Overview: Special Immigrant visaA visa issued at a consulate to a person intending to live permanently in the United States. On admission the holder becomes a permanent resident.See it in the glossary, or SIVs, are EB-4 green card classifications for certain Iraqis and Afghans who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government, or as translators and interpreters for U.S. forces. There are three separate programs with different rules and deadlines. As of September 2026, the Afghan program is closed to new applications and visa issuance to most Afghan nationals is paused.
Three programs
- Translators and interpreters (Section 1059). Iraqi or Afghan nationals who worked directly with U.S. Armed Forces or under Chief of Mission authority as translators or interpreters for at least 12 months, with a favorable written recommendation. The State Department says this program issues up to 50 visas a year to principal applicants and remains active.
- Iraqis employed by the U.S. government (Section 1244). The deadline to apply for Chief of Mission approval, the first step, was September 30, 2014, according to the Iraqi SIV page.
- Afghans employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government (Afghan Allies Protection Act). The deadline to apply for Chief of Mission approval was December 31, 2025. People with pending applications had until June 5, 2026 to submit remaining documents. The Afghan SIV page says those deadlines do not apply to later visa steps for people who already have approval.
How the process works
The Iraqi and Afghan employee programs start with Chief of Mission approval, which confirms qualifying employment, faithful and valuable service, and a supervisor’s recommendation. Then comes the petition stage. Since July 2022, new Afghan SIV applicants no longer file a separate Form I-360 with USCIS, according to IRAP’s guide. The translator program still uses Form I-360. Cases then move to the National Visa Center (NVC)The State Department office that collects fees and documents from approved petitioners before a case is scheduled at a consulate.See it in the glossary and a consular interview. An SIV is an immigrant visa, so the holder becomes a permanent resident on admission.
Where things stand in 2026
Presidential proclamationA formal statement from the President addressed to the public. In immigration, proclamations are often issued under INA 212(f), which lets the President suspend or restrict the entry of noncitizens when the President finds their entry would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. The Supreme Court read that authority broadly in Trump v. Hawaii (2018), though courts have said it cannot override other parts of the INA.See it in the glossary 10998, effective January 1, 2026, restricts the entry of Afghan nationals. The State Department says applicants can still submit applications and attend interviews but may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission. A State Department status report to Congress said no Afghan SIVs had been issued to applicants using Afghan passports so far in 2026. It counted about 23,431 Chief of Mission approved principal applicants in processing as of January 31, 2026.
The same report gives the program’s scale. State issued 18,319 Afghan SIVs in fiscal year 2025, 4,391 of them to principal applicants. It also reported that 5,970 principal visa numbers remained for future applicants.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul’s consular section is closed, and the embassy says immigrant visa issuance to Afghan nationals has also been paused since January 21, 2026 under a separate policy. IRAP reports that Iraqi nationals have been affected by a January 2026 visa pause as well, with exceptions decided case by case.
If you already have an SIV
According to IRAP’s travel guidance, the pause should not affect valid SIVs issued before it began, and holders can arrange their own travel. Entry is still decided at the border, so check current State Department and DHS guidance right before traveling.