U.S. State Department Halts Visa Processing for Afghan Nationals
Washington — The U.S. State Department has ordered its embassies and consulates around the world to suspend the processing of all visa applications submitted by Afghan nationals, according to an internal cable, marking a significant policy shift that affects thousands of people connected to U.S. operations in Afghanistan.
The directive, issued on Friday, instructs consular officers to deny immigrant and non-immigrant visa requests from Afghan applicants, including those seeking Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) created for individuals who assisted U.S. agencies and military units during the two-decade American presence in Afghanistan.
The order comes amid renewed scrutiny following the arrest of an Afghan national in Washington, D.C., who was accused earlier this week of shooting two members of the U.S. National Guard, one of whom later died. The administration has cited security and identity-verification concerns as reasons for the temporary halt.
The State Department referred inquiries to a public message posted on X by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that visa issuance for all travelers using Afghan passports would be “paused” as additional assessments are carried out.
The cable emphasizes that the suspension is aimed at ensuring that applicants’ identities and eligibility align with U.S. immigration laws. It also notes that the halt applies across all categories, though appointments already scheduled at consulates will proceed as planned, with officers instructed to refuse visas upon completion of the interviews.
The decision has generated concern among organizations supporting former Afghan partners, many of whom have been waiting months or years for progress on their cases. AfghanEvac, a volunteer group formed to aid wartime allies, said the shift will have profound consequences for families hoping to relocate through established U.S. pathways.
Advocates say the move underscores broader administrative trends that began earlier in the week when the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an indefinite suspension of immigration petition processing for Afghan nationals. That earlier action had already delayed a significant portion of pending applications.
The White House has not yet commented on the new suspension or the future timeline for review. However, internal instructions make clear that visas already approved but not printed must be canceled, and printed visas must be destroyed, with case files updated to reflect the refusal.
The change represents one of the most sweeping temporary restrictions placed on Afghan immigration procedures since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021. Tens of thousands of Afghan wartime allies and family members remain in various stages of the SIV pipeline, which was designed to offer protection to individuals who faced risk because of their work with American forces.
Observers say the policy shift will likely prompt renewed debate regarding vetting systems, migration pressures, and obligations toward individuals who supported U.S. missions. The administration has signaled that further guidance will be issued once the security review is complete, though no timeline has been provided.
For now, the suspension has left applicants and advocacy groups waiting for clarity on whether the pause will be brief or represent a longer-term restructuring of the visa process for one of the largest categories of U.S.-affiliated foreign nationals.
