840,000 Afghans left in perilous waiting game by U.S.

Afghans who served in the U.S. military were offered resettlement considering threat to their lives 

WASHINGTON – Over 840,000 Afghans who helped the U.S. forces in Afghanistan are awaiting resettlement for over past two years. 

Most of them and their families remain in the war-torn country under threat to their lives. 

A report released Thursday by the U.S. State Department’s inspector general acknowledged a backlog.

Under the program, Afghans who had served in the U.S. military were offered resettlement in the U.S., considering the threat to their lives under the Taliban government.

Despite the introduction of the visa program in 2009, significant processing delays have left many in a dangerous holding pattern.

While there were about 30,000 applicants in October 2021, that number rose to about 155,000 by December 2022.

According to the State Department, about 34,000 visas have been issued since January 2021. Nearly half of the applicants did not qualify during the screening process, it said.

The department is now stepping up efforts by hiring additional staff, working with the Pentagon on employment verification and simplifying the application process.