State Department Halts Visa Processing for Afghan Nationals

The U.S. State Department on November 29, 2025 instructed diplomats and consular officers around the world to stop processing immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for Afghan nationals, a move that effectively pauses the Special Immigrant Visa program that has resettled Afghans who aided U.S. forces and agencies. The instruction arrived in the form of a cable directing posts to refuse applications from holders of Afghan passports, to hold but deny scheduled appointments, to reverse unprinted visas, and to cancel visas that had already been printed.

The directive followed a deadly attack in Washington linked to a former member of an Afghan unit, and came amid a broader set of administration measures tightening immigration and asylum policies. Reuters reported the change after reviewing the diplomatic cable and related sources. State Department officials did not provide public statements in the reporting reviewed for this article.

Consular operations will face immediate implementation challenges. Posts that maintain appointments for Afghan applicants are instructed to document and return denials rather than proceed, a process that officials said will require administrative reversals of previously issued paperwork and the revocation of printed travel documents. For applicants who had already begun the multi year SIV process, the pause introduces uncertainty about timelines, eligibility reviews, and the fate of cases that had been certified and were awaiting final processing.

Advocacy groups warned the suspension would strand many Afghans awaiting resettlement after helping U.S. operations. Those groups have previously argued that the SIV program is both a moral commitment and a practical tool for protecting people who risked their lives on behalf of U.S. missions. The pause is likely to intensify pressure from veterans, refugee advocates, and congressional offices that have overseen SIV implementation and pushed for expedited processing in past years.

Beyond immediate humanitarian consequences, the directive carries policy implications for U.S. foreign relations and future recruiting of local partners in conflict zones. Analysts note that the credibility of protected pathways for local allies can affect willingness of collaborators to work with U.S. forces and agencies in the future. The interruption also intersects with domestic politics, where immigration and national security remain high salience issues for voters and policymakers.

Legal and procedural questions will be central to the next phase of oversight. Congress retains authorities to subpoena administration records, hold hearings, and press for explanations of the decision and its statutory basis. Courts could become a venue for challenges if applicants or advocacy groups seek emergency relief on humanitarian grounds.

For now, Afghan nationals with pending SIV and other visa cases face immediate suspension of processing and an uncertain timetable for resumption. The action is likely to shape debate in Washington about how to balance security concerns with longstanding commitments to those who aided U.S. missions overseas.