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U.S. GOVERNMENT > Foreign Policy and International Affairs > Visas > Visa Types for Temporary Visitors

Employees of International Organizations and NATO

Overview
International Organizations
NATO
Immediate Family Members
How to Apply- Required Documentation
Renewing (Revalidating) a Visa in the US
Additional Information
Misrepresentation of Facts or Fraud
Entering the U.S.- Port of Entry
Further Visa Inquiries
Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

A citizen of a foreign country, who wishes to enter the United States, generally must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a United States port-of-entry, and request permission of the U.S. immigration inspector to enter the U.S. A visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S.

International Organizations

To qualify for a G visa, the purpose of your intended travel to the United States must be pursuant to official duties. Permanent mission members of a recognized government to an international organization are eligible for a G-1 visa. Representatives of a recognized government traveling to the United States temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization are eligible for G-2 visas and representatives of non-recognized or non-member governments are eligible for G-3 visas. G-4 visas are issued to individuals who are proceeding to the United States to take up an appointment at a designated international organization, including the United Nations.

NATO

An applicant is classified under the symbol NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 if seeking admission to the United States under the applicable provision of the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters Set Up Pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty. This includes, national representatives, international staff and immediate family members of an individual classified NATO-1 through NATO-6.

However, many armed forces personnel are exempt from passport and visa requirements if they are either attached to NATO Allied Headquarters in the United States and are traveling on official business, or are entering the United States under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement. In the case of the latter, you must carry official military ID cards and NATO travel orders. When traveling in exempt status, such personnel would generally be entering the United States by military aircraft or naval vessel.

Immediate Family Members

Immediate family members are defined as the spouse and unmarried sons and daughters of any age who are members of the household. Application procedures are the same as for the principal applicant. If accompanying or following to join a military member on NATO travel orders, the spouse and children should apply for NATO-2 visas. If accompanying a G visa holder spouse on travel, the spouse and children should apply for the same classification of G visa. An unmarried partner, even if recognized as the principal applicant's dependent by the sending government or international organization, would not eligible for a derivative visa (G or NATO), but may apply for a B visa, if otherwise qualified.

How to Apply- Required Documentation

As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for most visa applicants. For those applying for G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5 and NATO-6 visas, embassies and consulates generally do not require an interview; however, a consular officer can request an interview. Additionally, G1-4 and NATO1-6 visa applicants are exempt from the fingerprint scan requirement.

Personal employees, attendants and servants of G and NATO visa holders, that is, applicants for G-5 and NATO-7 visas, are required to be interviewed. Additionally, a s part of the visa interview, a quick, two-digit, ink-free fingerprint scan will be completed.

Please contact the embassy or consulate in your home country for more information. Visa application forms should be delivered to the embassy or consulate in the country in which you are a resident. Each applicant and any accompanying persons, must submit the forms and documentation as explained below:

An application, Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156 , signed and completed. The DS-156 must be the March 2006 date, electronic "e-form application." Select Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-156 to access the electronic version of the DS-156.
An application for A, G, and NATO Visa, Form DS-1648 signed and completed (ONLY for G1-4 and NATO1-6 visa applicants applying in the U.S. in cases of change of status or those working at the United Nations; the DS-1648 should be submitted in lieu of the DS-156). The non-electronic form DS-1648 will NOT be accepted, applicants must complete the electronic “e-form application”, Select Application for A, G, and NATO Visa, Form DS-1648 to access the electronic version.
A supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157 , which provides additional information about your travel. G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 visa applicants are not required to complete the Form DS-157. Here is the Form DS-157.
A diplomatic note. The diplomatic note is written confirmation by the sending government of the applicant’s status. A-3, G-5 and NATO-7 applicants must have a diplomatic note included with their applications to confirm the official status of employers. If entering the U.S. without a visa under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement or the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters Set Up Pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty, you must carry official military ID cards and NATO travel orders.
A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the United States.
One (1) 2x2 photograph. See the required photo format explained in Nonimmigrant Photograph Requirements.
Visa processing and issuance fees. Diplomatic passport holders are exempt from paying visa fees for all types of visas. Official passport holders are not charged for official visas, but are required to pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable, for all non-official visas.

Additional Information

No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of nonrefundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.
Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visitor visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Misrepresentation of a Material Facts, or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States. Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas provides important information about ineligibilities.

Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a port-of-entry in the United States, such as an international airport, a seaport or a land border crossing, and request permission to enter the U.S. Immigration inspectors with the Department of Homeland Security’s, Customs and Border Protection, will permit or deny admission to the United States, and determine your length of stay in the U.S., on any particular visit. Upon arrival, G-5 and NATO-7 visa holders will be enrolled in the US-VISIT entry-exit program. G1-4 and NATO 1-6 visa holders are exempt from entry into the US-VISIT program. In addition, some G-5 and NATO-7 travelers will also need to register their entry into the U.S. and departure. Select Special Registration to learn more. If allowed to enter, the U.S. immigration official will authorize the traveler's admission to the U.S. with a Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure. The Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S. and notes the length of stay permitted; it is very important to keep the Form I-94 in your passport. To find out more detailed information about admissions and entry in the U.S., select Admissions to go to the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Internet site.

Further Visa Inquiries

Questions on visa application procedures and visa ineligibilities should be made to the American consular office abroad by the applicant. Before submitting your inquiry, we request that you carefully review this website and also the Embassy Consular web site abroad. Very often you will find the information you need.
If your inquiry concerns a visa case in progress overseas, you should first contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your case for status information. Select U.S. Embassy or Consulate , and you can choose the Embassy or Consulate Internet site you need to contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Select Frequently Asked Questions, to learn more.