Diplomatic and Government Officials – Additional Information

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Overview

Class-A visas are generally issued upon presentation of a diplomatic note from the appropriate host country office or foreign mission. If an A-1 or A-2 visa applicant is coming to the United States for an assignment, which is to last less than 90 days, the visa is annotated "TDY." Normally, the personal interview requirement for bona fide A-1 and A-2 visa applicants who are citizens of, or accredited to, the host country is waived. However, there may be circumstances within which the consular officer will ask for an interview.

This list gives additional information about specific diplomatic and official visa classes:

A-3 Visa

Issued to the attendants and personal employees of persons in A-1 or A-2 status.

G-1 Visa

Issued to members of a permanent mission of a recognized government, to an international organization, regardless of rank, and to members of their immediate families. G-1 visas are also issued to the mission's secretaries, chauffeurs and custodial employees, except domestic employees, who are issued G-5 visas.

G-2 Visa

Issued to representatives of a recognized government and to members of their immediate families traveling to the United States temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization. G-2 officials may represent their governments at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly or as TDY officers to that country's mission to the international organization. G-2 visas may be issued to military officers who are assisting the UN Secretariat with peacekeeping matters. Family members may also be issued G-2 visas.

G-3 Visa

Issued to representatives of non-recognized or non-member governments, regardless of rank, and to members of their immediate families. G-3 visas should also be issued to representatives of such governments so as to participate in temporary meetings of designated international organizations (e.g., a meeting of the UN General Assembly and Security Council).

G-4 Visa

Issued to personnel of any rank who are proceeding to the United States to take up an appointment at a designated international organization (including the United Nations). Members of their immediate families may also be issued G-4 visas, except their domestic employees, who are issued G-5 visas. Officers and employees of designated international organizations, who are not assigned in the United States, may be accorded G-4 classification if they intend to transit the United States. The number of entries should be limited to the official request. G-4 visas may also be issued to personnel of any rank on the payroll of a designated international organization proceeding to the United States on behalf of that organization.

G-5 Visa

Issued to the attendants and personal employees of persons in G-1 through G-4 status.

Note: If a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) were to be employed by a foreign mission in the United States, he or she would be eligible for A visa status if he or she would be willing to surrender his or her permanent residence card.

NATO-1 visa

Issued to principal permanent representative of member state of NATO (including any of its subsidiary bodies) resident in the U.S. and resident members of official staff; Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, and Executive Secretary of NATO;other permanent NATO officials of similar rank, and members of immediate family.

NATO-2 visa

Issued to other representative of member state to NATO (including any of subsidiary bodies) including representatives, advisers and technical experts of delegations, member of a Force Entering in Accordance with the Provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces Agreement or in Accordance with the provisions of the “Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters”and members of immediate family.

NATO-3 visa

Issued to official clerical staff accompanying representative of member state to NATO (including any subsidiary bodies) and members of immediate family.

NATO-4 visa

Official of NATO (other than those classifiable as NATO-1) and members of immediate family.

NATO-5 visa

Expert, other than NATO officials classifiable under NATO-4, employed in missions on behalf of NATO, and members of immediate family.

NATO-6 visa

Issued to member of a civilian component accompanying a force entering in accordance with the provisions of the NATO status-of-forces agreement; Member of a civilian component attached to or employed by an allied headquarters under the protocol on the status of international militaryheadquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty; and members of immediate family.

NATO-7 visa

Issued to attendants or personal employees of a person in NATO1 through NATO6 status.