More than 840,000 Afghanistan nationals who applied for a resettlement program in the United States still remain in the country waiting for the outcomes of their applications, a report by the US State Department’s inspector general stated.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the report, which was released Thursday, underscores the State Department’s response to improving the processing of Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for those who assisted the US during its intervention in the country.
However, the process is fraught with challenges as the number in SIV, which was initiated in 2009, swelled following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban takeover.
The report indicates that there were less than 30,000 applicants in October 2021, but the number escalated to nearly 155,000 by December 2022. This number could be way higher if eligible family members of applicants are included.
As of April this year, the State Department estimates there are more than 840,000 SIV applicants and their family members in Afghanistan who have been left behind.
Nevertheless, the Department asserted that not everyone who applies is accepted, saying “about 50% of applicants do not qualify when their applications are reviewed at a key stage early in the process.”
The report added that roughly 34,000 visas have been issued for eligible applicants including their family members between January 2021 and August this year, stating a considerable rise from previous years.
The Department has hired more staff to verify applicant’s eligibility and process applications further despite existing challenges, the report noted.
