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Information for Afghans Evacuated to Camp As-Sayliyah

  • Updated

This guide provides information for Afghans at Camp As-Sayliyah in Qatar who are either applying for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) or refugee resettlement. This guide includes general information on applying for SIV and refugee resettlement, and the reasons your case may be denied, and tips for your interviews. This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Why am I here, and what resettlement options are available for me?

Why am I at Camp As-Sayliyah? 

If you are Afghan and have been relocated by the United States to Camp As-Sayliyah, you are either applying for SIV or refugee resettlement to the United States. 

What programs are available to me?

SIV and USRAP (US Refugee Admissions Program) are two different programs that allow Afghans to be resettled in the United States. The SIV program is a special program for certain Afghans who worked with the US government. USRAP is a broader program that is open to any individual who qualifies as a refugee. They have different requirements and processes, and these are explained in more detail below.

How do these processes work?

If you are at Camp As-Sayliyah, you are either already partway through the SIV process or you have been evacuated to apply for refugee resettlement through the P2 program. If your SIV application is denied, your case may be referred to USRAP, and you will need to go through the refugee process. 

SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS AND COM REVOCATION

  • If you have been evacuated to Camp As-Sayliyah to complete the SIV application process you may be be scheduled for a visa interview after you arrive. 
  • If you would like more information on the SIV application process, click here. 
  • If you would like more information about what to expect during your visa interview, click here. 

What happens if my COM approval was revoked? What options do I have?

  • If your COM approval is revoked, you have 120 days to file an appeal. For more information on how to appeal a COM revocation, click here.
  • If you do not appeal your COM revocation within 120 days, you can submit a new application for COM approval. For more information on the SIV application process, click here. 
  • If your COM approval is revoked, or if your SIV is denied, you may be referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to apply for refugee resettlement.

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

What is the refugee resettlement program? Is that the same thing as USRAP, and how is it different from the SIV program? 

  • Refugee resettlement allows individuals who qualify as refugees to be resettled in the United States. It is done through a program called USRAP (the US Refugee Assistance Program).
  • USRAP is for any Afghans who fear they will be threatened, harmed, and/or killed because of their political opinion, past employment with the U.S. or prior Afghan government, gender, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. You do not have to have worked with the US government to qualify for USRAP.

How does the USRAP application process work?

  • Once you are referred to USRAP, you will be interviewed by different agencies. The agencies may include: 
    • International Organization of Migration (IOM): The IOM is an international organization that is a Resettlement Support Center (RSC).  They assist with the application for USRAP. This application is called a Form I-590.
    • US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): USCIS is a United States agency that is in charge of reviewing refugee resettlement applications. You may have one or more interviews with USCIS.  
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The FBI is a United States law enforcement agency. They are in charge of protecting the United States from terrorist attacks, and they conduct interviews to ensure that the US does not admit people who may cause harm to the country. The interviews with the FBI may be at any point in the process. Your interview notice may indicate the interview is with the Department of Justice. The interview may include questions about your, your family, your life in Afghanistan, and any contact you have with the Taliban.  
Interviewer IOM USCIS FBI
Who are they? An international organization that helps people apply for refugee resettlement, collects fingerprints, and documents.  A United States agency in charge of processing immigration and naturalization applications A United States law enforcement agency
Why are they interviewing me? To help you apply for resettlement To evaluate your application and see if you are eligible for resettlement in the United States  To make sure that you do not pose a security risk 

What does it mean if I have a lot of interviews? If I only have a few interviews? What if my interview was very long?

  • You may have more than one interview with USCIS. If you have more than one USCIS interview it could be because there was not enough time in your first interview to cover all the information that is important to your case. 
  • USCIS may also interview you again if they have additional questions for you after reviewing your case file.
  • If your interview lasts for a very long time, it could be because the  USCIS officer is trying to get some information that you have not yet shared. 
  • If you get called for a second or third interview with USCIS, they may focus on what USCIS thinks may be an issue/problem in your case or try to get some information they believe you did not share in your first interview. 
  • If you have more than one interview with USCIS and then are denied refugee resettlement, try to think about the types of questions you were asked in your second or third interview with USCIS. This may help you to figure out why your case was denied.

If my case is denied, what are my options? 

  • If you are denied refugee resettlement you will receive a document called a Notice of Ineligibility. You can file a Request for Review (RFR), of your denial.
  • A Request for Review is a request you make to ask USCIS to review your refugee case again. You might do this because you think USCIS made a mistake, or you have new evidence that will help your application. You have 90 days to submit an RFR from the day you receive your denial. For information on how to prepare an RFR, click  here. 

What if I cannot submit an RFR by the deadline?

  • USCIS can decide not to accept your RFR if it is submitted after the deadline. If you plan to submit an RFR but need more time, you may make a request for an extension. You can email the RSC to ask for more time and give reasons why you need more time, for example because are collecting new evidence for your RFR or you are looking for a lawyer to help you. You should also go in person to the Help Desk and make the same request and give an explanation.

What happens after an RFR?

  • If your RFR is successful, you will either be approved for refugee resettlement or scheduled for a new interview with USCIS.
  • If your RFR is not successful, your case will remain denied.

What happens if I am scheduled for a new interview with USCIS?

  • You will go through part of the application process again, and your application will be re-reviewed. USCIS will then issue a decision about your case (approval or denial).

What will happen to me if my case is denied and I don’t appeal, or if my appeal is denied?

  • If your case is denied, you may be offered the option to return to Afghanistan or be resettled to another country other than the United States, such as Suriname.

DENIAL FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT 

Why was I denied refugee resettlement ? 

  • Your denial for US refugee resettlement will be listed in a letter you receive called a Notice of Ineligibility (NOI). There are various reasons your case may be denied. 
    • You do not meet the definition of a refugee
      • This could mean that USCIS believes that you either are not at risk of harm in Afghanistan, or that you do not fear harm because of a protected characteristic (race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group).
    • Credibility
      • If you are denied for credibility, it could mean that the USCIS officer does not believe your testimony during the interview. This could be because you were inconsistent in your answers to questions, or because USCIS believes that your testimony is not plausible (likely to be true).
    • Persecution of Others
      • If you have participated or aided in the persecution of others, you are ineligible for refugee resettlement. Persecution in this case means harming someone because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
      • If you have ever worked as a police officer, in the military, or in certain branches of government, you may be asked questions about your activities as they relate to how you treated other people and what you did in your job.  
    • Discretion
      • If your case has been denied because of discretion, this means that the USCIS officer has considered all of the positive factors and negative factors about you and decided that the negative factors are stronger than the positive factors. This could mean that there is a security concern in your case that is not serious enough to deny your case for terrorism, but enough that the U.S. government does not want to allow you to be accepted into the US. 
    • Admissibility
      • If you were denied because of inadmissibility, it is because the US government determined that something in your case or history was against a US law. Some common grounds of inadmissibility are: 
        • Terrorism
        • Fraud/misrepresentation
Reasons for USRAP denial
Not a refugee USCIS believes that you either are not at risk of harm in Afghanistan, or that you do not fear harm because of a protected characteristic (race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group).
Credibility USCIS officer does not believe your testimony during the interview(s) 
Persecution of Others USCIS believes that you may have caused serious harm to other people because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
Discretion USCIS looked at your case and decided there are some negative things about your application are more important than the positive things 
Admissibility USCIS believes something in your case violates a US law (for example, you were involved in terrorist activities)

What does it mean if my case was denied because of fraud or misrepresentation?

  • If your visa application or refugee resettlement application is denied because of fraud or misrepresentation, the U.S. government believes you have provided information during your interview(s) that was not true, that you concealed information that is relevant to your case, and/or provided documents that are false or have false information in them.
  • To overcome this denial reason, you either must show in an RFR that the U.S. government made a mistake when they decided that you provided false information or documents, or you must apply for a waiver. 
  • For information on how to prepare an RFR, click  here. 
  • For more information on waivers, please click here. (Note: this resource is only available in English.)

What does it mean if my case was denied because of terrorism?

  • If your case is denied because of terrorism it means that the U.S. government believes that you are either a member of a terrorist organization or you have participated in terrorist activities.
  • Your case may also be denied because of terrorism if you have ever provided “material support” to a terrorist organization such as the Taliban.
  • “Material support” for a terrorist organization can include:
    • Paying money or a bribe to a terrorist group;
    • Providing food or other supplies to members of a terrorist group; and
    • Allowing members of a terrorist group to use your home or property.
  • If you have ever had connections with members of the Taliban, paid bribes to members of the Taliban, done anything that the Taliban has asked you to do, or provided food or supplies to the Taliban, even if you were forced to do so, it is possible that your case could be denied because of terrorism.

Are there any exceptions to terrorism denial? What if I was pressured into helping a terrorist group or did not have any other options?

  • There are some exceptions to having your application denied because of terrorism. If you fall into any of these categories, you may be exempt from having your case denied because of terrorism:
    • You were employed as a civil servant in Afghanistan while the Taliban was in power. (A civil servant is someone who works for the government.);
    • You engaged in resistance activities that promoted U.S. interests in Afghanistan;
    • You provided material support to a terrorist organization under duress (you did not want to, but you were forced to);
    • You helped raise money for a terrorist group under duress (you did not want to do it, but you were forced to);
    • You received military training from a terrorist group under duress (you did not want to participate, but you were forced to); 
    • The material support you provided was a routine transaction (example: you purchased food from a store owned by a member of the Taliban);
    • You provided insignificant material support (the support you provided was so little that it didn’t matter much); or
    • You provided medical care to someone you knew or should have known was a member of a terrorist organization.
Possible exemptions for having your case denied because of terrorism
Civil servant You were employed as a civil servant in Afghanistan while the Taliban was in power. 
Resistance activities You engaged in resistance activities that promoted U.S. interests in Afghanistan
Pressured to provide material support (e.g. food) to terrorists You were forced to provide material support to a terrorist group, such as letting them use your house or giving them food, under duress (you did not want to do it).
Pressured to raise money for terrorists You were forced to help a terrorist group raise money under duress (you did not want to).
Pressured to get military training from terrorists You received military training from a terrorist group under duress (you did not want to participate, but you were forced to). 
Support was part of a “routine transaction” You gave money or material support to a terrorist group, but only as part of something you would normally do and not because you specifically wanted to support them. (For example, you bought food from a Taliban-owned store.)
Support was insignificant The support you gave a terrorist group was so small that it didn’t matter very much.
Medical care You gave medical care to someone you knew or should have known was a member of a terrorist organization.

What if my case was denied because of terrorism, but one of the exceptions listed above applies to me?

If your case is denied because of terrorism and you fall into one of the categories listed above, you can file an RFR. In your RFR, you must show the U.S. government that they are either mistaken and you did not participate in or support any terrorist activities, or that you fall into one of the exempt categories of people. For information on how to prepare an RFR, click  here. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INTERVIEWS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, USCIS, AND THE FBI 

Basic guidelines

  • No matter who is interviewing you, it is important to remember the following:
    • Listen very carefully to the questions.
    • If you do not understand the question, you can ask for it to be repeated or clarified.
    • If you do not know the answer to a question, say you do not know. Do not guess or make up an answer.
    • Make sure you understand the interpreter well.If you are not comfortable with the interpretation, it is very important to say that so another interpreter can be found for you.
    • Make sure you answer all of the questions truthfully. 
    • Make sure you share information that is relevant to your case and/or relevant to the question being asked. 
    • It is very important to answer honestly and share information even if you are worried that the interviewer is not going to like what you are saying. Your application can be denied because of credibility or misrepresentation (the interviewer does not believe you), so you should not lie. 
    • It is always better to share information and explain the situation rather than to try and hide information you are worried will damage your case.
    • You should always assume that the person interviewing you already knows about any information that you are worried will be bad for your case, and so it is not a good idea to try and hide it.

What if I am interviewed by the FBI?

If you are interviewed by the FBI, it is important to remember the following:

  • If you are called for an interview by the FBI, it means that there is something in your application that has raised a security concern.
  • It is important not to panic. Having an interview with the FBI does not mean that your case will be automatically denied. 
  • It is still important to tell the truth and not to hide information that you are worried will harm your case. The FBI may already know about it and are interviewing you to understand the information more. 
  • The FBI may also be  trying to find out more information about whatever caused the security concern. 
  • Interviews are an opportunity for you to explain your side of the story. 
  • Remain calm, answer all questions truthfully, and do not try to hide information.
  • It is also important to listen to the questions carefully and make sure you answer the question that is asked. Additional information that is not related to the question you are asked may cause confusion. You should not provide information that is not relevant to the question that is asked. This could cause confusion. 

What happens if I lie or try to hide information during my interviews?

  • If you lie or try to hide information, your case could be denied because you misrepresented something or because the interviewer believed that you were telling the truth. Remember, the US government agencies have copies of your files and previous applications. If you are being called for multiple USCIS or FBI interviews, it may be because the US government knows something in your case is not correct. 

U.S. Government Agencies at Camp As-Sayliyah 

You may be in contact with or interviewed by people from the following U.S. Government Agencies:

  • U.S. Department of State: 
    • The U.S. Department of State is responsible for visa applications and visa processing. The Department of State includes the following sub-agencies:
      • National Visa Center
        • If you are applying for SIV status you likely have received emails from the National Visa Center regarding your COM application.
      • Consular Affairs
        • If you are applying for SIV status, you may have had an interview with a consular officer.
      • CARE
        • CARE is the branch of the Department of State that arranged your evacuation from Afghanistan.
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
    • USCIS is a part of DHS. 
    • USCIS is the agency responsible for reviewing and deciding immigration applications.
    • USCIS is the agency that interviews people seeking refugee resettlement and decides whether someone should be resettled as a refugee. 
  • U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)/Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
    • The FBI is part of the department of justice. 
    • The FBI is responsible for conducting background checks and security clearances.
    • If you are applying for SIV or refugee resettlement you may be interviewed by the FBI. 

How to find more resources or request help from IRAP

Examples

Here are some examples of what could happen if you lie or hide information during your interviews. 

Mohammad is applying for refugee resettlement. Mohammad used to work with a U.S. based nonprofit in Afghanistan and started to receive threats from the Taliban. After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, he continued to receive calls from the Taliban. The Taliban asked him to give them money and do other things to assist them. Mohammad never did what the Taliban wanted, and moved his family around from place to place to keep them safe. 

Mohammad and his family were evacuated to Camp As-Sayliya in 2022 to seek refugee resettlement. During his interview with USCIS he was asked if he ever had contact with any members of the Taliban. Because he was afraid of being denied, Mohammad said no. After his interview, USCIS did a background check and looked at Mohammad’s phone records. They found several calls from phone numbers associated with the Taliban. Mohammad’s case was denied for misrepresentation. 

  • In Mohammad’s case, it would have been better for him to explain that he was receiving these calls from the Taliban asking him to do things for them. Even though, Mohammad’s worry that admitting to speaking to Taliban members would be bad for his case, it was worse to lie about it. Mohammad never participated in any activities that the Taliban asked him to do, so explaining the situation would not have raised a terrorism inadmissibility ground. Instead, because he lied and said that he never had contact with the Taliban, he was denied for providing false information.

Abdullah is a civil servant. He has a degree in business from the American University of Afghanistan, he worked for an international NGO and then worked for the Ministry of Finance under the prior Afghan government. After the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021, Abdullah left his job, and went into hiding because he was afraid that his connection to the American University of Afghanistan and his work for the prior government put him and his family in danger from retaliation by the Taliban. After a few months, the Taliban found Abdullah. The Taliban started to call him to insist that he come back to work at the Ministry of Finance. They wanted Abdullah’s skills and his knowledge of the systems used by the prior government to assist them in their current work. After threatening to kill him and his family if he did not comply, Abdullah agreed. 

In 2023, Abdullah and his family were evacuated to Camp As-Sayliyah to seek refugee resettlement. During his interview with USCIS, the officer asked Abdullah whether he held any jobs after the fall of Kabul. Abdullah said no. The officer asked him if he had any connections with the Taliban, and Abdullah said no. Abdullah was then interviewed by the FBI. They asked him the same questions, and Abdullah said no. Abdullah’s case was denied for misrepresentation and terrorist activities.

  • In Abdullah’s case, it would have been better if he had been honest about working as a civil servant for the Taliban. He could have explained that he was forced to do it because the Taliban threatened to kill his family. Because he was not honest about this information, his case was denied for misrepresentation. While Abdullah may have been afraid that sharing this information would harm his case, he is actually eligible for an exemption to the terrorism inadmissibility ground. Anyone who worked in the civil service under a Taliban government is not inadmissible for terrorism. USCIS made a mistake when they denied his case for terrorism, but because Abduallah did not tell the truth, his case was also denied for misrepresentation. This will make it much more difficult for Abdullah to argue that USCIS made a mistake if he files an RFR. 

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