Human Rights First
Welcome Legal Alliance World Refugee Day Clinic: Human Rights First I-360 Petition Support Clinic
Support Afghans in the U.S. for Immigration Relief (Special Immigrant Visas)
Posted May 25, 2022
Background & Context
The Welcome Legal Alliance brings together legal aid organizations with attorneys, law firms, and legal teams to connect pro bono attorneys directly with Afghan evacuee clients. In honor of World Refugee Day, we’re working with WLA members to host short legal clinics to serve these individuals and families.
Immediate Problem
Human Rights First estimates that over 20,000 principal applicants still need support to submit immigration filings to USCIS in the next three months. Certain Afghans who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government may be eligible to receive lawful permanent status via Special Immigrant Visas, or I-360 applications. These applicants will file an I-360 to formally notify United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that they have received a Chief of Mission (COM) approval for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. The COM approval verifies the applicant “provided faithful and valuable service to the U.S. government.”
Work & Deliverables
Human Rights First will host a one-hour, live support clinic on the I-360 Special Immigrant Visa application process on: Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022 from 1-3pm EST . Volunteers will be provided with a half-hour training before the event that will outline the required elements of a completed I-360 petition:
Form I-360 petition
Cover letter
Filing instructions via email or mail
Required Documents:
Cover letter or email
Copy of Applicant’s Tazkira OR Copy of the biographic data page of Applicant’s passport
Copy of the recommendation letter from Applicant’s supervisor that was submitted with Applicant’s Chief of Mission approval request
Copy of Applicant’s Chief of Mission Approval
English translation for all foreign language documents, including the Tazkira, with the accompanying certificate of translation.
Preparation Phase
- Volunteer signs up for clinic (via company-wide or individual We the Action account)
- Volunteer receives and reviews screening training videos via Vecina Online Learning Platform (around
- Volunteer reviews and signs confidentiality agreement (companies may also sign on behalf of employee
- Volunteer receives contact information for client (and interpreter, if necessary)
Collaboration Phase
- Volunteers join live clinic on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022 from 1-3pm EST
- Introduction from HRF and Q&A from volunteers with HRF staff
- Each volunteer finalizes application materials.
- Volunteer sends bundled application form and required documents to the client for them to submit to
Wrap Up
- Contact Welcome Legal Alliance/HRF if you would like to continue representation or have questions
Human Rights First
Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. Since our inception 43 years ago, we have worked to create a just world in which every person’s intrinsic human rights are respected and protected, to build societies that value and invest in all their people. To reach that goal demands assisting victims of injustice, bringing perpetrators of abuse to justice, and building institutions that ensure universal rights. Human Rights First has helped tens of thousands of individuals who came to the United States fleeing persecution, torture, and threats of death. We have 43 years of experience providing removal defense and affirmative immigration relief both in-house through direct representation and our pro bono model, which engages attorneys from law firms, corporations, and law school clinics across the country to provide pro bono representation to our clients.
Human Rights First
Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. Since our inception 43 years ago, we have worked to create a just world in which every person’s intrinsic human rights are respected and protected, to build societies that value and invest in all their people. To reach that goal demands assisting victims of injustice, bringing perpetrators of abuse to justice, and building institutions that ensure universal rights. Human Rights First has helped tens of thousands of individuals who came to the United States fleeing persecution, torture, and threats of death. We have 43 years of experience providing removal defense and affirmative immigration relief both in-house through direct representation and our pro bono model, which engages attorneys from law firms, corporations, and law school clinics across the country to provide pro bono representation to our clients.