Diplomats and Foreign Government Officials (A-1, A-2 & A-3) Visa for the U.S.

Ambassadors and other overseas government representatives traveling to the United States to involve only in official responsibilities or activities on behalf of their state government must get A-1 or A-2 visas before entering the United States. They cannot travel with tourist visas or under the Permit Waiver Program. With the exclusion of a Head of State or Government who meets the requirements for an A visa, nonetheless, of the determination of visit your position within your country's Government and your drive of travel govern whether you need an A-1 or A-2 visa. Immediate household members of ambassadors and government bureaucrats obtain A-1 or A-2 visas, with few concessions. Private employees, assistants, or domestic employees for ambassadors and government spokespersons (holding a legal A-1 or A-2 visa) may be allotted A-3 visas.

To meet the requirements for an A-1 or A-2 visa, you need to be traveling to the United States on behalf of your state government to involve only in authorized doings for that Government. The precise responsibilities or services that will be done must be judicial in character or nature, as set on by the U.S. Department of State, following U.S. immigration laws. Government bureaucrats traveling to the United States to do non-governmental purposes of a profitable nature, or going as visitors, need the proper visas and do not meet the requirements for permits. The circumstance that there may be government attention or control in a specified organization is not in itself the defining influence in determining if you be eligible for an A visa.

There are some steps to apply for a visa. The instruction of these stages and how you complete them may differ at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please check the directions accessible on the embassy or consulate website where you will apply.

About Visa Interviewers:  As a portion of the visa request procedure, an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate is needed for most visa candidates applying overseas.  Embassies and consulates usually do not require interviews for those applying for A-1 and A-2 visas, even though a consular officer can demand a meeting. Private staffs, domestic workforces, and assistants of A-1 or A-2 visa holders applying for A-3 visas are essential to be interviewed. 

Complete the Online Visa Application

• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 (Online Form): You must,
  • fill up and complete the online visa request form, and
  • print the application form approval page. You must give in to the approval page as part of your application. (Important Announcement:  For A-1 or A-2 visa holders on the task in the U.S reapplying for an A permit, use Form DS-1648, not DS-160.
• Photograph: You need to upload your photo when completing the online Form DS-160. Your photograph must have been taken in the last six months, and need to be the format described in the Photo Necessities.

Submit Required Documentation: All candidates for A visas must gather and bring the ensuing required papers to the U.S. Embassy or Mission in your home state:

• A valid passport for travel to the United States: Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond your date of visit in the United States (unless excused by country-specific contracts). If an extra person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page 
• Photo: You will upload your photograph when finishing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload unsuccessful, you need to take one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Necessities.
• A diplomatic letter: This letter is written authorization from your country's Government of your position and authorized purpose of travel. A-3 candidates also need a diplomatic note to approve the official status of their employers. Commencement July 1, 2014, the sending Government need to provide the ensuing evidence in the diplomatic memo submitted with any A-1 or A-2 visa application exterior the United States, and for any application for modification into such visa grade in the United States:
  • the government official's or worker's name, date of birth, position and designation, place of duty or visit, the purpose of visit, a brief explanation of his or her responsibilities, travel date, and the expected length of the trip of responsibility or length of stay in the U.S.
  • the names, relations, and dates of birth of any dependents and other members of domestic who will be associated or joining the government official or employee.
• For an immediate family household member applying distinct from the principal visa applicant: A photocopy of both the permit and the I-94 (both front and back) for the primary visa holder is mandatory.

Additional Documentation May Be Required: Evaluiate the directions for in what way to appeal for a permit on the website of the U.S embassy or consulate where you will apply. Supplementary papers may be demanded to establish if you are qualified.

Immediate Family Members: The Visa application process for your immediate household members are the same as for you. 

(Important Notice: Operative immediately, U.S. embassies and consulates will judge visa requests that are founded on same-sex marriage in the same way that we judge claims for opposite gender spouses)

Immediate family associates are defined as the spouse and unmarried sons and daughters who are members of your home, even if studying in a diverse place. An immediate household member may also be a person who regularly exists in your home, is not a affiliate of some other household, and is known as your direct family associate by the sending Government, as verified by entitlement for privileges and aids, such as the issuance of an ambassadorial or authorized passport or trip and other stipends.

In adding to a spouse and unmarried sons and daughters, immediate family affiliates who may succeed to accept A-category visas contain:

• any other relative, by blood, wedding, or adoption, of you or your partner;
• a domestic spouse; and
• a relative by blood, marriage, or adoption of the local partner.

A household member who does not meet the requirements as a family member, as defined above, may succeed for a visitor (B-2) visa. Visitor visa candidates are needed to pay visa application and issuance fees, if applicable.

How you complete the different stages essential to apply for a visa differs according to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. As part of the visa request process, an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the United States is obligatory.  The employer and staffing agent does not appear in the conversation.

Schedule an Interview

You need to book an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home state, in the country where you are now residing, or in the country where you are physically existing.  Please consult the directives accessible on the embassy or consulate website.

Prepare for Your Interview

A-3 Visa candidates need to submit each of the items explained in this webpage and How to Apply sections including:

• Finish the Online Visa Request:
  • Online Nonimmigrant Visa Request, Form DS-160: You must, 1) Fill up and complete the online visa application, and 2) print the application form approval page. You must give in to the approval page as part of your application. (Important Announcement:  For A-1 or A-2 visa holders on the task in the United States reapplying for an A visa, use Form DS-1648, not DS-160.
  • Photograph: You need to upload your photo when completing the online Form DS-160. Your photograph must have been taken in the last six months, and need to be the format described in the Photo Necessities.
• Submit Required Documentation: All candidates for A visas must gather and bring the ensuing required papers to the U.S. Embassy or Mission in your home country:
  • A valid passport for travel to the United States: Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond your date of visit in the United States (unless excused by country-specific contracts). If an extra person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page 
  • Photo: You will upload your photograph when finishing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload unsuccessful, you need to take one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Necessities.
  • A diplomatic letter: This letter is written authorization from your country's Government of your position and authorized purpose of travel. A-3 candidates also need a diplomatic note to approve the official status of their employers. Commencement July 1, 2014, the sending Government need to provide the ensuing evidence in the diplomatic memo submitted with any A-1 or A-2 visa application exterior the United States, and for any application for modification into such visa grade in the United States:
    • the government official's or worker's name, date of birth, position and designation, place of duty or visit, the purpose of visit, a brief explanation of his or her responsibilities, travel date, and the expected length of the trip of responsibility or stay in the U.S.
    • the names, relations, and dates of birth of any dependents and other members of domestic who will be going along with or joining the government official or employee.
• Obtain Employment Contract from Employer: The agreement must be in English and duly signed by both you and your employer. (If the personal employee does not know English, then a translation of the contract in a language the employee recognizes is mandatory to guarantee that the employee realizes the job responsibilities and privileges concerning salary and working circumstances.) The agreement must cover all of the data listed in 9 FAM 402.3-9(B)(3). 

Persons who meet the requirements for an official visa classification ( A, G, C-3, NATO) are exempted from paying visa fees.

Further About Visa Fees:

Persons holding diplomatic passports may also be excused from visa fees nevertheless of visa cataloging and purpose of travel if they meet one of the following classes. Ownership of a foreign passport or the equal is not by itself adequate to meet the requirements for a no-fee diplomatic visa. The consular officer will determine whether the visa candidate succeeds for the exclusion of fees under U.S. immigration laws.  Official passport holders are not charged for authorized visas but need to pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable, for all non-official visas.