Title: Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 or the Allies Act of 2021
This bill increases the number of special immigrant visas available to qualified Afghan nationals who worked for the U.S. government or a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Afghanistan. The bill also relaxes certain qualifications for such visas.
Specifically, this bill makes available an additional 8,000 visas for principal aliens under this special visa program, to be available until all such visas have been issued. (The numerical limitations in this program apply only to the principal alien who applies for the visa, not to any spouse or child who may accompany the principal alien.)
The bill also eliminates a requirement for each applicant to submit a credible sworn statement describing the threat the applicant faces in Afghanistan due to their employment with the U.S. government or a NATO mission.
Furthermore, for an applicant qualifying for a visa by performing duties for U.S. military personnel stationed with a NATO mission, this bill eliminates a requirement that the duties performed qualify as sensitive and trusted duties.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3985 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3985

   To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to expedite the 
special immigrant visa process for certain Afghan allies, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2021

    Mr. Crow (for himself, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Moulton, Mr. 
Gallego, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Bacon, Mr. San Nicolas, Mr. Kim 
 of New Jersey, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Meijer, Mr. Bera, 
  Mr. Welch, Mr. Baird, Ms. Jacobs of California, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. 
 Dunn, Mr. Malinowski, Mr. Lamb, Ms. Dean, Mr. Thompson of California, 
  Mr. Schiff, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Wenstrup) introduced the following 
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to expedite the 
special immigrant visa process for certain Afghan allies, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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) by striking subparagraph (E); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E).
    (b) Activities for United States Military Personnel Stationed at 
International Security Assistance 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) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
to any application for special immigrant visas 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.
    (d) 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. ADDITIONAL AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA ALLOTMENT.

    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.--Beginning on the 
                date of the enactment of this subparagraph, in addition 
                to any unused balance under this paragraph, 8,000 
                principal aliens may be granted special immigrant 
                status under this subsection. For purposes of status 
                provided under this subparagraph the authority to issue 
                visas shall commence on the date of the enactment of 
                this subparagraph and shall terminate on the date such 
                visas are exhausted.''.
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