Two Afghan nationals enter U.S. under limited immigration exception, AfghanEvac says
AfghanEvac has said that two Afghan nationals have entered the United States under a limited exception to U.S. immigration restrictions.
Shawn VanDiver, the group’s president and founder, said the two arrived safely in the United States on Tuesday, September 22, after completing the required transfer process.
According to AfghanEvac, the development comes as restrictions on the entry of, and visa issuance for, Afghan nationals remain in place. The group said that, under a federal court ruling, a limited number of Afghan family members may apply through the I-730 follow-to-join process, provided the principal family member had previously been granted asylum in the United States.
The group stressed that this exception is very limited and does not mean a general opening of travel for special immigrant visa applicants, refugees, or people seeking entry to the United States through humanitarian parole. AfghanEvac also warned that reports suggesting a broad lifting of travel restrictions for Afghan nationals entering the United States are false.
The I-730 process in the U.S. immigration system is used to allow certain family members to join a person who has already received asylum or similar protection. AfghanEvac is among the organizations advocating for the transfer of former U.S. allies and their families from Afghanistan.
