If you receive a COM denial or withdrawal, preserve the full email and letter and obtain prompt review of the stated reasons and deadline. A response should address the actual problem in the record, including employment, verification, or other eligibility concerns.

Identify your stage before responding

  • COM application denied: compare the decision with the qualifying-employment evidence originally submitted.
  • Prior COM approval withdrawn: preserve both the approval and withdrawal, plus the later immigration history.
  • Appeal already denied: identify that immediately; an ordinary first-appeal checklist may no longer fit.
  • Visa issued or permanent residence obtained: review status consequences separately from the COM response.

Relevant guidance: State Department steps of the Afghan SIV process.

Preserve the original notice

Download the attachment and save the email showing the sender, recipient, and date. Forwarding only a photograph of the first page can omit important instructions. Keep earlier approval letters, application receipts, and every response already submitted.

The State Department currently describes one written appeal of a COM denial or withdrawal within 120 days of the notification email. Check the notice and current instructions immediately. Do not treat a request for records or a message asking for more time as an extension.

Match the response to the reason

Make a simple issue list. What did the government question? Which document was involved? What records or knowledgeable people can address that point? An employment-verification problem calls for different evidence than an inconsistency in dates or a concern about the recommendation author.

Preserve old and corrected versions. If a document contains an error, explain who made the correction and the basis for it. Quietly replacing a letter without an explanation can leave the underlying concern unresolved.

Avoid assumptions about starting again

Current State Department guidance lists December 31, 2025 as the Afghan COM deadline for new applications and reapplications. A fresh application should not be presented as an automatic alternative to an appeal. Confirm the governing program and any later change before acting.

Tell counsel if you already received a visa, entered the United States, adjusted status, or have family members still processing. Those facts require a separate review of consequences and available procedures. A COM notice should not be treated as a complete explanation of every family member's immigration status.

Frequently asked questions

Should I send every document I own?

Organize the full file for counsel, but follow the government's instructions for the actual response and include material relevant to the stated issue.

Can I assume I have another appeal?

No. Check whether the available appeal has already been used and what the latest notice says.

Related legal services

Learn about Special Immigrant Visas.

Discuss your next step with Ehsan Law

Call 206-234-6883 or request an immigration intake. Initial intake is for screening; any paid attorney consultation is explained before it begins. If you have an urgent notice or deadline, identify it when contacting us.

Sources and further reading

The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Viewing this website, submitting a form, calling our office, or sending us information does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ehsan Law, PLLC. An attorney-client relationship is created only after Ehsan Law, PLLC agrees to represent you and both sides sign a written agreement. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its own facts, evidence, deadlines, and applicable law.