Fees Waived for Afghan Evacuees

Tens of thousands of evacuees from Afghanistan have been in the United States for a few months after the U.S. pulled troops out of that country earlier this year. As these individuals look to stay in the U.S. for an extended period of time, the federal government is making one aspect of the process easier.

President Biden told the Department of Homeland Security that immigration-related filing fees will be waived for Afghan evacuees. The waiver is in effect for evacuees who entered the U.S. on or after July 30, 2021.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas said, “By providing these evacuees with access to streamlined processing and fee exemptions, we will open doors of opportunity for our Afghan allies and help them begin to rebuild their lives in communities across our country more quickly. These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to Afghan nationals who provided valuable assistance to the United States over the past two decades as well as other Afghans at risk.”

Waiving fees is significant because the fees can be costly and many evacuees come to the U.S. with little or next to nothing. For example, the filing fee for a work permit application is $410, and those seeking permanent residency could be paying fees up to $1,225. While the waiver will make a difference when it comes to submitting applications, evacuees should be prepared in case they would need to pay other fees.

How Murray Osorio PLLC Can Help

Not only can the team at Murray Osorio PLLC assist with any immigration application, but our experienced immigration lawyers will make sure your application is completed the first time correctly. We are ready to help you — reach out to us today either online or by phone. (800) 929-7142