As quoted or based on information provided by the US Department of State and/or the USCIS. Updated 2007-05-23

Who is eligible for G Visas?

Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family.

G1-5 category visas are issued to accredited, persons holding an official position, other than an honorary official position, with a government or international organization and possessing a travel document or other evidence of intention to enter or transit the United States to transact official business for that government or international organization.

Visa classification is determined by the purpose of entry and the intended official duties, and not by the official's title, rank, or type of passport (diplomatic, official, or regular), which he or she is carrying.

Foreign officials who intend to travel to the United States on official business must obtain the appropriate A visa or G visa prior to their entry, even if the official travel will occur within the ninety-day time limit allowed for those passport holders who can use the Visa Waiver Program.

Foreign officials coming to the United States to represent their government, whether on permanent assignment or temporary duty, will not receive a G visa, but are instead accorded A visa status, as are their dependents. Foreign officials coming to perform non-governmental functions of commercial or competitive nature would fall into the B visa, E visa, or L visa categories, and would be issued "diplomatic" visas in those categories.

A visas are generally issued upon presentation of a diplomatic note from the appropriate host country office or foreign mission.

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.

Spouses and Children of G Visa Holders

The spouse and children of a G visa applicant are entitled to the same status. "Immediate family" members are defined as the principal applicant's spouse and unmarried legal sons and daughters of any age who are not members of some other household.

Acquiring G Visa Status While in the United States

The DHS or USCIS may require aliens who entered the United States in B visa status to apply for the appropriate A visa or G visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. The foreign mission where the applicant is to be employed should contact the nonimmigrant section of the U.S. consular office where the applicant will seek the visa, to make the necessary arrangements for issuance of the A visa or G visa.

Persons who have overstayed their previous nonimmigrant status in the United States are required to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Such applicants except those applying for A-3 visas and G-5 visas may apply at posts other than that in their home country. Additionally, DHS/BCIS will not change the status of an alien who enters the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

There are no machine-readable visa (MRV) (processing) fees or reciprocity fees for A visa, C-2 visa, C-3 visa, G visa, or NATO applicants. These exemptions also apply to their domestics in the A-3 visa, G-5 visa, or NATO-7 visa categories. Bearers of diplomatic passports are exempt from all visa processing and reciprocity fees, irrespective of whether the travel is official or non-official. This fee exemption is not accorded to recipients of official visas.

G-5 Visa Classification for Domestic Servants of G Visa Holders

An applicant who is the attendant, servant, or personal employee of someone granted an G-1 visa is entitled to an G-5 visa classification. They must demonstrate entitlement to an G-5 visa nonimmigrant classification (e.g., letter of reference from a former employer, evidence of previous employment in that sector, etc.). Consular officers must establish the official status of the employer and the intent of both parties to enter into (or remain in) an employer-employee relationship.

Consular officer must be satisfied that the wage to be received by the G-5 visa applicant is a fair wage comparable to that offered in the area of employment and sufficient to overcome public charge concerns. To insure that the applicant will receive a fair wage, applications for such visas must include an employment contract signed by the employer and the employee. The contract must include the following elements:

• A guarantee the employee will be compensated at the state or federal minimum or prevailing wage, whichever is greater. (Please note that the consular officer must be satisfied that any money deducted for food or lodging is no more than reasonable);
• A promise by the employee not to accept any other employment while working for the employer;
• A promise by the employer to not withhold the passport of the employee; and
• A statement indicating that both parties understand that the employee cannot be required to remain on the premises after working hours without compensation.

The contract is essential to the process in that it provides the personal employee with a framework within which he and/or she may personally seek certain employment or human rights protections. The employer must pay the domestic’s initial travel expenses to the United States, and subsequently to the employer’s onward assignment, or to the employee’s country of normal residence at the termination of the assignment.

Effective September 16, 2002, the Visa Office’s Diplomatic Liaison Division (CA/VO/P/D) and USUN will no longer adjudicate "A-3" or "G-5" (domestic employee of "A" and "G" diplomatic and international organization aliens) visa applications in the United States. Applicants for a(n) "A-3" or "G-5" visas are urged to apply at a U.S. consular office abroad.

NOTE: G-5 visa applicants must be interviewed by a consular officer. To schedule an interview, they must follow the normal procedures for the general public, i.e. fill out the form and contact the call center for an appointment. G-5 visa holders whose visas have expired, but, who remain in status, need not apply for new visas.

Subcategories of G visas

A qualified person may be issued a G visa in one of the categories listed below:

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

Required Documentation for G Visas

• A passport valid for travel to the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each individual desiring a visa must make a separate application;
• Visa Application Form (DS-156) and DS-157 (when applicable).
• One passport size photo for each visa applicant, including infants (see the "Photo Requirements" web page).
• Note Verbale or NATO travel orders indicating the length of stay, purpose and place of travel.
• If applying for spouse and children they should be listed in the Note Verbale or travel orders. If not please include a marriage certificate and/or birth certificate listing both parents' names.
• If applying for a G-5 visa for a domestic servant, include a copy of the work contract.