Immigrant Visas
INFORMATION ON SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS FOR PERSONS SERVING AS TRANSLATORS WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
For the most current information about the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program please see the State Department web site at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3738.html.
What is this program?
Under section 1059 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, Public Law 109- 163, up to 50 Iraqi and Afghan translators working for the U.S. military have been eligible for special immigrant visas (SIVs) each fiscal year (FY). Public Law 110- 36, which President Bush signed into law on June 15, 2007, amends section 1059 by expanding the total number of beneficiaries to 500 a year for FY 2007 and FY 2008 only. In FY 2009, the number of visas available for this category will revert to 50 annually. In addition to these Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants Living Overseas, also see the USCIS Fact Sheet on Afghan and Iraqi Translators.
This amendment also expands the category of eligible candidates to cover Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters who are under Chief of Mission (COM) authority.
What is meant by fiscal year?
The fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends September 30.