Good Afternoon All,
As you may be aware, as communicated by ORR:
In response to the rapid evacuation and resettlement of Afghans, per the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, and effective as of September 30, 2021, Congress has authorized the following:
- Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 through September 30, 2022 are eligible for mainstream benefits, resettlement assistance, and other benefits available to refugees, until March 31, 2023 or the end of their parole term, whichever is later. (Note that this is also the case for spouses or children of these individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1101(b) who are paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2022.)
- If an unaccompanied child, as defined under 6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2), they are eligible to apply for the URM program.
For humanitarian parolees, the eligibility date for ORR benefits and services is October 1, 2021 (if the individual has already entered the community) or their date of entry into the community, whichever is later.
As stated above, please note that these Afghan humanitarian parolees are also eligible for mainstream benefits: ORR does not have authority over mainstream benefit programs and their eligibility dates, but ORR will communicate its own interpretations with its partners.
ORR is in the process of drafting policy letters explaining in greater detail this new Congressional authority and listing documentation requirements for these categories of ORR-eligible Afghan arrivals.
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The below webinar may also be of interest!
Webinar Registration: Afghan Legal Status and Eligibility
Thursday, October 14th from 3:00-4:00PM EST
Join USCCB, CLINIC, and the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) for a webinar on Afghan legal status and eligibility. CLINIC will discuss the legal status of the Afghan arrivals, including those who arrived with immigrant visas and those who have been granted humanitarian parole. Further, this webinar will discuss legal options for them moving forward, including applying for adjustment of status or asylum. MPI will review eligibility for federal services and benefits that may be available to arriving Afghan evacuees, including mainstream health and other public benefits, and issues and opportunities in assisting arriving evacuees in connecting to these services and benefits.
Facilitators:
- Elizabeth Carlson, Senior Attorney, CLINIC
- Mark Greenberg, Director, Human Services Initiative, Migration Policy Institute
Please direct any questions to your designated Children’s Services Specialist.
Thank you for all that you do!
Warm Regards,
Lindsay
Lindsay K. Shah (Stepp)
Director, Children’s Services
Migration and Refugee Services, USCCB
(202) 541-3353
"Creating a world where immigrants, refugees, migrants, and people on the move are treated with dignity, respect, welcome, and belonging."
