HR 8685 United States House · 117th Congress

Afghan Adjustment Act

Summary
Afghan Adjustment Act This bill expands eligibility for special immigrant visas to certain Afghan nationals (and accompanying spouse and children) and addresses related issues. The Department of Homeland Security may provide such visas to Afghan nationals who provided qualifying service as a member of the Afghan Air Force or other specified entities and meet eligibility requirements, such as passing a background check. Currently, special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals are generally only available to those who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan. Such visas shall also be available to an Afghan national who is a qualifying relative of a veteran or member of the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill also modifies procedures for providing lawful permanent resident status to certain classes of Afghan nationals, such as by (1) providing a streamlined process with specified vetting requirements for certain individuals, including those who provided support to the U.S. government in Afghanistan; and (2) preserving the eligibility of certain battered spouses whose eligibility for such status stemmed from a marriage that has terminated. Furthermore, the Department of State (1) must respond to inquiries from Members of Congress about specific applications from Afghan nationals seeking special immigrant or refugee status; and (2) establish an office in Afghanistan to perform certain tasks, such as issuing visas, if no U.S. embassies are operational in Afghanistan. The President must establish a task force to develop and implement a strategy to assist Afghan nationals who qualify for admission to the United States.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2022
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Aug 9, 2022 Last action Nov 1, 2022
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Nov 1, 2022
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
lower
Aug 9, 2022
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Aug 9, 2022
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 145 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Earl Blumenauer
Earl Blumenauer
DDemocratic
OR
3
Co
Photo of A. Donald McEachin
A. Donald McEachin
DDemocratic
VA
4
Co
Photo of Abigail Davis Spanberger
Abigail Davis Spanberger
DDemocratic
VA
7
Co
Photo of Adam B. Schiff
Adam B. Schiff
DDemocratic
CA
n/a
Co
Photo of Adam Kinzinger
Adam Kinzinger
RRepublican
IL
16
Co
Photo of Adam Smith
Adam Smith
DDemocratic
WA
9
Co
Photo of Alan S. Lowenthal
Alan S. Lowenthal
DDemocratic
CA
47
Co
Photo of Albio Sires
Albio Sires
DDemocratic
NJ
8
Co
Photo of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
DDemocratic
NY
14
Co
Photo of Alma S. Adams
Alma S. Adams
DDemocratic
NC
12
Co
Photo of Ami Bera
Ami Bera
DDemocratic
CA
6