U.S. Stops Processing Afghan SIV and Other Visa Requests
U.S. Stops Processing Afghan SIV and Other Visa Requests
LN24 / 21 hours
November 29, 2025
2 min read
The U.S. State Department has instructed its diplomatic missions worldwide to halt the processing of all visa applications from Afghan nationals, effectively suspending the special immigration pathway for Afghans who supported U.S. operations during the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan. According to the directive sent Friday, consular officers must immediately refuse both immigrant and non-immigrant visa requests from Afghan citizens, including those applying through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program.
The decision follows an incident in Washington, D.C., in which a former member of a CIA-supported Afghan unit was accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard soldiers, one of whom later died. In a public statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports would be “paused.”
The cable stated that the suspension is intended to ensure proper verification of applicants’ identities and their eligibility under U.S. law. A volunteer organization assisting Afghan allies said the directive reflects a broader effort by the current administration to prevent Afghans from entering the United States.
While previously scheduled visa appointments will still occur, consular officers have been instructed to deny the applications. Unprinted approved visas are to be canceled, and printed visas voided. Earlier in the week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had already stopped processing Afghan immigration cases.
