The U.S Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday approved 4,000 more visas for Afghans who work for U.S forces as interpreters or support staff.
 
The committee included the additional visas in a $650 billion USD defense authorization bill.
 
In March, the U.S Embassy in Kabul said it had stopped scheduling interviews for SIV applicants because it had nearly run out of visas. But Congress included 2,500 more in a spending bill in April to preserve the program, Reuters reported.
 
"Our nation owes a great debt to the civilians who have provided essential assistance to the U.S mission in Afghanistan, and I am very pleased that this legislation authorizes the necessary visas for these brave men and women," said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who pushed for the visas, along with the committee's chairman, John McCain.