I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4895 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Afghan Allies 
Protection Act of 2009, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 5, 2025 
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS
(for herself, Mr. CROW, Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. 
AUCHINCLOSS, Ms. SALAZAR, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. BACON, Ms. LOF-
GREN, Mr. NUNN of Iowa, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. BAUMGARTNER, and Mr. 
BERA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and the 
Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Afghan Adjustment 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate; 
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate; 
(E) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
(F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives; 
(G) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives; 
(H) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives; 
(I) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(J) the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives. 
(2) IMMIGRATION LAWS.—The term ‘‘immigra-
tion laws’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
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tion 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(4) SPECIAL
IMMIGRANT
STATUS.—The term 
‘‘special immigrant status’’ means special immigrant 
status provided under— 
(A) the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 
2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note; Public Law 111–8); 
(B) section 1059 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (8 
U.S.C. 1101 note; Public Law 109–163); or 
(C) 
subparagraph 
(N) 
of 
section 
101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)), as added by sec-
tion 7(a). 
(5) SPECIFIED APPLICATION.—The term ‘‘spec-
ified application’’ means— 
(A) a pending, documentarily complete ap-
plication for special immigrant status; and 
(B) a case in processing in the United 
States Refugee Admissions Program for an in-
dividual who has received a Priority 1 or Pri-
ority 2 referral to such program. 
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(6) UNITED
STATES
REFUGEE
ADMISSIONS 
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘United States Refugee Ad-
missions Program’’ means the program to resettle 
refugees in the United States pursuant to the au-
thorities provided in sections 101(a)(42), 207, and 
412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101(a)(42), 1157, and 1522). 
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ALLIES OUTSIDE THE 
UNITED STATES. 
(a) RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES.—The 
Secretary of State shall respond to inquiries by Members 
of Congress regarding the status of a specified application 
submitted by, or on behalf of, a national of Afghanistan, 
including any information that has been provided to the 
applicant, in accordance with section 222(f) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)). 
(b) OFFICE IN LIEU OF EMBASSY.—During the pe-
riod in which there is no operational United States em-
bassy in Afghanistan, the Secretary of State shall des-
ignate an appropriate office within the Department of 
State— 
(1) to review specified applications submitted by 
nationals of Afghanistan residing in Afghanistan, in-
cluding by conducting any required interviews; 
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(2) to issue visas or other travel documents to 
such nationals, in accordance with the immigration 
laws; 
(3) to provide services to such nationals, to the 
greatest extent practicable, that would normally be 
provided by an embassy; and 
(4) to carry out any other function the Sec-
retary of State considers necessary. 
SEC. 4. CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR 
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STA-
TUS.—The term ‘‘conditional permanent resident 
status’’ means conditional permanent resident status 
under section 216 and 216A of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a, 1186b), subject to 
the provisions of this section. 
(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘eligible 
individual’’ means an alien who— 
(A) is present in the United States; 
(B) is a citizen or national of Afghanistan 
or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, 
is a person who last habitually resided in Af-
ghanistan; 
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(C) has not been granted permanent resi-
dent status; 
(D)(i) was inspected and admitted to the 
United States on or before the date of the en-
actment of this Act; or 
(ii) was paroled into the United States 
during the period beginning on July 30, 2021, 
and ending on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, provided that— 
(I) such parole has not been termi-
nated by the Secretary upon written notice; 
and 
(II) the alien did not enter the United 
States at a location between ports of entry 
along the southwest land border; and 
(E) is admissible to the United States as 
an immigrant under the applicable immigration 
laws, including eligibility for waivers of grounds 
of inadmissibility to the extent provided by the 
immigration laws and the terms of this section. 
(b) CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS 
FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.— 
(1) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS TO CONDITIONAL 
PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS.—Beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary— 
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(A) may adjust the status of each eligible 
individual to that of an alien lawfully admitted 
for permanent residence status, subject to the 
procedures established by the Secretary to de-
termine eligibility for conditional permanent 
resident status; and 
(B) shall create for each eligible individual 
who is granted adjustment of status under this 
section a record of admission to such status as 
of the date on which the eligible individual was 
initially inspected and admitted or paroled into 
the United States, or July 30, 2021, whichever 
is later, 
unless the Secretary determines, on a case-by-case 
basis, that such individual is inadmissible under any 
ground of inadmissibility under section 212 (other 
than subsection (a)(4)) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) and is not eligible for 
a waiver of such grounds of inadmissibility as pro-
vided by this Act or by the immigration laws. 
(2) CONDITIONAL
BASIS.—An individual who 
obtains lawful permanent resident status under this 
section shall be considered, at the time of obtaining 
the status of an alien lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence, to have obtained such status on a 
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conditional basis subject to the provisions of this 
section. 
(c) CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS 
DESCRIBED.— 
(1) ASSESSMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Before granting condi-
tional permanent resident status to an eligible 
individual under subsection (b)(1), the Sec-
retary shall conduct an assessment with respect 
to the eligible individual, which shall be equiva-
lent in rigor to the assessment conducted with 
respect to refugees admitted to the United 
States through the United States Refugee Ad-
missions Program, for the purpose of deter-
mining whether the eligible individual is inad-
missible under any ground of inadmissibility 
under section 212 (other than subsection 
(a)(4)) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1182) and is not eligible for a waiver 
of such grounds of inadmissibility under para-
graph (2)(C) or the immigration laws. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—In conducting an as-
sessment under subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary may consult with the head of any other 
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relevant agency and review the holdings of any 
such agency. 
(2) REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not earlier than the 
date described in subparagraph (B), the Sec-
retary may remove the conditional basis of the 
status of an individual granted conditional per-
manent resident status under this section un-
less the Secretary determines, on a case-by-case 
basis, that such individual is inadmissible under 
any ground of inadmissibility under paragraph 
(2) or (3) of section 212(a) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), and is 
not eligible for a waiver of such grounds of in-
admissibility under subparagraph (C) or the im-
migration laws. 
(B) DATE
DESCRIBED.—The date de-
scribed in this subparagraph is the earlier of— 
(i) the date that is 4 years after the 
date on which the individual was admitted 
or paroled into the United States; or 
(ii) July 1, 2027. 
(C) WAIVER.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), to determine eligibility for 
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conditional 
permanent 
resident 
status 
under subsection (b) or removal of condi-
tions under this paragraph, the Secretary 
may waive the application of the grounds 
of inadmissibility under section 212(a) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1182(a)) for humanitarian pur-
poses or to ensure family unity. 
(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary may 
not waive under clause (i) the application 
of subparagraphs (C) through (E) and (G) 
through (H) of paragraph (2), or para-
graph (3), of section 212(a) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(a)). 
(iii) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Noth-
ing in this subparagraph may be construed 
to expand or limit any other waiver author-
ity applicable under the immigration laws 
to an individual who is otherwise eligible 
for adjustment of status. 
(D) TIMELINE.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date described in subparagraph (B), 
the Secretary shall, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, remove conditions as to all individuals 
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(g) PERIODIC NONADVERSARIAL MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which an individual is conferred 
conditional permanent resident status under this 
section, and periodically thereafter, the Office of 
Refugee Resettlement shall make available opportu-
nities for the individual to participate in a nonadver-
sarial meeting, during which an official of the Office 
of Refugee Resettlement (or an agency funded by 
the Office) shall— 
(A) on request by the individual, assist the 
individual in a referral or application for appli-
cable benefits administered by the Department 
of Health and Human Services and completing 
any applicable paperwork; and 
(B) answer any questions regarding eligi-
bility for other benefits administered by the 
United States Government. 
(2) NOTIFICATION
OF
REQUIREMENTS.—Not 
later than 7 days before the date on which a meeting 
under paragraph (1) is scheduled to occur, the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall provide 
notice to the individual that includes the date of the 
scheduled meeting and a description of the process 
for rescheduling the meeting. 
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(3) CONDUCT OF MEETING.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall implement prac-
tices to ensure that— 
(A) meetings under paragraph (1) are con-
ducted in a nonadversarial manner; and 
(B) interpretation and translation services 
are provided to individuals granted conditional 
permanent resident status under this section 
who have limited English proficiency. 
(4) RULES
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed— 
(A) to prevent an individual from electing 
to have counsel present during a meeting under 
paragraph (1); or 
(B) in the event that an individual declines 
to participate in such a meeting, to affect the 
individual’s conditional permanent resident sta-
tus under this section or eligibility to have con-
ditions removed in accordance with this section. 
(h) CONSIDERATION.—Except with respect to an ap-
plication for naturalization and the benefits described in 
subsection (p), an individual in conditional permanent 
resident status under this section shall be considered to 
be an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence for 
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purposes of the adjudication of an application or petition 
for a benefit or the receipt of a benefit. 
(i) NOTIFICATION
OF REQUIREMENTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date on which the status of an 
individual is adjusted to that of conditional permanent 
resident status under this section, the Secretary shall pro-
vide notice to such individual with respect to the provisions 
of this section, including subsection (c)(1) (relating to the 
conduct of assessments) and subsection (g) (relating to 
periodic nonadversarial meetings). 
(j) APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION.—The Sec-
retary shall establish procedures whereby an individual 
who would otherwise be eligible to apply for naturalization 
but for having conditional permanent resident status, may 
be considered for naturalization coincident with removal 
of conditions under subsection (c)(2). 
(k) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An alien described in para-
graph (2) shall be regarded as lawfully admitted for 
permanent residence as of the date the alien was ini-
tially inspected and admitted or paroled into the 
United States, or July 30, 2021, whichever is later. 
(2) ALIEN DESCRIBED.—An alien described in 
this paragraph is an alien who— 
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(A) is described in subparagraph (A), (B), 
or (D) of subsection (a)(2), and whose status 
was adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admit-
ted for permanent residence on or after July 
30, 2021, but on or before the date of the en-
actment of this Act; or 
(B) is an eligible individual whose status is 
then adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admit-
ted for permanent residence after the date of 
the enactment of this Act under any provision 
of the immigration laws other than this section. 
(l) PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDIANS OF UNACCOM-
PANIED CHILDREN.—A parent or legal guardian of an eli-
gible individual shall be eligible to obtain status as an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence on a conditional 
basis if— 
(1) the eligible individual— 
(A) was under 18 years of age on the date 
on which the eligible individual was granted 
conditional permanent resident status under 
this section; and 
(B) was not accompanied by at least one 
parent or guardian on the date the eligible indi-
vidual was admitted or paroled into the United 
States; and 
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(2) such parent or legal guardian was admitted 
or paroled into the United States after the date re-
ferred to in paragraph (1)(B). 
(m) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) INTERIM GUIDANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance imple-
menting this section. 
(B) PUBLICATION.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 553 of title 5, United States Code, guid-
ance issued pursuant to subparagraph (A)— 
(i) may be published on the internet 
website of the Department of Homeland 
Security; and 
(ii) shall be effective on an interim 
basis immediately upon such publication 
but may be subject to change and revision 
after notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. 
(2) FINAL GUIDANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of issuance of guidance 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall final-
ize the guidance implementing this section. 
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(B) EXEMPTION FROM THE ADMINISTRA-
TIVE PROCEDURES ACT.—Chapter 5 of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly known as the 
‘‘Administrative Procedures Act’’), or any other 
law relating to rulemaking or information col-
lection, shall not apply to the guidance issued 
under this paragraph. 
(n) ASYLUM CLAIMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to the adju-
dication of an application for asylum submitted by 
an eligible individual, section 2502(c) of the Extend-
ing Government Funding and Delivering Emergency 
Assistance Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 note; Public Law 
117–43) shall not apply. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
section may be construed to prohibit an eligible indi-
vidual from seeking or receiving asylum under sec-
tion 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158). 
(o) PROHIBITION ON FEES.—The Secretary may not 
charge a fee to any eligible individual in connection with 
the initial issuance under this section of— 
(1) a document evidencing status as an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence or condi-
tional permanent resident status; or 
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(2) an employment authorization document. 
(p) ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law— 
(A) an individual described in subsection 
(a) of section 2502 of the Afghanistan Supple-
mental Appropriations Act, 2022 (8 U.S.C. 
1101 note; Public Law 117–43) shall retain his 
or her eligibility for the benefits and services 
described in subsection (b) of such section if the 
individual is under consideration for, or is 
granted, adjustment of status under this sec-
tion; and 
(B) such benefits and services shall remain 
available to the individual to the same extent 
and for the same periods of time as such bene-
fits and services are otherwise available to refu-
gees who acquire such status. 
(2) EXCEPTION FROM 5-YEAR LIMITED ELIGI-
BILITY
FOR
MEANS-TESTED
PUBLIC
BENEFITS.— 
Section 403(b)(1) of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 
U.S.C. 1613(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘(F) An alien whose status is adjusted 
under section 4 of the Afghan Adjustment Act 
to that of an alien lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence or to that of an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence on a condi-
tional basis.’’. 
(q) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to preclude an eligible individual 
from applying for or receiving any immigration benefit to 
which the individual is otherwise entitled. 
(r) EXEMPTION FROM NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Aliens granted conditional 
permanent resident status or lawful permanent resi-
dent status under this section shall not be subject to 
the numerical limitations under sections 201, 202, 
and 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1151, 1152, and 1153). 
(2) SPOUSE AND CHILDREN BENEFICIARIES.— 
A spouse or child who is the beneficiary of an immi-
grant petition under section 204 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) filed by an 
alien who has been granted conditional permanent 
resident status or lawful permanent resident status 
under this section, seeking classification of the 
spouse or child under section 203(a)(2)(A) of that 
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Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)(2)(A)) shall not be subject to 
the numerical limitations under sections 201, 202, 
and 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1151, 1152, and 1153). 
(s) EFFECT
ON OTHER APPLICATIONS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, in the interest of effi-
ciency, the Secretary may pause consideration of any ap-
plication or request for an immigration benefit pending 
adjudication so as to prioritize consideration of adjust-
ment of status to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
residence on a conditional basis under this section. 
(t) AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Sec-
retary, and the Secretary of State such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5. REFUGEE PROCESSES FOR CERTAIN AT-RISK AF-
GHAN ALLIES. 
(a) DEFINITION OF AFGHAN ALLY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In this section, the term 
‘‘Afghan ally’’ means an alien who is a citizen or na-
tional of Afghanistan, or in the case of an alien hav-
ing no nationality, an alien who last habitually re-
sided in Afghanistan, who— 
(A) was— 
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(i) a member of— 
(I) the special operations forces 
of the Afghanistan National Defense 
and Security Forces; 
(II) the Afghanistan National 
Army Special Operations Command; 
(III) the Afghan Air Force; or 
(IV) the Special Mission Wing of 
Afghanistan; 
(ii) a female member of any other en-
tity of the Afghanistan National Defense 
and Security Forces, including— 
(I) a cadet or instructor at the 
Afghanistan National Defense Univer-
sity; and 
(II) a civilian employee of the 
Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of 
Interior Affairs; 
(iii) an individual associated with 
former Afghan military and police human 
intelligence activities, including operators 
and Department of Defense sources; 
(iv) an individual associated with 
former Afghan military counterintelligence, 
counterterrorism, or counternarcotics; 
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(v) an individual associated with the 
former Afghan Ministry of Defense, Min-
istry of Interior Affairs, or court system, 
and who was involved in the investigation, 
prosecution or detention of combatants or 
members of the Taliban or criminal net-
works affiliated with the Taliban; 
(vi) an individual employed in the 
former justice sector in Afghanistan as a 
judge, prosecutor, or investigator who was 
engaged in rule of law activities for which 
the United States provided funding or 
training; or 
(vii) a senior military officer, senior 
enlisted personnel, or civilian official who 
served on the staff of the former Ministry 
of Defense or the former Ministry of Inte-
rior Affairs of Afghanistan; or 
(B) provided service to an entity or organi-
zation described in subparagraph (A) for not 
less than 1 year during the period beginning on 
December 22, 2001, and ending on September 
1, 2021, and did so in support of the United 
States mission in Afghanistan. 
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(2) INCLUSIONS.—For purposes of this section, 
the Afghanistan National Defense and Security 
Forces includes members of the security forces 
under the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of 
Interior Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghani-
stan, including the Afghanistan National Army, the 
Afghan Air Force, the Afghanistan National Police, 
and any other entity designated by the Secretary of 
Defense as part of the Afghanistan National De-
fense and Security Forces during the relevant period 
of service of the applicant concerned. 
(b) REFUGEE STATUS FOR AFGHAN ALLIES.— 
(1) DESIGNATION
AS
REFUGEES
OF
SPECIAL 
HUMANITARIAN
CONCERN.—Afghan allies shall be 
considered refugees of special humanitarian concern 
under section 207 of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), until the later of 10 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act or upon de-
termination by the Secretary of State, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary, that such designation is no longer in the in-
terest of the United States. 
(2) THIRD
COUNTRY
PRESENCE
NOT
RE-
QUIRED.—Notwithstanding section 101(a)(42) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
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1101(a)(42)), the Secretary of State and the Sec-
retary shall, to the greatest extent possible, conduct 
remote refugee processing for an Afghan ally located 
in Afghanistan. 
(c) AFGHAN ALLIES REFERRAL PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(A) the Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State, shall establish 
a process by which an individual may apply to 
the Secretary of Defense for classification as an 
Afghan ally and request a referral to the United 
States Refugee Admissions Program; and 
(B) the head of any appropriate depart-
ment or agency that conducted operations in 
Afghanistan during the period beginning on De-
cember 22, 2001, and ending on September 1, 
2021, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, may establish a process by which an indi-
vidual may apply to the head of the appropriate 
department or agency for classification as an 
Afghan ally and request a referral to the United 
States Refugee Admissions Program. 
(2) APPLICATION SYSTEM.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The process established 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
(i) include the development and main-
tenance of a secure online portal through 
which applicants may provide information 
verifying their status as Afghan allies and 
upload supporting documentation; and 
(ii) allow— 
(I) an applicant to submit his or 
her own application; 
(II) a designee of an applicant to 
submit an application on behalf of the 
applicant; and 
(III) in the case of an applicant 
who is outside the United States, the 
submission of an application regard-
less of where the applicant is located. 
(B) USE BY OTHER AGENCIES.—The Sec-
retary of Defense— 
(i) may enter into arrangements with 
the head of any other appropriate depart-
ment or agency so as to allow the applica-
tion system established under subpara-
graph (A) to be used by such department 
or agency; and 
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(ii) shall notify the Secretary of State 
of any such arrangement. 
(3) REVIEW PROCESS.—As soon as practicable 
after receiving a request for classification and refer-
ral described in paragraph (1), the head of the ap-
propriate department or agency shall— 
(A) review— 
(i) the service record of the applicant, 
if available; 
(ii) if the applicant provides a service 
record or other supporting documentation, 
any information that helps verify the serv-
ice record concerned, including information 
or an attestation provided by any current 
or former official of the department or 
agency who has personal knowledge of the 
eligibility of the applicant for such classi-
fication and referral; and 
(iii) the data holdings of the depart-
ment or agency and other cooperating 
interagency partners, including as applica-
ble biographic and biometric records, iris 
scans, fingerprints, voice biometric infor-
mation, hand geometry biometrics, other 
identifiable information, and any other in-
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formation related to the applicant, includ-
ing relevant derogatory information; and 
(B)(i) in a case in which the head of the 
department or agency determines that the ap-
plicant is an Afghan ally without significant de-
rogatory information, refer the Afghan ally to 
the United States Refugee Admissions Program 
as a refugee; and 
(ii) include with such referral— 
(I) any service record concerned, 
if available; 
(II) if the applicant provides a 
service record, any information that 
helps verify the service record con-
cerned; and 
(III) any biometrics for the appli-
cant. 
(4) REVIEW PROCESS FOR DENIAL OF REQUEST 
FOR REFERRAL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an appli-
cant with respect to whom the head of the ap-
propriate department or agency denies a re-
quest for classification and referral based on a 
determination that the applicant is not an Af-
ghan ally or based on derogatory information— 
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(i) the head of the department or 
agency shall provide the applicant with a 
written notice of the denial that provides, 
to the maximum extent practicable, a de-
scription of the basis for the denial, includ-
ing the facts and inferences, or evidentiary 
gaps, underlying the individual determina-
tion; and 
(ii) the applicant shall be provided an 
opportunity to submit not more than 1 
written appeal to the head of the depart-
ment or agency for each such denial. 
(B) DEADLINE FOR APPEAL.—An appeal 
under clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be 
submitted— 
(i) not more than 120 days after the 
date on which the applicant concerned re-
ceives notice under clause (i) of that sub-
paragraph; or 
(ii) on any date thereafter, at the dis-
cretion of the head of the appropriate de-
partment or agency. 
(C) REQUEST TO REOPEN.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—An applicant who 
receives a denial under subparagraph (A) 
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may submit a request to reopen a request 
for classification and referral under the 
process established under paragraph (1) so 
that the applicant may provide additional 
information, clarify existing information, 
or explain any unfavorable information. 
(ii) LIMITATION.—After considering 1 
such request to reopen from an applicant, 
the head of the appropriate department or 
agency may deny subsequent requests to 
reopen submitted by the same applicant. 
(5) FORM AND CONTENT OF REFERRAL.—To 
the extent practicable, the head of the appropriate 
department or agency shall ensure that referrals 
made under this subsection— 
(A) conform to requirements established by 
the Secretary of State for form and content; 
and 
(B) are complete and include sufficient 
contact information, supporting documentation, 
and any other material the Secretary of State 
or the Secretary consider necessary or helpful 
in determining whether an applicant is entitled 
to refugee status. 
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(6) TERMINATION.—The application process 
and referral system under this subsection shall ter-
minate upon the later of 1 year before the termi-
nation of the designation under subsection (b)(1) or 
on the date of a joint determination by the Secretary 
of State and the Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary, that such termination is in 
the national interest of the United States. 
(d) GENERAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) PROHIBITION
ON
FEES.—The Secretary, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, or 
the head of any appropriate department or agency 
referring Afghan allies under this section may not 
charge any fee in connection with a request for a 
classification and referral as a refugee under this 
section. 
(2) DEFENSE PERSONNEL.—Any limitation in 
law with respect to the number of personnel within 
the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military 
departments, or a Defense Agency (as defined in 
section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) shall 
not apply to personnel employed for the primary 
purpose of carrying out this section. 
(3) REPRESENTATION.—An alien applying for 
admission to the United States under this section 
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may be represented during the application process, 
including at relevant interviews and examinations, 
by an attorney or other accredited representative. 
Such representation shall not be at the expense of 
the United States Government. 
(4) PROTECTION OF ALIENS.—The Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the head of any other ap-
propriate Federal agency, shall make a reasonable 
effort to provide an alien who has been classified as 
an Afghan ally and has been referred as a refugee 
under this section protection or to immediately re-
move such alien from Afghanistan, if possible. 
(5) OTHER ELIGIBILITY FOR IMMIGRANT STA-
TUS.—No alien shall be denied the opportunity to 
apply for admission under this section solely because 
the alien qualifies as an immediate relative or is eli-
gible for any other immigrant classification. 
(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
2034 to carry out this section. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to inhibit the Secretary of State 
from accepting refugee referrals from any entity. 
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SEC. 6. IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND OVERSIGHT OF REF-
UGEE 
AND 
SPECIAL 
IMMIGRANT 
PROC-
ESSING. 
(a) ACCEPTANCE OF FINGERPRINT CARDS AND SUB-
MISSIONS OF BIOMETRICS.—In addition to the methods 
authorized under the heading relating to the Immigration 
and Naturalization Service under title I of the Depart-
ments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998 (Public Law 
105–119, 111 Stat. 2448; 8 U.S.C. 1103 note), and other 
applicable law, and subject to such safeguards as the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Secretary of State or the 
Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, shall prescribe to en-
sure the integrity of the biometric collection (which shall 
include verification of identity by comparison of such fin-
gerprints with fingerprints taken by or under the direct 
supervision of the Secretary prior to or at the time of the 
individual’s application for admission to the United 
States), the Secretary may, in the case of any application 
for any benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), accept fingerprint cards or any 
other submission of biometrics— 
(1) prepared by international or nongovern-
mental organizations under an appropriate agree-
ment with the Secretary or the Secretary of State; 
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(2) prepared by employees or contractors of the 
Department of Homeland Security or the Depart-
ment of State; or 
(3) provided by an agency (as defined under 
section 3502 of title 44, United States Code). 
(b) STAFFING.— 
(1) VETTING.—The Secretary of State, the Sec-
retary, the Secretary of Defense, and any other 
agency authorized to carry out the vetting process 
under this Act, shall each ensure sufficient staffing, 
and request the resources necessary, to efficiently 
and adequately carry out the vetting of applicants 
for— 
(A) referral to the United States Refugee 
Admissions Program, consistent with the deter-
minations established under section 207 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1157); and 
(B) special immigrant status. 
(2) REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT.—The Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall ensure suffi-
cient staffing to efficiently provide assistance under 
chapter 2 of title IV of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1521 et seq.) to refugees reset-
tled in the United States. 
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(c) REMOTE
PROCESSING.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Secretary of State and the Sec-
retary shall employ remote processing capabilities for ref-
ugee processing under section 207 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), including secure digital 
file transfers, videoconferencing and teleconferencing ca-
pabilities, remote review of applications, remote inter-
views, remote collection of signatures, waiver of the appli-
cant’s appearance or signature (other than a final appear-
ance and verification by the oath of the applicant prior 
to or at the time of the individual’s application for admis-
sion to the United States), waiver of signature for individ-
uals under 5 years old, and any other capability the Sec-
retary of State and the Secretary consider appropriate, se-
cure, and likely to reduce processing wait times at par-
ticular facilities. 
(d) MONTHLY ARRIVAL REPORTS.—With respect to 
monthly reports issued by the Secretary of State relating 
to United States Refugee Admissions Program arrivals, 
the Secretary of State shall report— 
(1) the number of monthly admissions of refu-
gees, disaggregated by priorities; and 
(2) the number of Afghan allies admitted as 
refugees. 
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