Bill Overview
Title: Support Our Afghan Partners Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to increase consular personnel to support the processing of visa applications for Afghan nationals.
Sponsors: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8]
Target Audience
Population: Afghan nationals seeking expedited US visa processing
Estimated Size: 1000000
- Afghan nationals are directly impacted as the bill aims to expedite their visa processing.
- The bill may indirectly affect families of Afghan nationals who live in regions with significant Afghan communities outside Afghanistan, such as Pakistan, Iran, and India.
- Refugee and immigrant communities within the United States may also feel the effects due to changes in community demographics and support resources.
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates millions of displaced Afghans who might be interested in expedited visa access.
Reasoning
- Priority is given to Afghan nationals seeking visas, including SIV applicants, who are directly impacted by this policy. This policy is directly relevant to US-internal Afghan communities due to potential reunification opportunities and impacts on their social structure.
- The policy budget is bound to cap the extent of impact, catering to only a fraction of Afghan nationals seeking expedited processing, focusing budget on consular staff to process backlogs.
- For non-Afghan US citizens, especially those in communities with substantial Afghan populations, the effects might be indirect, changing community compositions or resources allocated to new arrivals.
- The distribution of interviews will reflect both directly affected individuals and those indirectly impacted due to changes in community dynamics.
Simulated Interviews
Stay-at-home mom (California)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm really hopeful about this policy because it means there might be a faster way for my sister and her family to come here safely.
- We feel a lot of anxiety about their situation back home and the constant wait list updates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software engineer (Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am grateful for any chance to expedite the visa process. This could help bring my parents here more quickly.
- The policy could reduce the blend of anxiety and guilt knowing family is in a volatile region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Community Organizer (Illinois)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased consular support will be a boon for Afghan families stuck in limbo.
- It aligns with our goals of making immigration processes more human-centric.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Graduate Student (New York)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it may not impact me directly, I see it supporting many who come through our center looking for visa assistance.
- This is a positive movement toward refugee support policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
State Department Official (Michigan)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy will reduce our backlog and improve processing times.
- It's a step forward in addressing an urgent need but more resources may be needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Medical Professional (Virginia)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a reassuring sign of support from our government.
- Fast-tracked visas will alleviate stress for families divided by borders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Non-profit Worker (Colorado)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my work primarily involves new arrivals, faster processing allows us to streamline support services.
- It's a necessary step forward for Afghan partners and their families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an important move for fair visa processing, especially for those under distress.
- I expect this will pave the way for more systematic reforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Business Owner (Arizona)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Streamlined visas can increase new workforce arrivals, positively impacting our business operations.
- I've seen the stress families face waiting for their loved ones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Teachers' Association Member (Minnesota)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Immigration is a focus of our teaching initiatives. This policy could impact the family circumstances of many students.
- I anticipate a positive shift in classroom dynamics with stable family reunifications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 3: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 5: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 10: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring adequate staffing and resources for increased consular operations is essential to meet policy goals.
- There will need to be cooperation and coordination with other countries and international organizations to manage asylum and refugee claims effectively.
- Monitoring and evaluating the impact on U.S. communities and public services are important to address integration challenges.