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CAIR-Washington

REMOTE: Help Afghans Apply for Visas or Humanitarian Parole

Allow vulnerable individuals and families to escape Afghanistan

Posted September 2, 2021

Background & Context

Since the recent fall of the Afghan government, CAIR Washington has received requests on behalf of nearly 2000 individuals seeking to flee Afghanistan. Many of these individuals have direct connections to families in Washington State and elsewhere in the U.S., while others are Afghans who would be at high risk for persecution under the Taliban government.

Immediate Problem

Our Legal Team has already processed hundreds of repatriation requests from eligible U.S. citizens, LPRs, and SIV holders; but now that the U.S. military has completed its withdrawal, the primary tools available to assist Afghans still wishing to flee are special immigrant visas (SIV), family-sponsored visas, and Humanitarian Parole. There are hundreds of individuals and families who may be eligible to escape Afghanistan through these means, but CAIR Washington does not have the capacity to process these cases on its own. We are seeking volunteer attorneys and other legal professionals, students, and support staff to help our team process requests, gather documentation, and file immigration applications.
While the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has ended, there is still a tremendous need to assist vulnerable Afghans and you can help!
Lawyers who can speak Dari, Pashto, or Farsi are especially urgently needed.

Work & Deliverables

Our work will center on the following:

- Evaluating individuals without status or pending visa applications for eligibility for special immigrant visas (SIV), family-sponsored visas, or Humanitarian Parole;

- Drafting and filing I-360 special immigrant visa petitions;

- Drafting and filing I-130 immediate relative or family-preference visa petitions; and

- Drafting and filing I-131 and I-134 petitions, along with supporting documents for Humanitarian Parole applications.

Project Plan

Preparation Phase

  • Complete Training on SIV and Humanitarian Parole
  • Complete Training Attestation and Volunteer Agreement
  • Assign client and transfer documentation

Collaboration Phase

  • Review Documentation
  • Determine Eligibility
  • Receive feedback on proposed applications
  • Gather additional support/documentation as necessary
  • Complete application and necessary supporting materials
  • File application

Wrap Up

  • Explain status and further options to client or client's family
  • Confer with supervising attorney to confirm work is complete and to transfer files or information.

This project is now closed.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 11-20 hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: Lawyers will be offered training from expert immigration attorneys on Humanitarian Parole applications and Special Immigrant Visa applications.
  • Site-Preference: Remote
  • Open to Law Students: Yes
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Preferred Languages: Persian
  • Required Legal Expertise: Immigration
  • Mentoring Provided: No
  • Supervision Provided: Yes
CAIR-Washington

CAIR-WA's mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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