Overseas Military Personnel Stationed in the United States (NATO 1-6) Visa for the U.S.

This visa is applicable for the people who work as an Officials in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in U.S. People who travel to do office work at a designated the North Atlantic Treaty Organization eligible for this visa. They are not able to enrol in a university or stay longer than their visa permit. They can’t travel the U.S with a visa waiver program for their official duties. There are several types of NATO visas as follows:

• NATO-1: This visa issued for those who are permanent members of NATO or any other its companies, or for staff members representatives of principal NATO
• NATO-2: This visa issued for those who are the representatives of members states of NATO or any other its companies, or advisors/technical experts to a NATO
• NATO-3: This visa issued for those who are a member of the official clerical staff who is associated with representatives of member states to NATO or any other its companies
• NATO-4: This visa issued for those who are foreign nationals categorized as NATO officials
• NATO-5: This visa issued for those who are foreign nationals classified as NATO experts
• NATO-6: This visa issued for those who are members of a civilian constituent of NATO
• NATO-7: This visa issued for those who is attendants or personal employees of NATO-1 to NATO-6 visas

The visa applicant must have the evidence that they have sent by NATO, and they also submit their job duties while they stay in the U.S to meet up their eligibility for visa requirements.

The visa will not approve by the authority of the Applicant is not on their official duties.

Sometimes officials also excused from having a NATO visa. This is valid only when the officials travel with the staffs of the armed forces and also:

• They are on their official duties and also connected to the NATO Allied Headquarters in the U.S.
• They should enter the U.S under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement

Every armed forces person has to enter the U.S on a military aircraft or a naval vessel. They need to show their military I.D. and supporting documents from NATO at the entry point. If their family travel with them in that case, they must have a valid NATO visa; otherwise, they will not allow entry in the U.S.

There are some steps to apply for a NATO visa which is mentioned in the below: 

Stage 1: Fill up the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form: The Applicant can fill up the visa form online. After submission, they will get a confirmation page, and they have to save it for the future.

Stage 2: Pay the visa application fee: Applicants can pay the fees online. These fees include application form fees, visa issuance fees, reciprocity fees, and other applicable fees.

Stage 3: Visa interview: The interview is not required for the people who are applying for NATO-1 to NATO-6 visas but who are applying for a NATO-7 visa will have to attend the meeting at U.S Embassy.  They will ask about their Applicant in the interview.

It is strongly suggested that the Applicant should provide original documents over photocopies, and do not bring any materials in a closed cover for the interview. Any supporting documents should not send through fax, email, or mail to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. People will need these following documents:

• A Valid passport for more than six months after the travel to the U.S
• A Photograph that fills up visa requirement
• DS-160 visa application confirmation page 
• A valid diplomatic letter from the international organization that must include:
• Name of the employee, 
  • Date of birth 
  • Job position
  • The international organization name where the applicant work
  • Job description 
  • Dates of travel
  • The time frame of stay in the U.S.
  • The dependents of the employee must provide the same information if they travel along with them

The NATO visa process very quickly and authority announce a decision within a few days or a few weeks. The Applicant will get the confirmation whether they get the visa or not. The Applicant will get their passport within a few days if their visa application approved. The Applicant will also inform if their visa did not get approval.

The NATO visa holders are allowed to bring their immediate family members with them. As per the authority, Immediate family members are:

• Primary visa holder spouse who will live in the same household
• Primary visa holder unmarried legal sons or daughters who will live in the same house under the following circumstances:
  • Whose age is below 21 years
  • Full-time students at post-secondary educational institutions under the age of 23 years

If they can’t meet up the above requirements, they can still get a visa under the following circumstances:

• They will have to live in the primary visa holder household
• They should not be part of any other household
• A person qualifies as an immediate family member through supporting documents must be guaranteed by the international organization

NATO-1 to NATO-6 visa holders’ immediate family members can work in the U.S by applying for employment authorization.

 Personnel or domestic employees of the NATO-1 to NATO-6 officials can get NATO-visas through supporting documents that their employers provide. These supporting documents are as follows:

• Strong evidence that the employee can speak English or a language that their employer understands;
• Contract letter of employment must include these followings:
  • Job duties description
  • Working hours
  • Employees hourly wage must be higher than the minimum wage that is stated in the U.S Federal and State law;
  • Any overtime work condition
  • The employee requested to save all payment records of their U.S bank account for three years after their employment ends;
  • Employee transportation to and from the U.S.
  • Other conditions, such as:
    • The employer must not control the employee’s passport
    • Except working hours’ employee is not required to stay in the employer’s residence
    • While staying in the U.S employee must not work for any other employer.
• • U.S laws other conditions

The NATO-1 to NATO-6 visas don’t have any limit of time. The officials can stay in the U.S as long they have work, and they can renew their visa within the U.S. NATO-7 visa only validate for up to 3 years. After three years they can renew their visa for another two years. If they don’t renew their visa within this time frame, they must return to their country and should apply from their visa renewal.