PRO BONO (FREE) & LOW-COST LEGAL SERVICES

Los Angeles Area

• Pro Bono (Free)/Low-Cost Legal Services Providers in Los Angeles

Sacramento Area

• CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central CA Afghan Community Advisory
• Immigration Services Request Intake Form
• Know Your Rights resources in Pashto and Dari

California

• Pro Bono (Free)/Low-Cost Legal Services Providers in California

Nationwide

• Pars Equality Center: Legal Resources for Afghans
• USCRI Pro Bono Afghan Legal Services (PALS) for nationwide legal services

HUMANITARIAN PAROLEES

Are you an Afghan individual who has been granted humanitarian parole?

You may be eligible for cash assistance, medical assistance, employment preparation, job placement, English language training, and other services offered through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). You may also be eligible for federal “mainstream” (non-ORR funded) benefits, such as cash assistance through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health insurance through Medicaid, and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Office of Refugee Resettlement

• Afghan Assistance Resources
• Benefits for Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (English) (Pashto) (Dari)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

• Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole

APPLYING FOR ASYLUM

Asylum is a form of legal protection for people who are physically present in the United States, who suffered and/or fear future persecution in their home country.

Aslyum 101 for Afghans Videos

International Institute of Los Angeles – Afghan Legal Representation Project (ALRP)

IILA clients who wish to receive services through IILA’s ALRP will need to return signed copies of the following forms, as well as a completed I-589 in Dari or Pashto or English (to the best of their ability) by May 27, 2022:

The I-589 should be initially completed in Dari or Pashto in the majority of cases so that the members of the family can review what was submitted before the Asylum Interview.  Consistency between what is written on I-589 and what is said in the Asylum Interview is critical.

IILA clients who need a Dari or Pashto speaking volunteer to assist with completing the forms and the I-589 should let their case manager know so that we can match them with a volunteer.

• Consent/Waiver Form for Legal Services
• ALRP Screening Form
• Copies of I-589 and Instructions for I-589 (see below)

National Immigrant Justice Center

• Legal Resources for Afghans Seeking Asylum and Other Relief
• Form I-589, Application for Asylum:
  • (English) (Dari) (Pashto)
• Instructions for Form I-589, Application for Asylum:
  • (English) (Dari) (Pashto)

VECINA

• Representing Afghan Nationals in Affirmative Asylum Proceedings – free comprehensive online course with samples.

HIAS/ABA – Asylum Toolkits

• For Pro Se (Self-Represented) Afghan Applicants
  • (English) (Pashto) (Dari)

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

• Resources for Afghan Allies

APPLYING FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA (SIV)

The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) is an immigration program that grants permanent residence to people who aided the U.S. government abroad. If you are currently applying for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) or awaiting Chief of Mission (COM) approval, we strongly recommend that you also apply for asylum.

U.S. Department of State

• July 18, 2022 – Statement by Secretaries Antony J. Blinken and Alejandro N. Mayorkas – Ongoing Efforts to Support Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Applicants
• Current Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans Program Requirements 

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

• For SIV Applicants: Legal Information Website:
  • (English) (Dari) (Pashto)
• IRAP Afghan SIV Training, Practice Guide and Other Materials
• Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans Training Course – free comprehensive online course with samples. Short videos covering an introduction and all stages of the SIV adjustment process

TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (TPS)

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

TPS is an immigration status granted to eligible nationals of a designated country or persons without nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the Secretary of State is authorized to designate a foreign state for TPS based on an emergency, such as an ongoing armed conflict or environmental disaster, that temporarily prevents nationals who are in the United States from returning safely to the designated county.

TPS beneficiaries who register by the specified date are eligible to remain in the Unites States during the TPS designation period and receive protection from deportation. They may also apply for employment authorization and advance parole travel permission during their grant of TPS.

Who is eligible for TPS for Afghanistan?

To be granted TPS, an applicant must be a national of Afghanistan or a noncitizen with no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan. He or she must also prove continuous residence in the United States since March 15, 2022, and continuous physical presence in the United States since May 20, 2022. Absences that are “brief, casual and innocent” do not prevent applicants from showing continuous residence or continuous physical presence. Likewise, a brief temporary trip abroad required because of an emergency or extenuating circumstances outside the applicant’s control will not break continuous residence.

The applicant must apply within the registration period that runs from May 20, 2022, through Nov. 20, 2023, unless he or she qualifies for late initial registration. An otherwise eligible individual is disqualified from TPS if he or she:

• Has been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States;
• Is found inadmissible as an immigrant under the applicable grounds in INA § 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-related grounds; or
• Is subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum found at INA § 208(b)(2)(A).

For more information:

• Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.: Frequently Asked Questions: Temporary Protected Status for Afghans (May 23, 2022)
• USCIS: Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Afghanistan

FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS