USCIS Extends Certain Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing for Afghan Nationals

USCIS, Sept. 27, 2024

"Today, in continued support of Enduring Welcome, and by congressional directive, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it is extending and expanding some previously announced filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for certain Afghan nationals. This will help Afghan nationals continue to resettle and, in many cases, reunite with family in the United States. It will enable USCIS to more quickly process requests for long-term status, status for immediate relatives, and associated services, helping our Afghan allies and other Afghans at risk integrate in their new home. 

Afghan nationals paroled into the United States on or after July 30, 2021, are eligible for the following fee exemptions and streamlined processing through the dates listed:

Fee Exemptions 

Extended through Jan. 31, 2025

• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, filed by an Afghan national for re-parole and associated renewals of employment authorization or Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). 

Extended through Sept. 30, 2025

• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed from inside the United States for any Afghan national beneficiary with an immigrant visa immediately available.  
• USCIS Immigrant Fee for Afghan nationals.  

Permanent due to the final fee rule

• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, filed by Afghan nationals seeking to adjust status to lawful permanent resident based on Afghan special immigrant classification. 
• Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, filed for an Afghan national holding a special immigrant visa. 

Expiring Sept. 30, 2024

• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, filed for any Afghan national who is the beneficiary of an approved Form I-130 with an immigrant visa immediately available. 
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by any Afghan national who is applying for an initial or replacement EAD based on being paroled in the United States under section 212(s)(5) of the INA (eligibility category (c)(11)).   

Expedited Processing

Extended through Jan. 31, 2025

• Form I-131 filed by Afghan nationals for re-parole applications and requests to renew employment authorization or EADs.  

Extended through Sept. 30, 2025

• Form I-485 filed by Afghan nationals seeking to adjust status to lawful permanent resident based on Afghan special immigrant classification or based on asylum. (Expedited processing based on asylum is new.) 
• 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. 
• Form I-130 filed in the United States for an Afghan national beneficiary with a visa immediately available. 
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, filed for an Afghan national beneficiary with a visa immediately available. 

More Information
Find more information on the Information for Afghan Nationals page."