Visas for Diplomats and Foreign Government Officials
Diplomats and other foreign government officials traveling to the United States to engage solely in official duties or activities on behalf of their national government must obtain A-1 or A-2 visas prior to entering the United States.
Who Can Apply for an A-1 Visa?
Diplomats and other foreign government officials traveling to the United States to engage solely in official duties or activities on behalf of their national government must obtain A-1 or A-2 visas prior to entering the United States.
They cannot travel using visitor visas or under the Visa Waiver Program. With the exception of a Head of State or Government, who qualifies for an A visa regardless of the purpose of travel, your position within your country’s government and your purpose of travel determine whether you need an A-1 or A-2 visa.
A-1 Visa Qualifying Criteria
To qualify for an A-1 or A-2 visa, you must be traveling to the United States on behalf of your national government to engage solely in official activities for that government.
The specific duties or services that will be performed must be governmental in character or nature, as determined by the US Department of State, in accordance with US immigration laws. Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature, or traveling as tourists, require the appropriate visas and do not qualify for A visas.
How to Apply for the A-1 Visa?
The application process for the A-1 visa is quite straightforward and has less procedures than other non-immigrant visas. However, the application cannot be started unless the person applying has a diplomatic passport. So if you have just been appointed in a government position which qualifies you for the A-1 visa, you must get your diplomatic passport before applying.
If you are within the US on another type of visa, you can send your A-1 visa applications to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but if you are outside the US, you must go through a US embassy or consulate located in your country of residence.
You will need to fill out form DS-160 and gather all the required documentation for application.
Besides the Form DS-160 and the supporting documents, applicants of the A-1 visa will not need to go through other procedures. Visa interviews which are usually held for other types of US visas, but are not required for the A-1 and A-2 visas. However, the US Embassy is allowed to require an interview if they see a reason for it.
Can I Get a Green Card With an A-1 Visa?
Getting a Green Card with an A-1 visa is quite difficult, but not impossible. In order to become a lawful permanent resident of the US, A-1 visa holders will have to give up their diplomatic status. This means that they will not have the privileges that they had with an A-1 visa. To do this, they need to file Form I-508 - Waiver of Rights, Privileges, Exemptions and Immunities.
Afterwards, A-1 visa holders can apply to get a Green Card through marriage, investment, or if they can prove that they cannot return to their home country safely.
How Long Does it Take to Process the A-1 Visa?
After you submit your A-1 visa application, the processing times are extremely short. There are many cases when the visa response is immediately given on the same day when you submit your application. The US Embassy officer will stamp your passport and you can then begin to make travel arrangements for the US if you are applying from another country.
Can I Bring my Dependents With Me?
Immediate family members of diplomats and government officials receive A-1 or A-2 visas, with few exceptions. Personal employees, attendants, or domestic workers for diplomats and government officials (holding a valid A-1 or A-2 visa) may be issued A-3 visas.
How Long is the A-1 Visa Valid?
Once you obtain the A-1 visa, the US Embassy can give you a period of validity only for your intended travel dates or for an indefinite time. So if you are travelling between September 1 and October 1, then the Embassy might choose to have your visa valid only for that 1 month. However, if you are given the visa for an indefinite period of time, you are allowed to stay in the US as long as the US government recognizes your position in the government as qualifying for an A-1 visa.
In case you resign, you are not required to immediately go back to your country of residence. The Department of State (DOS) takes some time to update their records, and when they recognize your resignation, you are required to return.
If your period of validity is coming to an end, you can request an extension by submitting it to the DOS. You must also have a letter from your government outlining the reasons as to why you need an extension of stay.
What Are the Alternatives to the A-1 Visa?
Since there are multiple levels of diplomacy and there can be various officials of government, the US made the A visa of 4 types, as follows:
- A-1 visa, which is for Diplomats, Consular Officers, Public Ministers, Ambassadors, and their families
- A-2 visa, which is for other government officials or staff as well as their families
- A-2, NATO1-6 visa, which is for military staff from other countries who will be serving in the US
- A-3 visa, which is for government personal employees, attendants, or servants of A-1 and A-2 visa holders, as well as their immediate family.
All these diplomatic visas are designed as such that the people holding them cannot travel with the Visa Waiver Program. Instead, they must apply for the visa and the US must approve it before they can travel.
