Our mission is to connect refugee and immigrant newcomers to the resources needed to establish roots, build community, and become self-sufficient.

Learn more about the programs and services of ReEstablish Richmond:

 
 

Learn about the resettlement agencies and service organizations that provide welcome and integration support here in Richmond, VA:

 
 

FOR AFGHANS GRANTED HUMANITARIAN PAROLE

PATHWAYS TO U.S. IMMIGRATION

Immigration options explained in the following informational videos via Facebook Live by Settle In.

 
 

  • Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)

    • People who are eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa program are those who worked with the U.S. Armed Forces or under Chief of Mission authority as a translator or interpreter in Iraq or Afghanistan.

    • For questions about your Chief of Mission (COM) letter, please contact the National Visa Center (NVC) by email.

  • Humanitarian Parole 

    • Humanitarian parole is a temporary status that is used in times of compelling emergency or urgent humanitarian need. The parole period for Afghans is 2 years.

    • After entering the U.S. under humanitarian parole, a person can apply for another immigration status, including asylum. If this request is not successful, the person may be required to leave the U.S.

    • Information on the background of humanitarian parole for Afghans, eligibility, and how to apply is available here.

    • Humanitarian parole petitions must be accompanied by an Affidavit of Support from a sponsor.

  • Asylum

    • Anyone who meets the definition of a refugee can apply for asylum within the U.S. or at a U.S. port of entry.

    • The asylum process can take anywhere from 6 months to several years. Legal assistance is needed.

    • Asylum seekers can receive work authorization while they are waiting for a final decision on their case.

    • Once someone is granted asylum, they are eligible for services from a local resettlement office.

  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

    • To be eligible for TPS, you must:

      • Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country;

      • File during the open initial registration or re-registration period, or you meet the requirements for late initial filing during any extension of your country’s TPS designation;

      • Have been continuously physically present (CPP) in the United States since the effective date of the most recent designation date of your country; and

      • Have been continuously residing (CR) in the United States since the date specified for your country. The law allows an exception to the continuous physical presence and continuous residence requirements for brief, casual and innocent departures from the United States. When you apply or re-register for TPS, you must inform USCIS of all absences from the United States since the CPP and CR dates. USCIS will determine whether the exception applies in your case.

    • You may NOT be eligible for TPS or to maintain your existing TPS if you:

      • Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States;

      • Are found inadmissible as an immigrant under applicable grounds in INA section 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-related grounds;

      • Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum. These include, but are not limited to, participating in the persecution of another individual or engaging in or inciting terrorist activity;

      • Fail to meet the continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the United States requirements;

      • Fail to meet initial or late initial TPS registration requirements; OR

      • If granted TPS, you fail to re-register for TPS, as required, without good cause.


LEGAL ASSISTANCE — LOCAL

If you are a client of one of the local resettlement agencies, contacting the agency should be your first step in seeking immigration support. There may be financial resources available to IRC and CCC clients seeking immigration support.

IRC: immigration.va@rescue.org

CCC: agency@cccofva.org


Individuals with a viable asylum claim who do not want to utilize resettlement agency support may contact one of the following reputable, trustworthy local immigration attorneys for hire.

Isaac K. Adams, Dyer Immigration Law Group | Contact isaac@dyerimmigration.com or call 804-377-7247

Veena Lothe | Contact veenaglothe@gmail.com

Jacob Tingen, Tingen Law, PLLC | Contact jacob@tingen.law or call 804-477-1720


LEGAL ASSISTANCE — NATIONAL

  • Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC)

    • This searchable online directory lists nearly 400 affiliates providing affordable immigration legal services across 47 states and the District of Columbia. Search by city, state, or name of affiliate organization.

  • Immigration Law Help

    • This searchable online directory lists over 1,000 free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal services providers in all 50 states. Search by state, zip code, type of legal assistance provided, populations served, and/or languages spoken.

    • More information about the process of getting legal help for an immigration case is available here.

  • International Refugee Assistance Project

    • A list of free immigration legal service providers in the United States is available here.

    • A list of private immigration attorneys in the United States is available here.

    • Information about refugee protection programs in various countries neighboring Afghanistan, including visa-free access for Afghan nationals, is available here.


COUNSELING + EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

  • Henrico County Mental Health Services

    • For emotional health support, Henrico County residents can walk in for same-day access or call 804-727-8515 to request an intake with a counselor.

    • Services are available in Dari/Farsi for both adults and children, ages 4-18.

    • For emergency situations, please call 804-727-8484.