Uk Visa For Afghan Refugees
It is easy to get a UK visa if you are an Afghan refugee. The refugees are allowed to travel to Britain as a part of this new policy. In the past, a successful visa application would only be considered by skilled Afghans working in professional jobs or someone offering something of economic benefit. This was the case until 2014 when the government changed its rules for Afghan refugees.
Thousands of Afghans are in the UK on Visitor Visas. Many people were worried that they would not be able to get work permits after their visas expired. But the government is working hard at this issue and has a lot of great resources available online to help migrants apply for work visas.
The United States of America is a welcoming country that has afforded refugees from around the world a chance to start over and rebuild their lives. The US government has been granting Afghan refugees visas for many years, and these visas are an essential part of rebuilding communities, families, and lives.
In order for refugees to receive a visa, they must first be deemed eligible by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Once this has been done, they must also meet with an immigration officer who will determine if they qualify for permanent residency in the US. If they do not meet these requirements, then they will not be granted visas.
The number of visas given out annually varies depending on how many people apply and how many are deemed eligible. This process can take months or even years depending on how long it takes applicants to complete interviews with UNHCR as well as with immigration officials.
If you are interested in applying for an Afghan refugee visa but do not know where to begin or what steps are involved in applying for one then call [phone number] today!
In the face of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, it’s important to remember that the country has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world. In fact, one group of refugees—Afghanistanis fleeing their war-torn country—has been particularly successful at integrating into American society and making meaningful contributions to their communities. This is because they were given a chance.
The United States has a long history of accepting Afghan refugees as part of its annual refugee quota. The first wave came in 1980 as part of Operation Cyclone, which was designed to support Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. After 9/11, however, many Americans began to see all Muslims as potential terrorists and opposed allowing them into the country without thorough vetting. This resulted in an increase in deportations—leaving many Afghans with no choice but to return home or live illegally in the United States without proper documentation.
This isn’t just a problem for these individuals; it’s also bad for America itself because we stand to lose out on some great talent when we reject qualified candidates based purely on their ethnicity or religion instead of focusing on their individual merits as human beings who have suffered through hardship but still want nothing more than peace and prosperity
There are many reasons why the United States should offer visas to Afghan refugees. The most important is that these people are fleeing war and violence in their home country, and they deserve to be able to live without fear of being persecuted for their religious beliefs.
A second reason is that Afghanistan has been at war for over thirty years now, and it’s doubtful that peace will be achieved anytime soon. As such, it would be best for these people to be able to move away from the danger of living in a war zone.
In addition, it’s true that many nations around the world have offered asylum to Afghan refugees; however, many of these countries do not have as strong a commitment to human rights as does America. As such, we should consider ourselves morally obligated to provide them with a safe place where they can live free from fear of persecution or violence based on their religious beliefs.
Afghan refugees will receive permanent residency visas
Boris Johnson has announced that Afghan refugees arriving in the UK via the Afghanistan Resettlement Scheme will receive permanent residency. The prime minister told the House of Commons that the refugees will be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Indefinite Leave to Remain is a form of settled status that allows overseas nationals to live, work and study in the UK permanently. After living in the UK for 5 years with Indefinite Leave to Remain, refugees can be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
Johnson also announced that 300 university scholarship would be made available to Afghan refugees as well as free English courses.
What is the Afghanistan Resettlement Scheme?
In response to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last month the UK government announced a new refugee resettlement scheme aimed at protecting people at risk in Afghanistan. The Afghan Citizen’s Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is now the 5th refugee resettlement scheme operating in the UK.
5,000 refugees are expected to be issued visas under the new scheme in 2021, with the Home Office promising resettlement for a further 15,000 Afghan refugees in the next three years.
The scheme will prioritise certain people, Boris Johnson said:
“We are upholding Britain’s finest tradition of welcoming those in need and I emphasise that under this scheme we will of course work with the UN and aid agencies to identify those we should help,”
“We will also include Afghans who have contributed to civil society or who face a particular risk from the Taliban, for example, because of their role in standing up for democracy and human rights, or because of their gender, or sexuality or religion.”
Evacuation of Afghanistan completed
The UK’s last military flight left Kabul on 28th August after evacuating over 15,000 British nationals and Afghans from the country in two weeks.
However, over 300 eligible people have reportedly been left behind with the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, admitting he was not sure of the exact number of people left behind.
Since then, the foreign secretary has called on the Taliban to open Kabul airport so that those eligible to come to the UK can have safe passage.
Boris Johnson has also warned that the Taliban must adhere to international obligations if they wish to access state funds that are currently held overseas. He said:
“Our first duty is the security of the United Kingdom and if the new regime in Kabul wants international recognition and access to the billions of dollars currently frozen in overseas accounts, then we and our friends will hold them to their agreement to prevent Afghanistan from ever again becoming an incubator for terrorism…And we shall insist on safe passage for anyone who wishes to leave, and respect for the rights of women and girls.”
Who will be eligible for the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme?
The Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will prioritise:
- those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law
- vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+)
The scheme will focus on those who remain in Afghanistan, primarily Afghan nationals, however mixed nationality families will also be eligible. Spouses, partners and dependent children under the age of 18 of eligible individuals will be eligible for the scheme. Other family members may be resettled in exceptional circumstances.
How can you Apply to enter the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme?
There is no application process for the ACRS. Prioritisation and referral for resettlement will be in one of 3 ways:
- Vulnerable and at-risk individuals who arrived in the UK under the evacuation programme will be the first to be settled under the ACRS. Eligible individuals who were specifically called forward for evacuation but were not able to board flights, will also be offered a place under the scheme.
- From Spring 2022, the UNHCR will refer refugees in need of resettlement who have fled Afghanistan. The UK government will continue to receive referrals to the scheme in coming years.
- The third referral pathway will relocate those at risk who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan, as well as those who are particularly vulnerable, such as women and girls at risk and members of minority groups. In the first year of this pathway, the government will offer ACRS places to the most at risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be in touch with those eligible to support them through next steps. Beyond the first year, the government will work with international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans at risk.
There is no application process for the scheme, but for those applying under Pathway 3, you can submit an expression of interest using the gov.uk form. In the first year, this only applies to those who meet the definitions below.
Pathway 3
Additional guidance was released on 13 June on eligibility for consideration under Pathway 3.
To be eligible under this pathway, you must meet one of the following definitions, set out in the guidance:
“British Council contractors
For the purposes of Pathway 3 of the ACRS, a British Council contractor is someone contracted directly to the British Council in Afghanistan to carry out duties in a way similar to an employee. This includes in particular individuals who were contracted to take on regular and public-facing roles, providing services or benefits to beneficiaries on behalf of the British Council, and who were therefore closely associated with delivering the UK government’s mission in Afghanistan. A British Council contractor does not include those contracted to provide professional services such as accounting, marketing, maintenance of office equipment, directly or via a third party, nor does it include those representing the British Council as a commercial agent, for example for the recruitment of examination candidates.
GardaWorld contractors
For the purposes of Pathway 3 of the ACRS a GardaWorld contractor is someone employed by GardaWorld on host country terms and conditions, for a period of 3 months or more after 1 July 2020, exclusively to support the British Embassy Kabul contract. GardaWorld contractor includes someone whose contract was terminated during or after March 2021 due to the reduction in the requirement for guarding the British Embassy in Kabul, and someone who, while engaged as part of the GardaWorld Regional Management Team, provided dedicated and material support to the British Embassy Kabul contract.
Chevening Alumni
For the purposes of Pathway 3 of the ACRS an Afghanistan Chevening Alumnus is someone awarded an Afghanistan Chevening Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom, and who completed their course of study under the terms of their Scholarship.”
As set out above, if you meet one of these definitions you can fill out the expression of interest form. You must submit an expression of interest form by 11:59 BST on Monday 15 August 2022. There are up to 1,500 places available in the first year under Pathway 3.
What form of leave do individuals acquire under the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme?
Anyone who is resettled through the ACRS will receive indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILR) in the UK, and will be able to apply for British citizenship after 5 years in the UK under existing rules.
Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy is a separate route from the Afghanistan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme. The ARAP launched on 1 April 2021.
The ARAP is aimed at current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life and are offered priority relocation to the UK regardless of their employment status, rank or role, or length of time served.
The Afghanistan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme aims to welcome 5,000 Afghans in year one, with up to a total of 20,000 in the long-term. This number is in addition to the 5,000 expected under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
Visa Applications from Afghanistan
Afghan nationals can still apply for a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join family.
There is currently no Visa Application Centre (VAC) operating in Afghanistan. If you are in Afghanistan and wish to make a UK visa application, you will normally have to submit your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) in a VAC in a third country to complete your application.
Conclusion
For thousands of years Afghanistan has been home to some of the world’s greatest culture and art. The country is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, but sadly today one of the poorest places on earth due to decades of war. Still, there are many more people who wish to flee Taliban control and be reunited with their families in the UK than currently allowed by visa restrictions. For hundreds waiting at refugee camps in Europe and Asia, and thousands more waiting on life support back home, their only hope is for you – kind-hearted individuals all over the world – to sign this petition, which will be presented directly to The UK Government Office.