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Foreign Military Stationed in the United States

General Information

The Diplomatic Liaison/Visa Revalidation Division of the Visa Office accepts applications for revalidation of A-2 and NATO 1-6 visas for foreign military personnel stationed in the United States. If the principal applicant has no Personal Identification Number (PID) assigned by the Department of State’s Office of Protocol, he/she must submit either military orders or a letter from the U.S. military command describing the applicant's assignment in the U.S. Foreign military orders must be in English or have an English translation attached. The letter must be on the letterhead of the military command, signed by a command official empowered to sign such letters, contain the principal applicant's and dependents' names, and state when the principal applicant’s tour of duty will be completed. Applicants may also apply for a new visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad that processes nonimmigrant visa applications.

Visas That Can Not Be Renewed In The U.S.

The Visa Office does not revalidate visas for nationals of Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria, the six countries currently designated as state sponsors of terrorism. These applicants must apply for new visas at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. For more information, please see the Notice: Special Visa Processing Procedures Pursuant to Section 306 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002.

Please note that the Visa Office does NOT revalidate A-3 or NATO-7 visas for personal staff of A-2 and NATO 1-6 visa holders. A-3 and NATO-7 applicants must apply for new visas at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad that processes nonimmigrant visa applications.

Required Documentation

Applicants must submit all required documentation with the visa application. The Visa Office is unable to accept supplementary mailings from applicants who forgot to include some or all of the required documentation or other information. There are NO visa fees for A-2 or NATO visa applications.

Each applicant for revalidation of an A-2 or NATO 1-6 visa must submit:

• One passport, valid for travel to the U.S. , and valid at least six months beyond the visa application date (including Visa Office processing time). Attach the passport containing the most recent A-2 or NATO visa.
  
• The original I-94, Arrival and Departure card , issued by the Department of Homeland Security/Bureau of Immigration and Consular Services (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service) from the applicant’s most recent admission to the U.S.
  
• One typed visa application form DS-1648 , Application for A, G or NATO visa. Applicants must give their full surname and full first and middle names. Please spell out the date of birth, i.e. 04 MAR 1940. Include the principal applicant’s and applicant’s Personal Identification Number (PID) assigned by the Office of Protocol, if available. (Many NATO applicants do not have a PID number.)
  
• One photograph stapled or glued to the DS-1648 in the designated space, which meets the nonimmigrant photograph requirements.
  
• Dependents applying separately from the principal applicant must submit copies of the principal applicant’s visa and front and back of the principal applicant’s I-94 in addition to the requirements listed above.

How To Apply

The application package, including a self-addressed, stamped return envelope or a properly completed commercial courier airbill and envelope, should be sent to:

The Visa Office does not endorse the use of any particular commercial courier service. If using the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Service recommends a padded envelope for passport return. A family should submit one courier airbill/envelope or one self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of their documents. Please use the military command’s address or the applicant’s personal address in the U.S. as the “from” address on the airbill or the self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that the airbill contains the military command’s courier company account number or applicant’s valid credit card number.

A-2 and NATO visa applications are processed expeditiously.

Related Links

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