II 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3985 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 22, 2021 
Received 
AN ACT 
To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to expe-
dite the special immigrant visa process for certain Af-
ghan allies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Averting Loss of Life 
and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021’’ or as the 
‘‘ALLIES Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. IMPROVING AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA 
PROGRAM. 
(a) EVIDENCE
OF
SERIOUS
THREAT.—Section 
602(b)(2) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 
U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(iv), by striking ‘‘has 
experienced or is experiencing’’ and inserting ‘‘has 
asserted a credible basis for concern about the possi-
bility of’’; 
(2) by striking subparagraph (E); and 
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as sub-
paragraph (E). 
(b) ACTIVITIES FOR UNITED STATES MILITARY PER-
SONNEL STATIONED WITH INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE
OR
SUCCESSOR
FORCE.—Section 
602(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II)(bb) of the Afghan Allies Protection 
Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by striking 
‘‘sensitive and trusted’’. 
(c) AFGHANS EMPLOYED SUBJECT TO A GRANT OR 
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—Section 602(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) 
of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 
1101 note) is amended by inserting after ‘‘United States 
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Government’’ the following ‘‘, including employment or 
other work in Afghanistan through a cooperative agree-
ment or grant funded by the United States Government 
if the Secretary of State determines, based on a rec-
ommendation from the Federal agency or organization au-
thorizing such funding, that such alien contributed to the 
United States mission in Afghanistan’’. 
(d) ELIMINATING DUPLICATIVE PROCESSING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies Pro-
tection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘, notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of State in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary of State’’; 
and 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘a 
petition 
for 
classification 
under 
section 
203(b)(4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(4))’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a request for such status in ac-
cordance with procedures established by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary 
of State’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
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(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking 
‘‘petition’’ and inserting ‘‘request’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking 
‘‘petition’’ and inserting ‘‘request’’. 
(e) STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVING 
SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.—Subparagraph (C) of section 
602(b)(2) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 
U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) SURVIVING SPOUSE OR CHILD.—An 
alien is described in this subparagraph if— 
‘‘(i) the alien was the spouse or child 
of a principal alien described in subpara-
graph (A) who had submitted a request for 
classification pursuant to this section or a 
petition pursuant to section 1059 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 8 
U.S.C. 1101 note) which included the alien 
as an accompanying spouse or child; and 
‘‘(ii) such request or petition— 
‘‘(I) if approved, was revoked (or 
otherwise rendered null) due to the 
death of the principal alien; or 
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‘‘(II) if pending, is otherwise ap-
provable but for the death of the prin-
cipal alien.’’. 
(f) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply to any requests for special immigration 
status, applications for special immigrant visas, or appli-
cations for adjustment of status under the Afghan Allies 
Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) that are 
pending on the date of the enactment of this Act or filed 
on or after such date. 
(g) RULE
OF CONSTRUCTION.—The amendments 
made by this section shall not diminish, replace or override 
any vetting, verification of employment, approval by chief 
of mission, or any other screening process required for a 
special immigrant visa under the Afghan Allies Protection 
Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
SEC. 3. AFGHAN ALLIES PROTECTION ACT. 
Section 602(b)(3) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act 
of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(G) SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS.—Begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this sub-
paragraph, in addition to any unused balance 
under this paragraph, 8,000 principal aliens 
may be granted special immigrant status under 
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this subsection. For purposes of status provided 
under this subparagraph the authority to issue 
visas or adjust status shall commence on the 
date of the enactment of this subparagraph and 
shall terminate on the date such visa numbers 
are exhausted.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 22, 2021. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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