Resources to Help Afghan Refugees
(last updated on August 18)
If you know people in Afghanistan trying to get to safety, we are extending resources here that may help. Check back regularly for updates.
In the United States:
- If you or someone you know is a U.S. citizen in Afghanistan that wants to leave the country, have them fill out this form.
- If you or someone you know has an approved petition for a Special Immigrant Visa, email NVCSIV@state.gov or call 1-603-334-0828.
- If you or someone you know worked as a contractor with U.S. forces, non-governmental organizations, or the media in Afghanistan, you can find information on the P-2 safe passage admissions program here.
- Congressman Eric Swalwell’s team is providing the most up-to-date information regarding the status of a visa application. For people with family/friends with a pending visa application in Afghanistan, please email Mallory.Delauro@mail.house.gov with the person’s name, DOB, case number, and your contact email/phone number.
- Senator Tom Cotton’s office is assisting with humanitarian situations such as this. Reach out to his office: (501) 223-9081 or evac@cotton.senate.gov
- Rep. Andy Kim has been very proactively providing assistance for evacuation: Reach out to his office: (202)225-4765 or RepKimEvac@mail.house.gov
- Sima from Pars Equality Center – for Afghan individuals that need legal assistance. Please have them complete the intake form here: Afghan Support – PARS Equality Center
- To volunteer or if your org wants to help us with intakes you can email afghansupport@parsequalitycenter.org
- Requesting Humanitarian Parole at a U.S. Embassy: If your Afghan client is able to reach a third country, an application for Humanitarian Parole can be made at the Embassy. Afghan citizens are eligible for e-visas to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and they may enter the following countries without a visa:
- Antigua and Barbuda (e-Visa)
- Benin (e-Visa)
- Cape Verde (Visa on arrival – 3 months)
- Comoros (Visa on arrival – 45 days)
- Dominica (Visa free entry – 21 days)
- Ethiopia (e-Visa – 90 days)
- Maldives (Visa on arrival – 30 days)
- Qatar (e-Visa)
- The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) is collecting names of at-risk Afghan women leaders and activists eligible for evacuation. Send names and inquiries to SGWI_AfghanReferrals@state.gov.
Information for those with family/friends in Afghanistan who HAVE NOT SUBMITTED any kind of visa application to the US:
- For those that have served with US forces and you believe may qualify for a Special Immigrant Visa, information about that process can be found here.
- For those that have assisted the United States in other capacities but did not meet the more strict standards for the Special Immigrant Visa, more information about the Priority 2 designation visas can be found here.
- For those seeking to begin the routine family immigrant visa process for qualifying relatives, information can be found here.
Third party evacuation list collections:
For informational purposes, use at your own discretion. Note, some third-party organizations are compiling lists in parallel to USG efforts and circulating them directly to US Government (USG) offices—only use if you are comfortable doing so:
- No One Left Behind/Truman National Security Project/NatSecGirlSquad/Human Rights First—for SIV and other visa-eligible partners, complete this form.
- Evacuate Our Allies—please note—this list/email has been on and off-line several times over the last few days (likely due to overload). If you have first-hand information of at-risk Afghans, please use this form to submit names or upload your list. Please note that this exercise is entirely separate from the ongoing work of Special Immigrant Visas, P2, P1, and parole referrals—it does not constitute a formal referral/entry into those processes. You can submit questions about this process here: list@evacuateourallies.org.
- For Charter Flights: For 3rd party (non-USG) Charter Fight Coordination into Kabul, please call: 621 Air Mobility Operations, Maguire AFB: +1-609-754-6191
Non-profit legal services providers in the U.S. based on area code:
If you are in the United States and wish to help people fleeing Afghanistan:
- You can sign up here to volunteer for airport pickup, apartment setups, and/or meals for Afghans with the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
- Find resettlement agencies in your area
- If you are in Texas, volunteer with the Refugee Services Texas to help Afghan refugees who will be resettled in the area (apartment set up, cultural orientation, welcome team, transportation, among others)
You Can Advocate For Afghan Refugees Seeking Safety:
- Afghans trying to leave Kabul desperately need more host countries to take them in. Please write to your government leaders to urge them to evacuate and accept as many Afghan refugees as possible.
- Email the White House today through this email form by the International Rescue Committee (IRC)
- In the US: Contact your senators and representatives
- In the UK: Find your MP
- In Canada: Find your MP
- In Australia: Contact your senators and members
- In New Zealand: Find your MP
- Tell Congress to Urge the Administration to Expand and Expedite Access to the U.S. Resettlement Program for Afghan Refugees
- Take Action: Urge the Administration to Expand Refugee Protections for Afghans Fleeing Violence and Persecution
- Afghans For A Better Tomorrow
- Amnesty International – Take Action for Human Rights
- Afghan American Coalition Call to Action
- Vital Voices Global Partnership (Please sign-on by August 19, 12 PM EST)
- Contact Congress: Specific policy recommendations to Help Afghanistan Now!
- President Biden and Congress: Ensure Afghan women’s rights alongside peace with the Taliban
- Make sure your government leaders know that saving Afghan lives must be a priority. Send them emails, social media messages, and letters until they do more. Look up your representatives, MPs, senators, and ministers. Sample Tweets:
- Evacuate ALL of our Afghan allies and their family, at-risk women, children, LGBTQ+ community members, and others. #Afghanistan #SaveOurAfghanFamilies
- We are calling on @POTUS to act now to #SaveOurAllies and take steps to lead in a clear pathway for all Afghan men, women and children at-risk to receive access to protections. #Afghanistan #SaveOurAfghanFamilies
- We are calling on Congress to #SaveOurAfghanFamilies by getting our allies out and providing a clear pathway for refuge and safety for at-risk Afghan families. #Afghanistan #SaveOurAfghanFamilies
Resources for Canadian Special Immigration Measures (SIMS) & Asylum Programs for at-Risk Afghans:
How Canadians Can Help:
- To volunteer and donate to resettling Afghans in Canada, email afghaniresettlement@ccislive.ca to connect with Canadian refugee resettlement agencies providing support to Afghan refugees.
Local service providers organization for incoming refugees in Canada:
Information for Afghan interpreters who have worked for the Netherlands as part of an international military mission:
- Find out how to submit a request for inclusion in the special scheme for Afghan interpreters who have worked for the Netherlands as part of an international military mission.
- Please send this form to kabul@minbuza.nl. The old email address is not working anymore.