Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act of 2023

To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act to provide special immigrant visas to certain Fulbright Scholars, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act of 2023 2. Special immigrant visas for certain fulbright scholars (a) Special immigrant visas for certain scholars Section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2) (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking subparagraph (D) subparagraph (E) (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) Fulbright and other scholars as principal alien An alien is described in this subparagraph if the alien is a national or citizen of Afghanistan and was selected between October 7, 2001 and August 31, 2023, to participate in— (i) the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program authorized under section 102 of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2452(a)(1) (ii) the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program pursuant to section 112(a)(2) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2460(a)(2) (iii) the International Visitor Leadership Program pursuant to section 112(a)(3) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2460(a)(3) (iv) any other educational or cultural exchange activity administered by the Secretary of State pursuant to sections 102 or 112 of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2452 22 U.S.C. 2460 ; (D) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking subparagraph (A) subparagraph (A) or (B) (E) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking subparagraph (A) subparagraph (A) or (B) (3) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2) (4) in paragraph (5), by striking an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2) (5) in paragraph (6), by striking an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2) (6) in paragraph (9), by striking an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) an alien described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2) (b) Numerical limitations Section 602(b)(3) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking (C) (D) (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) Fulbright and other scholars An alien provided immigrant status pursuant to subparagraph (2)(B) shall not be counted against any numerical limitation under this section, or section 201, 202, 203, or 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151 ; (4) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated by paragraph (1),— (A) by striking paragraph (C) subparagraph (D) (B) by striking subsection (b)(2)(D) paragraph (2)(E) (5) in subparagraph (F), as redesignated by paragraph (1),— (A) by striking paragraph (2)(D) paragraph (2)(E) (B) by striking subparagraph (D) subparagraph (E) (6) in subparagraph (G), as redesignated by paragraph (1)— (A) by striking subparagraph (D) subparagraph (E) (B) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) subparagraphs (E) and (F) (C) in clause (ii), by striking paragraph (2)(D) paragraph (2)(E)

Summary: Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act of 2023 This bill authorizes special immigrant visas for qualifying citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who were selected for certain educational and cultural exchange programs. Specifically, a citizen or national of Afghanistan (and any accompanying spouse or child of such an individual) may be eligible for a special immigrant visa if the individual was selected between October 7, 2001, and August 31, 2023, to participate in a qualifying educational or cultural exchange program administered by the Department of State, including the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. Generally, such visas shall be subject to protections and requirements similar to those for special immigrant visas for citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who were employed by the United States in Afghanistan.