How Can I Bring My Family to the United States?

Family reunification for Afghans is a complex process. Ali answers some common questions on this webpage. For more details about family reunification, see “Family Reunification for Afghan Arrivals by Immigration Status.” Or watch our Immigration Services for Afghan Arrivals (ILSAA) video "Family Reunification Information for Afghan Arrivals."

If you are a legal service provider, see our ILSAA video “Providing Family Reunification Assistance to Afghan Arrivals.”

Family reunification for Lawful Permanent Residents

Hi, Ali. I just became a Lawful Permanent Resident. My husband, son, and daughter are still in Afghanistan. Can they join me in the United States?

Congratulations on getting your Green Card! Yes, your lawful spouse and unmarried children under 21 are eligible to join you. If you have unmarried adult sons or daughters, they might be able to join you too. But they may have to wait longer for a visa.

That is very good news. My son is 8 and my daughter is 6. How do I get started?

Complete and submit Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. If it is approved, the U.S. government will contact your family members to apply for visas. If you received your LPR status based on being an Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder, refugee, or asylee, you may have additional ways to bring your spouse and children to the United States, such as Form I-730 or Form I-824.

Oh, thank you, Ali. That makes sense. I will contact my lawyer for help with the I-130. I will also ask if there are other ways that I can apply for my family members. Are there any fees?

Yes. You can use the USCIS Fee Calculator to see the cost of Form I-130. Fee waivers or exemptions may be available. Your lawyer can help you with the filing process.

I heard I must show I have enough money to support them in the United States. Is that right?

If you file Form I-130, it is correct that you will eventually need to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. Immigrants use this form to show they will have financial support in the United States. However, if you are eligible to file for your family members using Form I-730 or the Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) process, you will not need to demonstrate financial ability to support them.

One more question, Ali. My cousin Sayed also has family in Afghanistan. He had a Special Immigrant Visa, but now he is a Lawful Permanent Resident. Can he use the same form?

SIV cases may vary based on when your status changes and when family relationships started. If Sayed arrived in the United States on an SIV, his family may be able to use the “follow-to-join” process. If he adjusted to an SIV after he arrived, he may need to use Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition.

Sayed may have other options, as well, including Form I-130 or the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. He can consult a lawyer to learn more about these options.

Family reunification for asylees and refugees

Hi, Ali. I just became an asylee. My wife and three daughters are still in Afghanistan. Can they join me in the United States?

That is great news, Naeem. Yes, if you are a principal asylee or principal refugee or if you are a Lawful Permanent Resident based on asylum/refugee status, you may file Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, to apply for your lawful spouse and unmarried children under 21 to obtain derivative refugee or asylee status to join you in the United States.

People admitted to the United States as refugees may also be able to file Form DS-7656 (with assistance from a resettlement agency) to apply for their family members if they reside outside of Afghanistan. It is OK to file both forms—the I-730 and the DS-7656—for your eligible relatives. You are not limited to one or the other.

Is there a deadline for sending the forms?

You must submit Form I-730 within two years of your grant of asylum or from the date you were admitted into the United States as a refugee. If Form I-730 is approved, the U.S. government will contact you and your family members to schedule their interviews. It is important to ensure that before you file Form I-730, you have a final grant of asylum or refugee status. If you file a Form I-730 prior to being granted asylum or being admitted as a refugee, Form I-730 may be denied.

Oh, I see. Thanks for explaining that. One more thing. Are there any fees?

Not for now. Please visit the USCIS Form I-730 website for information on filing Form I-730.

That is good news. Thank you, Ali!

Family reunification for parolees

Hi, Ali. I came to the United States in early 2021 as a parolee. My wife and son are still in Afghanistan. Can they join me in the United States? My son is over 21 now. I am worried that he cannot come.

Your lawful spouse and unmarried children under 21 as of August 14, 2021, may be able to join you. How old was your son on August 14, 2021?

My son turned 19 on July 4, 2021.

Wonderful! Then you may apply for him to join you.

That is a relief. How do I get started?

You may use Form DS-4317, Family Reunification Assistance for Afghan Parolees' Immediate Family Members Outside the United States. If the U.S. government can help your lawful wife and son depart Afghanistan, they will travel to a country where they can be considered for refugee status or parole.

How do I fill out Form DS-4317?

You can start by gathering important records for your applications. Helpful documents may include Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), birth or marriage certificates, Tazkiras, and passports. If seeking assistance from a lawyer, ask what else you may need to provide.

Thank you. How about costs to submit Form DS-4317? Are there any fees?

Not for now, though this could change. Visit the U.S. State Department’s Afghanistan Family Reunification website for more information.

Wonderful! Thank you, Ali.