,,ii  #aagth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #dghg  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,august #g     
7legislative day1 ,august #f71 #bjbb,ms4
 ,klobuchar 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,graham1 
,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,blunt1 ,mr4          
,blumenthal1 and ,ms4 ,murkowski7       
introduced the following bill2 which was
 read twice and referred to the         
,committee on the ,judiciary  ,a ,,bill 
,to provide support for nationals of    
,afghanistan who supported the ,united  
,states mission in ,afghanistan1        
adequate vetting for parolees from      
,afghanistan1 adjustment of status for  
certain nationals of ,afghanistan1 and  
special immigrant status for at-risk    
,afghan allies and relatives of certain 
members of the ,armed ,forces1 and for  
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this 
,act may be cited as the ,afghan        
,adjustment ,act4  #b4 ,definitions  7a7
 ,in general ,except as otherwise       
specifically provided1 any term used in 
this ,act that is used in the           

immigration laws shall have the meaning 
given the term in the immigration laws4 
7b7 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7    
,immigration laws ,the term immigration 
laws has the meaning given the term in  
section #aja7;a77#ag7 of the            
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ag774  7#b7        
,special immigrant status ,the term     
special immigrant status means special  
immigrant status provided under-- 7,a7  
the ,afghan ,allies ,protection ,act of 
#bjji 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja note2 ,public 
,law #aaa-h72 or  7,b7 section #ajei of 
the ,national ,defense ,authorization   
,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjjf 7#h        
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja note2 ,public ,law      
#aji-afc74  7#c7 ,specified application 
,the term specified application means-- 
7,a7 an application for special         
immigrant status2  7,b7 an application  
to seek admission to the ,united ,states
 through the ,united ,states ,refugee   
,admission ,program for an individual   
who has received a ,priority #a or      

,priority #b referral to such program2  
and  7,c7 an application for a special  
immigrant visa under section #g or an   
amendment made by that section4  7#d7   
,united ,states ,refugee ,admissions    
,program ,the term ,united ,states      
,refugee ,admissions ,program means the 
program to resettle refugees in the     
,united ,states pursuant to the         
authorities provided in sections        
#aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 and #dab of the    
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#db71 #aaeg1 and    
#aebb74  #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is 
the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7      
nationals of ,afghanistan residing      
outside the ,united ,states who meet the
 requirements for admission to the      
,united ,states through a specified     
application have aided the ,united      
,states mission in ,afghanistan during  
the past #bj years2 and  7#b7 the       
,united ,states should increase support 
for such nationals4  #d4 ,support for   
,afghan allies outside of the ,united   

,states  7a7 ,response to congressional 
inquiries ,the ,secretary of ,state     
shall respond to inquiries by ,members  
of ,congress regarding a specified      
application submitted by1 or on behalf  
of1 a national of ,afghanistan who has  
provided a confidentiality release4  7b7
 ,office in lieu of embassy ,during the 
period in which there is no operational 
,united ,states embassy in ,afghanistan1
 the ,secretary of ,state shall         
establish and maintain an office capable
 of-- 7#a7 reviewing specified          
applications submitted by nationals of  
,afghanistan residing in ,afghanistan2  
7#b7 issuing visas to such nationals2   
7#c7 to the greatest extent practicable1
 providing services to such nationals   
that would normally be provided by an   
embassy2 and  7#d7 carrying out any     
other function the ,secretary considers 
necessary4  #e4 ,interagency ,task      
,force on ,afghan ,ally ,strategy  7a7  
,establishment ,not later than #ahj days
 after the date of the enactment of this

 ,act1 the ,president shall establish an
 ,interagency ,task ,force on ,afghan   
,ally ,strategy 7referred to in this    
section as the ,task ,force7-- 7#a7 to  
develop and oversee the implementation  
of the strategy described in subsection 
7d77#a77;,b77iv72 and  7#b7 to submit   
the report1 and provide a briefing on   
the report1 described in subsection 7d74
  7b7 ,membership  7#a7 ,in general ,the
 ,task ,force shall be comprised of--   
7,a7 the ,secretary of ,state2  7,b7 the
 ,secretary of ,homeland ,security2     
7,c7 the ,secretary of ,defense2  7,d7  
the ,director of the ,federal ,bureau of
 ,investigation2  7,e7 the ,director of 
,national ,intelligence2 and  7,f7 any  
other ,government official1 as          
designated by the ,president4  7#b7     
,delegation ,a member of the ,task      
,force may designate a representative to
 carry out the duties under this        
section4  7c7 ,chair ,the ,task ,force  
shall be chaired by the ,secretary of   
,state4  7d7 ,duties  7#a7 ,report and  

strategy  7,a7 ,in general ,not later   
than #ahj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,task ,force
 shall submit to the ,committee on      
,appropriations and the ,committee on   
,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,appropriations and   
the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of  
the ,house of ,representatives a report 
that includes a strategy for supporting 
nationals of ,afghanistan residing      
outside the ,united ,states who meet the
 requirements for admission to the      
,united ,states through a specified     
application4  7,b7 ,elements ,the report
 required by subparagraph 7,a7 shall    
include the following3 7i7 ,estimates   
of-- 7,i7 7aa7 the total number of      
nationals of ,afghanistan residing in   
,afghanistan who have submitted         
specified applications that are pending 
and1 as of the date on which the report 
is submitted1 have not been adjudicated2
 and  7bb7 the number of such nationals1
 disaggregated by type of specified     

application described in subparagraphs  
7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c7 of section         
#b7;b77#c72 and  7,,ii7 7aa7 the total  
number of nationals of ,afghanistan     
residing in ,afghanistan who meet the   
requirements for admission to the       
,united ,states through specified       
applications2 and  7bb7 the number of   
such nationals1 disaggregated by type of
 specified application described in     
subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c7 of   
section #b7;b77#c74  7ii7 ,a description
 of the steps the ,secretary of ,state  
has taken and is taking to facilitate   
the relocation and resettlement of      
nationals of ,afghanistan who-- 7,i7    
supported the ,united ,states mission in
 ,afghanistan2 and  7,,ii7 remain in    
,afghanistan or in third countries4     
7iii7 ,an identification of all         
considerations1 including resource      
constraints1 that limit the ability of  
the ,secretary of ,state to facilitate  
such relocations and resettlements4     
7iv7 ,a strategy and detailed plan      

that-- 7,i7 sets forth the manner in    
which members of the ,task ,force will  
address such considerations in order to 
facilitate such relocations and         
resettlements over different periods of 
time 7including #a-year1 #e-year1 and   
#aj-year periods7 and an analysis of the
 expected number of nationals of        
,afghanistan who would be relocated or  
resettled through such strategy2 and    
7,,ii7 addresses the constraints and    
opportunities for expanding support for 
such relocations and resettlements1     
including-- 7aa7 the availability of    
remote processing for individuals       
residing in ,afghanistan2  7bb7 the     
availability and capacity of mechanisms 
for individuals to be relocated from    
,afghanistan1 including air charter or  
land passage2  7cc7 the availability and
 capacity of sites in third countries to
 process applications and conduct any   
required vetting1 including identifying 
and establishing additional sites2  7dd7
 resource1 personnel1 and equipment     

requirements to increase the capacity to
 better support such nationals of       
,afghanistan and reduce application     
processing times2  7ee7 the provision of
 updates and necessary information to   
affected individuals and relevant       
nongovernmental organizations2 and  7ff7
 any other matter the ,task ,force      
considers relevant to the implementation
 of the strategy4  7v7 ,recommendations 
for how ,congress can expand the number 
of nationals of ,afghanistan who can be 
relocated or resettled over such periods
 of time by providing additional        
authorities or resources4  7,c7 ,form   
,the report required by subparagraph    
7,a7 shall be submitted in unclassified 
form1 but may include a classified      
annex4  7#b7 ,briefing ,not later than  
#fj days after submitting the report    
required by paragraph 7#a71 the ,task   
,force shall brief the ,committee on    
,appropriations and the ,committee on   
,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,appropriations and   

the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of  
the ,house of ,representatives on the   
contents of such report4  7e7           
,termination ,the ,task ,force shall    
remain in effect until the earlier of-- 
7#a7 the date on which the strategy     
required by subsection 7d77#a7 has been 
fully implemented2 or  7#b7 the date    
that is #aj years after the date of the 
enactment of this ,act4  #f4 ,adjustment
 of status for eligible ,afghan         
nationals  7a7 ,definition of eligible  
,afghan national ,in this section1 the  
term eligible ,afghan national means--  
7#a7 an alien-- 7,a7 7i7 who is a       
citizen or national of ,afghanistan2 or 
7ii7 in the case of an alien having no  
nationality1 whose former or last       
habitual residence was in ,afghanistan2 
and  7,b7 7i7 who was inspected and     
admitted to the ,united ,states on or   
before the date of the enactment of this
 ,act2  7ii7 who was paroled into the   
,united ,states during the period       
beginning on ,july #cj1 #bjba1 and      

ending on the date of the enactment of  
this ,act1 provided that such parole has
 not been terminated by the ,secretary  
of ,homeland ,security2  7iii7 whose    
travel to the ,united ,states was       
facilitated by1 or coordinated with1 the
 ,united ,states ,government2 or  7iv7  
who arrived in the ,united ,states after
 the date of the enactment of this ,act1
 provided that the ,secretary of        
,homeland ,security1 in cooperation with
 other ,federal agency partners1        
determines that the alien supported the 
,united ,states mission in ,afghanistan2
  7#b7 an alien who is the spouse or    
child 7as defined in section            
#aja7;b77#a7 of the ,immigration and    
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaja7;b77#a777 of an alien described in
 paragraph 7#a72 and  7#c7 an alien who 
is the spouse or child 7as defined in   
section #aja7;b77#a7 of the ,immigration
 and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4    
#aaja7;b77#a777 of an alien described in
 paragraph 7#a7 who is deceased4  7b7   

,streamlined adjustment process for     
eligible ,afghan nationals who supported
 the ,united ,states mission in         
afghanistan  7#a7 ,in general           
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 the ,secretary of ,homeland        
,security shall adjust the status of an 
eligible ,afghan national to the status 
of an alien lawfully admitted for       
permanent residence if-- 7,a7 the       
eligible ,afghan national-- 7i7 has--   
7,i7 received ,chief of ,mission        
approval as part of their application   
for special immigrant status2  7,,ii7   
received a ,priority #a or ,priority #b 
referral to the ,united ,states ,refugee
 ,admissions ,program2 or  7,,iii7 a    
pending application for special         
immigrant status that was submitted on  
or before ,july #ca1 #bjah2  7ii7       
submits an application for adjustment of
 status in accordance with procedures   
established by the ,secretary of        
,homeland ,security2  7iii7 subject to  
paragraph 7#b71 is otherwise admissible 

to the ,united ,states as an immigrant1 
except that the grounds of              
inadmissibility under paragraphs 7#d71  
7#e71 and 7#g77;,a7 of section #bab7;a7 
the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act  
7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77 shall not      
apply2 and  7iv7 has complied with the  
vetting requirements under subsection   
7d77#a7 to the satisfaction of the      
,secretary of ,homeland ,security2 and  
7,b7 the ,secretary of ,homeland        
,security determines that the adjustment
 of status of the eligible ,afghan      
national is not contrary to the national
 welfare1 safety1 or security of the    
,united ,states4  7#b7 ,applicability of
 refugee admissibility requirements ,the
 provisions relating to admissibility   
for a refugee seeking adjustment of     
status under section #bji7;c7 of the    
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aaei7;c77 shall apply to an  
applicant for adjustment of status under
 this subsection4  7c7 ,adjustment      
process for other eligible ,afghan      

nationals  7#a7 ,in general             
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 the ,secretary of ,homeland        
,security shall adjust the status of an 
eligible ,afghan national who does not  
meet the requirements set forth in      
subsection 7b77#a77;,a77i7 to the status
 of an alien lawfully admitted for      
permanent residence if-- 7,a7 the       
eligible ,afghan national-- 7i7 has been
 physically present in the ,united      
,states for a period not less than #b   
years2  7ii7 submits an application for 
adjustment of status in accordance with 
procedures established by the ,secretary
 of ,homeland ,security2  7iii7 subject 
to paragraph 7#b71 is otherwise         
admissible to the ,united ,states as an 
immigrant1 except that the grounds of   
inadmissibility under paragraphs 7#d71  
7#e71 and 7#g77;,a7 of section #bab7;a7 
the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act  
7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77 shall not      
apply2 and  7iv7 has complied with the  
vetting requirements under paragraphs   

7#a7 and 7#b7 of subsection 7d7 to the  
satisfaction of the ,secretary of       
,homeland ,security2 and  7,b7 the      
,secretary of ,homeland ,security       
determines that the adjustment of status
 of the eligible ,afghan national is not
 contrary to the national welfare1      
safety1 or security of the ,united      
,states4  7#b7 ,waiver  7,a7 ,in general
 ,with respect to an applicant for      
adjustment of status under this         
subsection1 subject to subparagraph     
7,b71 the ,secretary of ,homeland       
,security may waive any applicable      
ground of inadmissibility under section 
#bab7;a7 of the ,immigration and        
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aahb7;a77 7other than paragraphs       
#b7;,c7 or 7#c7 of such section7 for    
humanitarian purposes1 to ensure family 
unity1 or if a waiver is otherwise in   
the public interest4  7,b7 ,limitations 
,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security  
may not waive under this paragraph any  
applicable ground of inadmissibility    

under section #bab7;a77#b7 of the       
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#b77 that arises due
 to criminal conduct that was           
committed-- 7i7 on or after ,july #cj1  
#bjba2  7ii7 within the ,united ,states2
 and  7iii7 by an applicant for         
adjustment of status under this         
subsection4  7,c7 ,rule of construction 
,nothing in this paragraph may be       
construed to limit any other waiver     
authority4  7#c7 ,rule of construction  
,nothing in this subsection may be      
construed to require the ,secretary of  
,homeland ,security to complete the     
vetting process with respect to an      
applicant for adjustment of status under
 this subsection within the #b-year     
period described in paragraph           
7#a77;,a77i74  7d7 ,interview and       
vetting requirements  7#a7 ,vetting     
requirements for all applicants ,the    
,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall 
establish vetting requirements for      
applicants seeking adjustment of status 

under this section that are equivalent  
to the vetting requirements for refugees
 admitted to the ,united ,states through
 the ,united ,states ,refugee           
,admissions ,program1 including an      
interview4  7#b7 ,additional vetting    
requirements for other eligible ,afghan 
nationals ,the ,secretary of ,homeland  
,security1 in consultation with the     
,secretary of ,defense1 shall maintain  
records that contain1 for each applicant
 under subsection 7c7 for the duration  
of the pendency of their application for
 adjustment of status-- 7,a7 personal   
biographic information1 including name  
and date of birth2  7,b7 biometric      
information2  7,c7 any criminal         
conviction occurring after the date on  
which the applicant entered the ,united 
,states2 and  7,d7 the history of the   
,united ,states ,government vetting to  
which the applicant has submitted1      
including whether the individual has    
undergone in-person vetting4  7#c7 ,rule
 of construction ,nothing in this       

subsection may be construed to limit the
 authority of the ,secretary of         
,homeland ,security to maintain records 
under any other law4  7e7 ,protection   
for battered spouses  7#a7 ,in general  
,an alien whose marriage to an eligible 
,afghan national described in paragraph 
7#a7 of subsection 7a7 has been         
terminated shall be eligible for        
adjustment of status under this section 
as an alien described in paragraph 7#b7 
of that subsection for not more than #b 
years after the date on which such      
marriage is terminated if there is a    
demonstrated connection between the     
termination of the marriage and         
battering or extreme cruelty perpetrated
 by the principal applicant4  7#b7      
,applicability of other law ,in         
reviewing an application for adjustment 
of status under this section with       
respect to spouses and children who have
 been battered or subjected to extreme  
cruelty1 the ,secretary of ,homeland    
,security shall apply section           

#bjd7;a77#a77;,j7 of the ,immigration   
and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4     
#aaed7;a77#a77;,j77 and section #chd of 
the ,illegal ,immigration ,reform and   
,immigrant ,responsibility ,act of #aiif
 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #acfg74  7f7 ,date of    
approval ,upon the approval of an       
application for adjustment of status    
under this section1 the ,secretary of   
,homeland ,security shall create a      
record of the alien's admission as a    
lawful permanent resident as of the date
 on which the alien was inspected and   
admitted or paroled into the ,united    
,states4  7g7 ,prohibition on further   
authorization of parole  7#a7 ,in       
general ,except as provided in paragraph
 7#b71 an individual who is a national  
of ,afghanistan shall not be authorized 
for an additional period of parole if   
such individual-- 7,a7 is eligible to   
apply for adjustment of status under    
this section2 and  7,b7 fails to submit 
an application for adjustment of status 
by the later of-- 7i7 the date that is  

#a year after the date on which final   
guidance described in subsection 7h77#b7
 is published2 or  7ii7 the date that is
 #a year after the date on which such   
individual becomes eligible to apply for
 adjustment of status under this        
section4  7#b7 ,exception ,an individual
 described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 may be
 authorized for an additional period of 
parole if such individual-- 7,a7 within 
the period described in paragraph       
7#a77;,b71 seeks an extension to file an
 application for adjustment of status   
under this section2 or  7,b7 has        
previously submitted to a vetting       
equivalent of the vetting required under
 subsection 7d74  7#c7 ,deadline for    
application ,except as provided in      
paragraph 7#b71 a national of           
,afghanistan who does not submit an     
application for adjustment of status    
within the timeline provided in         
paragraph 7#a77;,b7 may not later adjust
 status under this section4  7h7        
,implementation  7#a7 ,interim guidance 

7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj   
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland  
,security shall issue guidance          
implementing this section4  7,b7        
,publication ,notwithstanding section   
#eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1
 such guidance-- 7i7 may be published on
 the internet website of the ,department
 of ,homeland ,security2 and  7ii7 shall
 be effective on an interim basis       
immediately upon such publication but   
may be subject to change and revision   
after notice and an opportunity for     
public comment4  7#b7 ,final guidance   
,not later than #a year after the date  
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall 
finalize guidance implementing this     
section4  7i7 ,administrative review    
,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security  
shall provide applicants for adjustment 
of status under this section with the   
same right to1 and procedures for1      
administrative review as are provided to

 applicants for adjustment of status    
under section #bde of the ,immigration  
and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4     
#abee74  7j7 ,prohibition on fees ,the  
,secretary of ,homeland ,security may   
not charge a fee to any eligible ,afghan
 national in connection with-- 7#a7 an  
application for adjustment of status or 
employment authorization under this     
section2 or  7#b7 the issuance of a     
permanent resident card or an employment
 authorization document4  7k7 ,pending  
applications ,during the period         
beginning on the date on which an alien 
files a bona fide application for       
adjustment of status under this section 
and ending on the date on which the     
,secretary of ,homeland ,security makes 
a final administrative decision         
regarding such application1 any alien   
and any dependent included in such      
application who remains in compliance   
with all application requirements may   
not be-- 7#a7 removed from the ,united  
,states unless the ,secretary of        

,homeland ,security makes a prima facie 
determination that the alien is1 or has 
become1 ineligible for adjustment of    
status under this section2  7#b7        
considered unlawfully present under     
section #bab7;a77#i77;,b7 of the        
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#i77;,b772 or  7#c7 
considered an unauthorized alien 7as    
defined in section #bgd;,a7h77#c7 of the
 ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h 
,u4,s4,c4 #acbd;a7h77#c7774  7l7 ,,vawa 
self petitioners ,section #aja7;a77#ea7 
of the ,immigration and ,nationality    
,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ea77 is   
amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,f71 by 
striking or2  7#b7 in subparagraph 7,g71
 by striking the period at the end and  
inserting 2 or2 and  7#c7 by adding at  
the end the following3  7,h7 subsections
 7b7 and 7c7 of section #f of the       
,afghan ,adjustment ,act4  4  7m7       
,exemption from numerical limitations   
,aliens granted adjustment of status    
under this section shall not be subject 

to the numerical limitations under      
sections #bja1 #bjb1 and #bjc of the    
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aaea1 #aaeb1 and #aaec74  7n7
 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this 
section may be construed to preclude an 
eligible ,afghan national from applying 
for or receiving any immigration benefit
 to which the eligible ,afghan national 
is otherwise entitled4  #g4 ,special    
immigrant status for at-risk ,afghan    
allies and relatives of certain members 
of the ,armed ,forces  7a7 ,at-,risk    
,afghan allies  7#a7 ,in general        
,subject to paragraph 7#d77;,c71 the    
,secretary of ,homeland ,security may   
provide an alien described in paragraph 
7#b7 7and the spouse1 children of the   
alien if accompanying or following to   
join the alien7 with the status of      
special immigrant under section         
#aja7;a77#bg7 of the ,immigration and   
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaja7;a77#bg77 if the alien-- 7,a7 or  
an agent acting on behalf of the alien1 

submits a petition for classification   
under section #bjc7;b77#d7 of such ,act 
7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaec7;b77#d772  7,b7 is  
otherwise admissible to the ,united     
,states and eligible for lawful         
permanent residence 7excluding the      
grounds of inadmissibility under section
 #bab7;a77#d7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4
 #aahb7;a77#d7772  7,c7 clears a        
background check and appropriate        
screening1 as determined by the         
,secretary of ,homeland ,security2 and  
7,d7 the ,secretary of ,homeland        
,security determines that the adjustment
 of status of the alien is not contrary 
to the national welfare1 safety1 or     
security of the ,united ,states4  7#b7  
,alien described ,an alien described in 
this paragraph is an alien who-- 7,a7 is
 a citizen or national of ,afghanistan2 
7,b7 was a member of-- 7i7 the          
,afghanistan ,national ,army ,special   
,operations ,command2  7ii7 the ,afghan 
,air ,force2  7iii7 the ,special        
,mission ,wing of ,afghanistan2 or  7iv7

 the ,female ,tactical ,teams of        
,afghanistan2 and  7,c7 provided        
faithful and valuable service to an     
entity or organization described in     
subparagraph 7,b7 for not less than #a  
year4  7#c7 ,department of ,defense     
assessment  7,a7 ,in general ,not later 
than #cj days after receiving a request 
for an assessment from the ,secretary of
 ,homeland ,security1 the ,secretary of 
,defense shall-- 7i7 review the service 
record of the principal applicant2  7ii7
 submit an assessment to the ,secretary 
of ,homeland ,security as to whether--  
7,i7 the principal applicant meets the  
requirements under paragraph 7#b72 and  
7,,ii7 the adjustment of status of such 
alien1 and the spouse1 children1 and    
parents of such alien1 if accompanying  
or following to join the alien1 is not  
contrary to the national welfare1       
safety1 or security of the ,united      
,states2 and  7iii7 submit with such    
assessment-- 7,i7 any service record    
concerned2 and  7,,ii7 any biometrics   

for the principal applicant that have   
been collected by the ,department of    
,defense4  7,b7 ,effect of assessment ,a
 favorable assessment under subparagraph
 7,a77ii7 shall create a presumption    
that-- 7i7 the principal applicant meets
 the requirements under paragraph 7#b72 
and  7ii7 the admission of such alien1  
and the spouse1 children1 and parents of
 the alien1 if accompanying or following
 to join the alien1 is not contrary to  
the national welfare1 safety1 or        
security of the ,united ,states4  7,c7  
,efficient processing ,for purposes of a
 background check and appropriate       
screening required to be granted special
 immigrant status under this subsection1
 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 
as appropriate1 shall use biometric data
 collected by the ,secretary of ,defense
 or the ,secretary of ,state not more   
than #e years before the date on which  
an application for such status is filed4
  7b7 ,special immigrant status for     
certain relatives of certain members of 

the armed forces ,section #aja7;a77#bg7 
of the ,immigration and ,nationality    
,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#bg77 is   
amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph          
7,l77iii71 by adding a semicolon at the 
end2  7#b7 in subparagraph 7,m71 by     
striking the period at the end and      
inserting 2 and2 and  7#c7 by adding at 
the end the following3  7,n7 a citizen  
or national of ,afghanistan who is the  
spouse1 child1 or unmarried son or      
daughter of-- 7i7 a member of the armed 
forces 7as defined in section #aja7;a7  
of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code72 or
  7ii7 a veteran 7as defined in section 
#aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states      
,code74  4  7c7 ,general provisions     
7#a7 ,prohibition on fees ,the          
,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the  
,secretary of ,defense1 or the          
,secretary of ,state may not charge any 
fee in connection with an application   
for1 or issuance of1 a special immigrant
 visa under this section or an amendment
 made by this section4  7#b7            

,representation ,an alien applying for  
admission to the ,united ,states under  
this section1 or an amendment made by   
this section1 may be represented during 
the application process1 including at   
relevant interviews and examinations1 by
 an attorney or other accredited        
representative4 ,such representation    
shall not be at the expense of the      
,united ,states ,government4  7#c7      
,exclusion from numerical limitations   
,aliens provided special immigrant visas
 under this section1 or an amendment    
made by this section1 shall not be      
counted against any numerical limitation
 under section #bja7;d71 #bjb7;a71 or   
#bjc7;b77#d7 of the ,immigration and    
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaea7;d71 #aaeb7;a71 and #aaec7;b77#d77
 or section #fjb of the ,afghan ,allies 
,protection ,act of #bjji 7,public ,law 
#aaa-h2 #h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja note74  7#d7 
,assistance with passport issuance ,the 
,secretary of ,state shall make a       
reasonable effort to ensure that an     

alien who is issued a special immigrant 
visa under this section1 or an amendment
 made by this section1 is provided with 
the appropriate series ,afghan passport 
necessary to enter the ,united ,states4 
7#e7 ,protection of aliens ,the         
,secretary of ,state1 in consultation   
with the heads of other appropriate     
,federal agencies1 shall make a         
reasonable effort to provide an alien   
who is seeking special immigrant status 
under this section1 or an amendment made
 by this section1 protection or to      
immediately remove such alien from      
,afghanistan1 if possible4  7#f7 ,other 
eligibility for immigrant status ,no    
alien shall be denied the opportunity to
 apply for admission under this section1
 or an amendment made by this section1  
solely because the alien qualifies as an
 immediate relative or is eligible for  
any other immigrant classification4     
7#g7 ,resettlement support ,a citizen or
 national of ,afghanistan who is granted
 special immigrant status described in  

section #aja7;a77#bg7 of the            
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#bg77 shall be      
eligible for resettlement assistance1   
entitlement programs1 and other benefits
 available to refugees admitted under   
section #bjg of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 
#aaeg7 to the same extent1 and for the  
same periods of time1 as such refugees4 
7#h7 ,adjustment of status              
,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b71 7#g71  
or 7#h7 of subsection 7c7 of section    
#bde of the ,immigration and            
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abee71 
the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security   
may adjust the status of an alien       
described in subparagraph 7,n7 of       
section #aja7;a77#bg7 of the            
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#bg77 or subsection 
7a77#b7 of this section to that of an   
alien lawfully admitted for permanent   
residence under subsection 7a7 of such  
section #bde if the alien-- 7,a7 was    
paroled or admitted as a nonimmigrant   

into the ,united ,states2 and  7,b7 is  
otherwise eligible for special immigrant
 status under-- 7i7 this section2 or    
7ii7 the ,immigration and ,nationality  
,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq474  7#i7
 ,appeals  7,a7 ,administrative review  
,not later than #cj days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall 
provide to aliens who have applied for  
special immigrant status under this     
section a process by which an applicant 
may seek administrative appellate review
 of a denial of an applicant for special
 immigrant status or a revocation of    
such status4  7,b7 ,judicial review     
,except as provided in subparagraph     
7,c71 and notwithstanding any other     
provision of law1 an alien may seek     
judicial review of a denial of an       
application for special immigrant status
 or a revocation of such status under   
this ,act1 in an appropriate ,united    
,states district court4  7,c7 ,stay of  
removal  7i7 ,in general ,except as     

provided in clause 7ii71 an alien       
seeking administrative or judicial      
review under this ,act may not be       
removed from the ,united ,states until a
 final decision is rendered establishing
 that the alien is ineligible for       
special immigrant status under this     
section4  7ii7 ,exception ,the          
,secretary may remove an alien described
 in clause 7i7 pending judicial review  
if such removal is based on national    
security concerns4 ,such removal shall  
not affect the alien's right to judicial
 review under this ,act4 ,the ,secretary
 shall promptly return a removed alien  
if a decision to deny an application for
 special immigrant status under this    
,act1 or to revoke such status1 is      
reversed4  #h4 ,severability ,if any    
provision of this ,act1 or the          
application of such provision to any    
person or circumstance1 is held to be   
unconstitutional1 the remainder of this 
,act1 and the application of the        
remaining provisions of this ,act1 to   

any person or circumstance1 shall not be
 affected4