840,000 Afghan individuals seeking special US visas continue to remain in the country, according to the report
An estimated 840,000 Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. war effort are still waiting in Afghanistan to receive special U.S. visas as part of a State Department resettlement program. The program was created to assist Afghans who helped U.S. forces during the War on Terror and faced significant risks. The number of applicants for the program has increased significantly, with over 155,000 applications in December 2022. The United States withdrew its military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, and the State Department has been working to process the backlog of visa applications. The program has been extended through the end of 2024 and has streamlined the application process. However, the report highlights challenges with turnover in a key position overseeing the visa program and the lengthy processing time for applications.
