FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2023

U.S. State Department Launches Family Reunification Form to Help Afghans in U.S. Reunite with Loved Ones

Long-Standing Priority for #AfghanEvac Represents Lifeline for Afghans Allies in U.S.

Washington DC – The #AfghanEvac coalition applauds the U.S. Department of State for launching an online form today to help Afghans on parole status in the U.S. reunite with immediate family members still awaiting relocation in Afghanistan. The #AfghanEvac nonprofit and its coalition members have long pushed for, and collaborated with, the U.S. government to implement this project. 

The family reunification form for Afghan parolees is located on the information page found at https://www.state.gov/afghanistan-family-reunification. The page details the immigration options for reuniting Afghan families, based on citizenship, immigration status, and how an individual entered the United States. The new form, DS-4317, is now live online for individuals to access and complete. 

"The Coalition has been an indispensable partner to the State Department in our enduring effort to support the resettlement of our Afghan allies and their families. With today's important step to streamline our ability to reunify separated family members, I know the Coalition's expertise, relationships, and commitment will continue to be enormous assets as we stand by the Afghans who stood by us," said Ned Price, spokesperson for the Department of State.

The State Department had previously unveiled a page that explained the process for family reunification for the various types of travelers, but did not provide an active option for eligible Afghans in a parole status seeking reunification assistance to directly submit their information. The updated page and newly launched online form provide a systematic way for Afghans brought to the United States on parole status after August 2021 to request reunification with their eligible family members who are still in Afghanistan.

#AfghanEvac routinely hears from Afghans all across the country that family reunification remains among their biggest challenges. Launching this form is a vital step forward to ensuring that the United States is able to reunify families separated during or because of the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. 

“This impacts every Afghan the U.S. brought here under parole status who still has family in Afghanistan eligible for reunification. Afghans who fit that description should complete the form now, and Afghans in other categories should visit the family reunification landing page and follow the instructions there,” said Shawn VanDiver, Navy veteran and founder of #AfghanEvac. “It took longer to get this done than anyone would have liked, but #AfghanEvac is proud to have worked tirelessly with the State Department to bridge the gap in the interim through our grassroots efforts. I am proud of the role our team played, and grateful for the dogged determination of the folks at USCIS, the State Department, the National Security Council, and others, for driving on this no matter what obstacles got in the way.”

 “We welcome the launch of the family reunification platform and are grateful for the work of Afghan Americans and our allied communities who made this happen. This will offer hope to countless new community members who have been separated from their families for nearly two years,” said Laila Ayub, co-founder and immigration attorney at Project ANAR. “We look forward to continuing to advocate for accessible pathways for Afghans to reunite with their loved ones, as we recognize that for many of the people we work with, “family” can look different from how immigration law defines it.” 

 For twenty years, Afghan allies worked and fought side-by-side with U.S. and allied forces through the longest war in American history. The #AfghanEvac coalition is committed to ensuring that their service, partnership, and commitment to American ideals is honored.

The more than 200 organizations that make up the non-partisan #AfghanEvac coalition work hand-in-hand with government entities on relocation and resettlement efforts and advocate for ways to provide new Afghan community members with the stability they need to resettle and thrive in their new lives here. 

Visit state.gov/afghanistan-family-reunification for more information on Afghan Family Reunification. The form can be directly accessed at https://go.afghanevac.org/reunify

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