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Diplomats/Government Officials (A Visas)
Foreign officials who are traveling to the United States on official business must meet specific requirements to qualify for a diplomatic (A) visa under immigration law and obtain an A visa prior to their entry. For an A-1 or A-2 visa, you must be traveling to the U.S on behalf of your national government to engage solely in official activities for that government. You cannot travel on a tourist visa, or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
The fact that there may be government interest or control in a given organization is not in itself the defining factor in determining if you qualify for an A visa; the particular duties or services that will be performed must be governmental in character or nature, as determined by the U.S. Department of State, in accordance with U.S. immigration laws. Government officials traveling to the U.S. to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature, or traveling as tourists, require the appropriate visa, and do not qualify for A visas.
Note:
International Organizations (G visas):
To qualify for an employee of International Organization G visa, the individual must be entering the United States in pursuance of official duties.
See the listing of designated International Organizations by going to section 402.3-7(M) in the 9 FAM.
Note: A person who meets the foregoing requirements for G-1, G-3 (non-TDY), or G-4 classification is expected to perform services for the foreign government or international organization on an essentially full-time basis (at least 35 hours per week) and to reside in the metropolitan area of the international organization where the individual will be serving.
How to Apply
Depending on your type of passport and the purpose of your travel, the visa category, fee, and interview requirements differ. Please check the chart below to apply for your visa.
Purpose of Travel | Visa Category | Application Fee? | Interview? |
Diplomatic passport holders | |||
Official duty | A-1/ A-2/ C-3 | No fee | No Interview |
Non-official duty | B/ F/ M/ J etc | No fee | Interview required |
Official passport holders | |||
Official duty | A-1/ A-2/ C-3 | No fee | No Interview |
Non-official duty | B/ F/ M/ J etc. | Fee required | Interview required |
International Organizations | |||
Official duty | G-1/ G-2/ G-3/ G-4 | No fee | No Interview |
Exchange visitor applicants in a program with program number starting with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 on Form DS2019 |
|||
Exchange visitor | J1 | No fee | Interview required |
Personal Employees | |||
Domestic Employee of A or G visa holders | A-3 or G-5 | No fee | Interview required |
*Applicants from certain countries may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. The Department of State’s website has more information about visa issuance fees and can help you determine if an issuance fee applies to your nationality.
Required Documents and Application Procedures
No Fee/No Interview
If you apply for one of the following visa categories, interview and visa application fee are exempted.
A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4
***Please note that this email address is designated only for questions from those applying for diplomat and official visas. For questions about visa categories other than listed above, please contact our call center.
Required documentation:
No Fee but Need Interview
If you apply for one of the following visa categories, you are required to be interviewed but not required to pay the visa application fees.
U.S. Embassy Tokyo: Please contact the Embassy at tokyovisaservice@state.gov to arrange an appointment. ***Please be sure to include the names and DS160 confirmation numbers for all visa applicants including dependents when sending your request.
U.S. Consulate Osaka: Please contact the Consulate at NIVOsaka@state.gov to arrange an appointment.
U.S. Consulate Naha or Sapporo: Please call directly (Naha: 098-876-4211; Sapporo: 011-641-1115). Please send your application documents by one week before the interview.
Required documentation:
Need both Fee and Interview
Official passport holders traveling for non-official purposes, tourism (B visas), study on F visas, participation in J visa exchange programs, transit C-1 visas whose cases require the application fee need to make an appointment for a visa interview. For details on application procedures and required documentation, please visit http://www.ustraveldocs.com/jp/jp-niv-visaapply.asp
Immediate Family Members
Immediate family members are defined as the spouse and unmarried legal sons and daughters of the principal noncitizen, who are not members of some other household and who will reside regularly in the household of the principal noncitizen, provided that such unmarried sons and daughters are:
(A) Under the age of 21, or
(B) Under the age of 23 and in full-time attendance as students at post-secondary educational institutions.
Immediate Family Members described above are eligible for derivative A or G visas. Application procedures are the same as for the principal applicant. Partners who are recognized as the principal noncitizen’s dependent by the sending government, while not eligible for derivative A or G visas, may apply for B-1/B-2 visas, if otherwise qualified. B-1/B-2 visa applicants are required to pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable.
Please call your nearest Consulate or Embassy:
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