifying employment with or on behalf of the U.S. government. Form DS-157 applies to Afghan applications filed on or after July 20, 2022; earlier Afghan cases and Iraqi cases used Form I-360.

2

Chief of Mission (COM) approval

The Department of State's Afghan SIV Unit reviews the application on behalf of the Chief of Mission and decides whether the applicant meets the requirements. This step has historically caused the longest delays in the pipeline. Under the February 6, 2026 court order, COM processing continues for Afghan applicants despite the issuance suspension. Some allies with existing approvals are now receiving re-verification requests or Withdrawal of Support notices.

3

Submit Form DS-260

Once COM approval is granted, applicants submit a formal immigrant visa application.

4

Medical examination

Applicants complete a required medical screening as part of the visa process.

5

Visa interview

Applicants attend an interview at a U.S. Embassy or designated processing location.

6

Issuance and Travel

When the program is operating, approved applicants receive their visa and travel to the United States. Issuance is suspended: cases that complete processing are currently being refused under section 212(f), and embassies are required to notify applicants of this before the interview. Before attending a scheduled interview, consider speaking with an immigration attorney about whether to postpone. If you postpone, contact the National Visa Center at least once a year to keep your case active.

Even when the program was able to issue visas, processing often took several years. In late 2025, the Chief of Mission review step alone averaged more than 500 days. NOLB advocates for restoration of the programs and supports allies at every stage.

Need Help With Your SIV Case?

NOLB's team can help you understand where your pending case stands, respond to a Withdrawal of Support or revocation notice, and appeal a Chief of Mission denial within the 120-day window. This service is free. For legal advice, including whether to postpone a scheduled interview, speak with a licensed immigration attorney.

Email info@nooneleft.org

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