Grauel law offices p.l.l.c.

08/05/2021

IRAP has provided information for people needing help under the SIV program here:

31 July 2021 IRAP advocates for better protection for Afghans, including Afghans who worked for the U.S. government. IRAP is not a part of the U.S. government. Decisions about granting visas and wh...

07/14/2021

The Defense Base Act (DBA) is very friendly to injured workers. As one court put it, "The hallmark of this statute is hospitality to the claimant." (The "claimant" is the worker who was injured as a result of his or her job.) One of the most favorable things in the DBA is that the time for filing claims does not begin to run until the injured worker is aware of the "full character, extent, and impact" of the injury, and its effect on ability to work. Psychological injury claims like PTSD or depression often are hard for people to realize until sometimes many years after they were exposed to war hazards or other trauma.

Combine the "full character, extent, and impact" standard with the law's presumption that a claim was filed on time, and suddenly claims that at first seem to be years in the past can be pursued even now. Things are hard enough for people who have been injured by war zone hazards and trauma, but the DBA does offer at least the possibility of a partial remedy, including medical care.

And maybe best of all, there is no time limit for filing claims for medical treatment under the DBA.

07/14/2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/us/politics/us-afghanistan-evacuations.html

This is good to see of course. And now the battle with the insurance companies for promised benefits under the Defense Base Act (DBA) begins . . . .

“Operation Allies Refuge” will begin in the last week in July to support the airlift of Afghan nationals who aided the U.S., Biden administration officials announced.

07/14/2021

https://refugeerights.org/issue-areas/siv

IRAP (International Refugee Assistance Project) is helping SIV applicants get help with visas - this is good to see.

The United States’ presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has relied on the life-saving assistance of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans who put themselves in danger to serve alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors. These individuals provided indispensable linguistic, cultural, and geographic kno...

07/14/2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/19/world/asia/Afghanistan-withdrawal-contractors.html

And many other contractors from the U.S., Kosovo, North Macedonia, Kenya, Uganda - all over the world - did all kinds of jobs too. These workers may not qualify for SIV, but if they were injured they may qualify for DBA Defense Base Act benefits.

It is not just U.S. troops who are withdrawing from Afghanistan. Thousands of private contractors — who help keep the Afghan Air Force flying, among other tasks — are leaving as well.

07/14/2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/19/1004991965/afghan-interpreters-who-await-visas-after-helping-the-u-s-now-fear-for-their-liv

Many many people worked as interpreters, linguists, cultural advisers, intelligence gathering - you name it. These people deserve the protection of the SIV program and the Defense Base Act as well. I am glad to see recent attention to this problem.

"Every day, you can see an increase in the Taliban's presence," an Afghan who worked with the U.S. tells NPR. "What am I going to do after September? ... Am I going to even be alive by December?"

07/04/2021

A special 4th of July shoutout to my compatriot, co-counsel, compadre, and friend Bashir Ghazialam, born in Afghanistan and 100% American. I have had the pleasure, thanks to Bashir, of getting to know many Afghans and Afghan Americans through our work together. It has been a reminder that America has nothing to do with where you are born, and everything to do with how we treat each other. Thank you to all, and especially to "Mr. Bashir." I look forward to more adventures and good times as we continue on this journey! Happy 4th of July!

04/22/2021

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/21/politics/us-afghanistan-withdrawal-visa/index.html

Afghans working for U.S. contractors in Afghanistan are in crisis--they have rights under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, and also the Defense Base Act (DBA). With co-counsel Law Offices of Bashir Ghazialam, https://www.lobg.net/, Grauel law handles DBA claims worldwide. Attorney Ghazialam has helped many Afghans under SIV program and DBA as well.

Together Grauel law and Law Offices of Bashir Ghazialam can explain your rights and help with your claim. Contact either of us for information. www.grauellaw.com, www.lobg.net

There are about 18,000 people who have applied for special immigrant visas to the US who are still awaiting approval, according to a State Department official.