Family in transit, airport

Update 12/15/23:

The family arrived in the United States in late October! Thank you to each and every contributor of this campaign! You have directly supported N.A.'s family in safely relocating to the US and beginning a new chapter in their lives. Because they arrived after September 30th, they did not qualify for assistance provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement programs or federal benefits, including cash and housing assistance, and other services availble to refugees in the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, passed in September 2021, and the subsequent Continued Appropriations Act. Those benefits terminated after September 30, and it will take Congressional action to reinstate them. And so, the family has relied entirely on support from AAAWA to support their resettlement here. Through your donations and a grant provided by the Kindle Project, the family has since been able to secure affordable housing, furnish their apartment, and complete the necessary innoculations for the children to enroll in public school. Two weeks ago, N.A. was also able to start a job at a local plastics factory. His next goal is to pass his driving test and purchase a used car, having settled in a location where public transit is limited.

Below are the expenses from your donations. All of us at AAAWA and N.A. and his family thank you massively for supporting the family's journey to safety!

TOTAL Received: $2615

Expenses:

Medical exams required by US Embassy for 5 members of the family: $520

Medical exam required by US Embassy for child under 2 with additional tests: $175

COVID 19 vaccination documentation from Kabul: $150

Polio cards for children: $50

Car rental to US Embassy in Islamabad (2 trips): $140

Visa shuttle service cost: $50

Exit fees: $625

Expenses upon arrival (food, winter clothing, housing): $905

Total Expended: $2615

UPDATE 9/10/23:

Thank you to all of our supporters! N.A. and family have been able to complete their required medical exams and vaccinations. The US Embassy required a full medical exam at a designated medical center in Islamabad. They are now waiting to receive an appointment for their interview at the Embassy. Additionally, the four children do not have the appropriate paperwork for ultimately securing exit permits to leave Pakistan, so we are researching the next course of action. We will update again.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN:

In August 2021, shortly after the US/NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, AAAWA assisted nine artists, educators, journalists, and civil society members and their families--a total of 44 individuals--in applying for Humanitarian Parole. On August 8, nearly two years later, filmmaker, theater artist, and journalist "N." and his family of 5 were all granted conditional approval! Given the fact that as of last fall, the U.S. government had collected 66,000 applications (and $20 milliion in fees!), but approved only 123 of the less than 8,000 applications processed, we were all both shocked and elated by the news.

The joy quickly gave way to concern for how quickly the family could complete the next steps of the process and how they would pay the related fees. According to his approval notice, if N. and his family arrive in the United States after September 30, 2023, they may no longer be eligible to receive refugee benefits. Additionally, as a refugee in Pakistan, N. has been under great financial and emotional stress while awaiting the outcome of his case. So now we are racing against the clock to assist N. and his family with:

1) Completing extensive medical exams and vaccinations, which cost roughly $200/person (including travel to Islamabad for the exams and their interview with the U.S. Embassy)

2) Securing exit permit fees for departure from Pakistan, depending on the length of their stay in the country (these range from $50-$800/person)

3) Purchasing airfare from Pakistan to the United States (roughly $2000/person)

4) Gathering a reserve of funds for initial arrival and resettlement to the United States, including covering basic costs of housing and food, particularly since the family may well arrive after September 30.

We have received a commitment for their airfare to be covered(!), so we need your support for the medical exams, permit fees, and costs of initial arrival and resettlement, which we are estimating at $7,000.

N. has prayed and waited for this day, having lived in fear as an artist and journalist, who had been threatened in Afghanistan by the Taliban on multiple occasions for the content of his journalistic and film & theater work, and now as a migrant in Pakistan experiencing harrassment and even detention. Still, he has remained hopeful, creative, and resilient through his faith, the love of his family and friends, his artwork (he's been working on a documentary about his evacuation), and the many AAAWA friends who have advocated for and supported him and others in similar situations. In his own generosity when congratulated on the news of the conditional approval, N. exclaimed, "congratulations to everyone who supported me." We can all truly celebrate once he, his wife, and four children have found safe refuge.

We also hope that this is a positive sign that the other HP cases will also be adjudicated soon.

Thank you for your support and care!

AAAWA

Support Afghan Artist/Journalist's Resettlement to the U.S.

By Afghan American Artists and Writers Association

Support Afghan Artist/Journalist's Resettlement to the U.S.

Family of 6 Has Been Approved for Entry to U.S. and Needs Support!

Team Members