Key information and different visa schemes for Afghan nationals (20 August 2021)

The Taliban takeover has left Afghan nationals at imminent risk and thousands of refugees homeless. Immediately after occupation Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a speech to the parliament on 18 August 2021 confirming:- “The UK will work with our international partners on a shared plan to support the people of Afghanistan and to contribute to regional stability. First, our immediate focus must be on helping those to whom we have direct obligations, by evacuating UK nationals, together with those Afghans who have assisted our efforts over the past twenty years. I can tell the House that we have so far secured the safe return of 306 UK nationals and 2,052 Afghan nationals as part of our resettlement programme… With a further 2,000 Afghan applications completed and many more being processed. Mr Speaker, that’s the 5000 on whom we are spending £200 million to bring a further 5000 on top – I think it will be 10,000 altogether that we bring under the ARUP and other programmes. We will be increasing that number over the coming years as I said to 20,000. We will not be sending people back to Afghanistan and nor by the way will we be allowing people to come from Afghanistan to this country in an indiscriminate way. Since the takeover of Taliban we have received more than 100 enquiries from British Afghan nationals desperately wishing to bring their families across to the UK.” Our understanding is that British Afghan nationals should try and apply through different visa schemes under the immigration rules and raise compassionate grounds and risk factors in their visa applications. There does not appear to be a single site that hosts key links and advice for different countries that are currently running visa schemes for Afghan nationals. In the mean time for those wishing to exit Afghanistan they should explore alternative routes through the various visa national schemes. The UK is accepting Afghan nationals under Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy, (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy-information-and-guidance) Read the UK Government’s announcement of their bespoke resettlement route for Afghan refugees: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bespoke-resettlement-route-for-afghan-refugees-announced Under this scheme, priority will be given to women and girls, and religious and other minorities, who are most at risk of human rights abuses and dehumanising treatment by the Taliban. This was announced earlier this week and it will take time for the UK to set this scheme up. Useful links and contact details UK The Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme Helpline: call +44 (0) 24 7538 9980 The helpline is available 24/7. Lines may be busy but they will answer as soon as they can. If you worked for the UK Government: email localstaff-afghanistan@mod.gov.uk If you supported UK objectives and are at risk: email afghanspecialcases@fcdo.gov.uk USA US Refugee Admissions Program Priority 2: https://www.state.gov/u-s-refugee-admissions-program-priority-2-designation-for-afghan-nationals/ Resources for Afghan Allies: https://refugees.org/resources-for-afghan-allies/ India e-Emergency X-Misc Visa: Two days ago the Indian Government announced a new visa provision mechanism for Afghans which can be applied for online here: e-Visa - indianvisaonline.gov.in France French Embassies in Tehran and New Delhi are receiving applications: https://af.ambafrance.org/Le-service-des-visas-de-l-ambassade-de-France-en-Afghanistan-est-ferme-au-3871 Germany German embassies in Islamabad and New Delhi are receiving applications: https://afghanistan.diplo.de/af-en/service/05-VisaEinreise/-/2005354 Author Tamana Aziz is a director in the immigration department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. Her specialist practice includes immigration applications, business immigration under the Points Based System (PBS), complex appeals (including deportation and country guidance cases) in Immigration Tribunals, the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.