Being a migrant is an extremely complex process, from the moment you decide to leave your hometown for the first time until you manage to find a place to call home again. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has decided that, for those people who are in a situation of green card regulation, it wants to implement some improvements in the process of expediting the application. Thus, a political change reflects a great effort so that many migrants (mostly Afghans) can simplify their paths to permanent residence after their arrival in the country.
Key benefits for Afghans
Those Afghan migrants who arrived under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) can now benefit from an “extra” measure which consists of not having to re-submit to immigration medical examinations when applying for their green card. As we well know, to apply for the Green Card you have to fill out several forms (as they appear in the USCIS Policy Manual Guidelines), and this new change applies to any form l-485 (which is the application that must be made by those who want to register permanent residency in the country).
Who will this update serve then?
As we have already said, it will focus especially on those Afghans who entered the country through the OAW, however, they will have to previously meet three essential requirements that we are going to list below.
- Those who have already passed a first medical immigration examination using form l-693 prior to entering US territory.
- Only those who entered the country with the OAW initiative.
- Those people who are waiting for permanent residence (through form l-485) either pending or processed as of November 13, 2024.
This decision is made in conjunction with updated requirements established by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What prompted this policy change?
This update is in response to the inefficiency of the long waits that the green card application process causes.
In the case of Afghan migrants, they already underwent medical examinations before entering the United States, so it is a waste of time for them to have to go through that process again when it is something they already have, so that the state can save time and resources and in the same way speed up the processes. With this change, they want to reflect the state’s commitment to vulnerable communities, and especially to those seeking asylum.
Why are medical tests carried out?
They are a way for the State to ensure public health, since most migrants come from countries with less health conditions. Through these tests, they aim to reduce the possibility of communicable diseases that cause an epidemic in the country, as could happen, for example, with Ebola.
What is the OAW process?
The Operation Allies Welcome initiative has been practically a lifeline for some Afghans. It was proposed after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. With this project, they have provided housing support and legal avenues for thousands of Afghans so that they can rebuild their lives. Now that many are in the process of wanting to reside permanently in the United States, USCIS has wanted to provide them with extra support by eliminating one of the steps so that the adaptation process is over and they can be considered a part of our community.
And finally, what are green cards?
These cards are official documents that allow migrants to live and work in the country indefinitely and legally. This is a previous step to acquiring US citizenship (only for those individuals who meet all the legal requirements, of course). Each user who is assigned a green card has rights and responsibilities very similar to those of any American (except for obvious things like voting in federal elections).
In this way, the situation of many people who are in the country illegally is legalized.