ten to 50 and doubling the number of sib in— ten to 50 and doubling the number of sib in kabul. even as many embassy personnel— sib in kabul. even as many embassy personnel returned to the united states _ personnel returned to the united states we sent more council officers to kabut— states we sent more council officers to kabul to — states we sent more council officers to kabul to process sib applications. as a result of these and other— applications. as a result of these and other steps including working with congress by may we had reduced the average processing time for special— the average processing time for special immigrant visas by more than a year~ _ special immigrant visas by more than a year~ even— special immigrant visas by more than a year. even amid a covid search with— a year. even amid a covid search with in— a year. even amid a covid search with in kabul injune we continue to issue _ with in kabul injune we continue to issue the _ with in kabul injune we continue to issue the service 100 uses per week in march _ issue the service 100 uses per week in march to— issue the service 100 uses per week in march to more than 1000 per week in march to more than 1000 per week in august _ in march to more than 1000 per week in august. when our evacuation and relocation— in august. when our evacuation and relocation efforts began. that emergency evacuation was sparked by the collapse of the afghan security forces _ the collapse of the afghan security forces in _ the collapse of the afghan security forces in government. throughout the year we _ forces in government. throughout the year we were constantly assessing the staying power and considering multiple _ the staying power and considering multiple scenarios. even the most pessimistic assessments did not predict — pessimistic assessments did not predict the government forces in kabut— predict the government forces in kabul would collapse while us forces