A, G and NATO visas for diplomats, officials and military personnel

A, G, and NATO 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.

Normally, the personal interview requirement for A, G, and NATO 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.

There are no visa processing fees or reciprocity fees for A, G or NATO applicants. These exemptions also apply to their domestics in the A-3, G-5, 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.

“A” visas for diplomats and government officials

Foreign officials coming to the United States to represent their government, whether on permanent assignment or temporary duty, must obtain the appropriate A 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. They cannot travel using visitor visas or under the Visa Waiver Program with ESTA.

Visa classification A1 or A2 is determined by the purpose of entry and the intended official duties, and not only by the official’s title, rank, or type of passport (diplomatic, official, or regular), which he or she is carrying.

Local government officials who intend to come to the United States exclusively on behalf of their state, province, borough, or other local political entity would not qualify for A visa status.

G visas for diplomats, government officials and employee of international organizations

To receive a G visa, you must be traveling to attend meetings at, visit, or work at a designated international organization. A qualified person may be issued a G visa in one of the categories listed below:

• G1 visas – Issued to members of a permanent mission of a government recognized by the United States, to an international organization.
• G2 visas – Issued to representatives of a government recognized by the United States traveling temporarily to attend meetings at a designated international organization.
• G3 visas – Issued to representatives of non- recognized governments or governments not members of a recognized international organization.
• G4 visas – Issued to personnel proceeding to the United States to take up an appointment at a designated international organization (including the United Nations).

Even if not assigned in the U.S., officers and employees of designated international organizations may be accorded G-4 classification if they intend to transit the United States.

NATO visas for military and civilian personnel with official assignments in accordance with the provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces Agreement.

Military or civilian personnel shall be classified under the NATO (1-6) visa category if seeking admission to the United States under the applicable provision of the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Many armed forces personnel are exempt from passport and visa requirements if they are traveling under the NATO Agreement. When traveling in visa exempt status, such personnel generally enter the United States by military aircraft or naval vessel.  They must present the official military identification card and NATO travel orders.

Note: Immediate family members are not included in the passport and visa exemption.  Therefore, when family members are traveling with or will join the principal applicant at a later date, they must have a passport and NATO visa to enter the United States

Spouses and children

Immediate family members of  A, G, or NATO visa holders 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.

Domestic partners of A, G, or NATO visa holders, who are either not married to the principal alien or whose marriage is not valid for immigration purposes, may be issued B-1/B-2 visas. Such individuals should be recognized as the principal alien’s dependent by the sending government, but need not carry a diplomatic passport.

A-3, G-5, or NATO-7 visas for domestic or personal employees of A, G or NATO visa holders.

Applicants who are the domestic or personal employee of A, G, or NATO visa holders are entitled to the appropriate A-3, G-5, or NATO-7 classification. The foreign mission or international organization where the principal A, G or NATO visa holder will be appointed should pre-notify the Protocol Office at the Department of State by submitting the necessary “Pre-Notification of a Domestic Worker” form and make sure that the domestic employee’s data, and his eventual family members’, are entered into The Office of Foreign Missions Information System (TOMIS).

Once the registration in TOMIS is completed the employee can apply for the visa, by following the below mentioned procedures, and providing a work contract stipulated between the parties, written in English (and in the language spoken by the domestic employee if he/she does not understand English).

The contract must contain the following provisions:

• Description of duties – The contract must describe the work to be performed and must include a statement that the domestic employee shall work only for the employer who signed the contract and will not accept any other employment while working for the employer.
• Hours of Work – The contract must state the time of the normal working hours and the number of hours per week. It is generally expected that domestic workers will be required to work 35-40 hours per week. The contract must indicate the number of paid holidays, sick days, and vacation days the domestic employee will be provided.
• Minimum Wage – The contract must state the hourly wage to be paid to the domestic employee. The hourly wage must be the greater of the minimum wage under U.S. Federal, state, or local law. The contract must also indicate the form of payment for the employer.
• Overtime work – The contract must state that any hours worked in excess of the normal number of hours worked per week are considered overtime hours, and that hours in which the employee is “on call” count as work hours and must be paid as required by U.S. local laws.
• Other Required Terms of Employment – The contract must state that the employer agrees:
  • to abide by all federal, State, and local laws in the United States.
  • not to withhold the passport, the employment contract, or other personal property of the employee.
  • that the employee cannot be required to remain on the premises after working hours.
  • to 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.

Note: A-3, G-5, NATO-7 visa applicants must be interviewed by a consular officer.

Visitor Visa Processing for Diplomats

Individuals who possess diplomatic passports are exempt from visa and reciprocity fees for visitor (i.e. B1/B2) visas for non-official travel. They remain subject to a consular interview and fingerprinting and must present the following documentation at the time of the interview: valid diplomatic passport, visa photo,
DS-160 confirmation page, diplomatic note (nota verbale), and MFA card.

The U.S. Embassy in Rome processes visitor visas for diplomats every Monday from 2:30-3 p.m., excluding local and U.S. holidays. (Please see the holiday list here.) An appointment is not required. Please send any questions to romevisa@state.gov.

If you wish to apply at any of the Consulates General (Milan, Florence or Naples) please contact them directly for application procedures.

Application procedures for A, G and NATO visas

1. Complete the DS-160 online application available at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and print the confirmation page;
2. Prepare the application package containing:
   • Confirmation page of form DS-160
   • Valid passport;
   • One passport size photo for each visa applicant, including infants (see the “Photo Requirements” webpage);
   • Note Verbal or NATO travel orders indicating the following information concerning the principal applicant:
     –  Name and date of birth,
     –  Position and title,
     –  Place of assignment or visit,
     –  Purpose of travel,
     –  Brief description of duties,
     –  Travel date,
     –  Anticipated length of stay or tour of duty in the United States, and
     –  The names, relationships, and dates of birth of any dependents and other members of household who will be accompanying or joining the principal.
   • If applying for dependents or other members of household please include any certificates proving the relationship.
   • If applying for an A-3, G-5, or NATO-7 visa for a domestic servant, include a copy of the work contract and documentation proving social and family ties to Italy.

Present the application package:

• American Embassy in Rome – Applications and related documents for A, G, and NATO visas may be dropped off and picked up from 2:30-3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at Via Veneto 121, except on local and U.S. holidays. Couriers will be given a numbered receipt allowing us to control the return of passports after they are processed. For some nationalities or circumstances there may be an interview and further processing required.
• Consulates General in Milan, Florence and Naples – if you wish to apply at any of the consulates general please contact them directly for application procedures.

Incomplete or incorrect packages will be returned unprocessed.