US Pauses Afghan Visa Issuances, Tens of Thousands Affected

The United States has halted visa issuances for Afghan nationals holding Afghan passports, including Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan allies who worked for the U.S. government, in a worldwide pause that began November 27, 2025 and has no announced end date. Tens of thousands of people who were counting on these visas are now stuck in place, according to a State Department notice that has alarmed refugee advocates and immigration lawyers watching the program.

Many had already sold belongings, left jobs, and moved to third countries while waiting for promised travel documents. Some fear being forced back into danger.

Scope of the pause

The pause affects all U.S. embassies and consulates that issue immigrant and non‑immigrant visas to Afghans, effectively freezing the final step of the Afghan SIV pipeline for those who already proved eligibility but were waiting for the physical visa in their passport.

Key points:
– The State Department confirmed consular officers are not issuing visas to anyone applying with an Afghan passport.
– This applies whether applicants are inside Afghanistan, in neighboring countries, or relocated farther away after the 2021 Taliban takeover.
– The halt also applies to family members traveling as derivatives on SIV cases.
– Afghans may still file applications and continue earlier processing stages, but they cannot obtain the printed visa that allows travel.

What the SIV process normally looks like

The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was designed for interpreters, drivers, security staff, and other workers employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government. It offers a path to lawful permanent residence and, eventually, U.S. citizenship for applicants and their immediate families.

Typical stages:
1. Petition approval (often via Form I-360)
2. Move to the consular stage — submit the online Form DS-260)
3. Consular interview and then final visa issuance (stamping/printing in passport)

It is this final, decisive stage — the physical visa issuance — that has now been suspended. For many applicants, the interview date had come after years of security checks and document gathering abroad.

Humanitarian and practical impacts

Afghan allies who spent years working alongside U.S. troops and civilians now confront the possibility of open‑ended delay just as winter begins and humanitarian needs grow inside Afghanistan and in exile communities.

Consequences include:
– Many live in hiding, change locations frequently, or rely on overstretched relatives for shelter while waiting.
– Some had received flight bookings from resettlement agencies but cannot board without the issued visas or complete departure-linked medical exams.
– Applicants borrowed money for housing and visa fees and now face potential creditors.
– Several families face the risk of being discovered, detained, or targeted while waiting.

“For many, each extra month in hiding raises the risk of being discovered locally.”

Government response and uncertainty

The State Department has not released a public explanation for the sweeping halt, beyond confirming in internal guidance that all visa issuances to Afghan nationals applying with an Afghan passport are paused “until further notice.”

Notable gaps:
– No review date or timeline for possible resumption has been set.
– Officials have not explained whether security reviews, political negotiations, or technical issues prompted the decision.
– There is no indication that Afghan SIV statutes passed by Congress have changed — the legal framework remains intact even as practical access to travel is blocked.

Confusing messaging and official guidance

Official resources still provide guidance that suggests the SIV pathway is functioning, adding to confusion for applicants.

• Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes the move freezes a program that the Biden administration had previously promised to expand after the chaotic August 2021 airlift.
• The U.S. Department of State website continues to describe SIV eligibility and procedures, which conflicts with the consular pause and risks eroding trust among applicants.

Effects on veterans, advocates, and casework

Veterans’ groups and refugee organizations assisting SIV applicants report urgent, concrete harms:
– Cases nearly finished are interrupted; medical exams — which expire after a short window — may lapse.
– Applicants who quit jobs or left safe houses face renewed instability.
– Advocates estimate tens of thousands of Afghan allies at different stages of consular processing could see delays of months or years if the pause continues.

Organizational responses:
– Several groups are preparing legal challenges.
– Funding drives are being organized to support stranded families.

International and diplomatic consequences

The halt creates diplomatic strain for the United States, which has urged other countries to keep borders open for Afghans seeking protection while promising its own resettlement routes.

Potential international impacts:
– Host governments that temporarily sheltered evacuees now face longer stays and mounting costs.
– Afghans in Pakistan or Iran who lack valid local documents risk detention or deportation if onward travel stalls.
– Officials in host states may question U.S. commitments if promised movements repeatedly fail to materialize.

How this pause differs from past actions

Previous administrations occasionally ordered narrower pauses on specific Afghan cases, sometimes citing security reviews or changes in Taliban control. Advocates say the current measure is broader because it blocks the actual printing of all visa types into Afghan passports, rather than slowing earlier checks.

Why it matters:
– Many families already completed exhaustive vetting and are now waiting only for consular officers to place visas in passports.
– The distinction — vetting vs. issuance — is crucial for those who no longer need background checks but do need the physical visa to leave.

Guidance for applicants and next steps

With no public timeline and only a brief notice referencing the November 27, 2025 decision, those in the SIV queue face ongoing uncertainty about safety, schooling for children, and income.

Lawyers and advocates recommend:
– Keep contact details current with relevant agencies and caseworkers.
– Maintain documentation and copies of all case paperwork.
– Continue steps that do not depend on consular visa issuance (e.g., updating forms, arranging local support).
– Monitor official channels closely for any updates that could restart processing.

Until the pause is lifted, thousands remain suspended between danger at home and uncertainty abroad.