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A G visa is a category of official visas issued to diplomats, government officials, and international organization employees who are visiting the United States temporarily for a governmental purpose.

G visas may also be issued to immediate family members of the principal visa holder. G visas are issued by the United States Department of State.

G visas are not issued to heads of state, who are instead granted an A-1 visa.

Types

There are five visas in the G visa category:

G-1

The G-1 visa is for permanent members of a diplomatic mission from a recognized government, who are visiting a specific international organization (and for eligible family members).

G-2

The G-2 visa is for official representatives of a recognized government, who are attending meetings at a specific international organization (and for eligible family members).

G-3

The G-3 visa is for representatives of a government not officially recognized by the United States (and for eligible family members of the principal visa holder).

G-4

The G-4 visa is for persons who have been appointed to a position at an international organization in the United States, including the United Nations (and for eligible family members).

G-5

The G-5 visa is for employees or domestic workers of G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa holders who meet certain criteria.

Duration of status

An individual is generally allowed to retain G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 status for as long as the person is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of State.

Work authorization

G visas give work authorization to the primary holder of the visa. A family member with a G visa is eligible to apply for work authorization and only if the individual is a married spouse, an eligible domestic partner, an unmarried child under age 21, an unmarried child under age 23 who is a full-time student at a college or university, or an unmarried child of any age who is physically disabled or mentally disabled.

Notes

1. ^ Effective October 1, 2018, the unmarried domestic partner of a government official is no longer eligible for a derivative G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa. There is an exception for G-1, G-2, and G-3 visas in the case of countries where same-sex marriage is not legally available, but the sending nation accepts accreditation of U.S. same-sex spouses with the same privileges and immunities as opposite-sex spouses. There is no such exception for G-4 visas because the individual is sent by an international organization rather than a nation.

References

1. ^ "Visas for Employees of International Organizations and NATO". travel.state.gov. United States Department of State. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
2. "Diplomatic and Official Visas (A, G, and C-3)". ph.usembassy.gov. U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022.
3. "Notice 18-1029". United States Department of State. July 6, 2018.
4. Miexler, Eli (October 2, 2018). "Trump Administration Halts Visas for Unmarried Same-Sex Partners of Diplomats". Time.
5. Fitzsimmons, Tim (October 1, 2018). "U.S. to partners of U.N. LGBTQ staff: Get married, or get out". NBC News.
6. Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(a)(15)(G).
7. 8 CFR 214.2.g.
8. "Adjudicator's Field Manual: 30.5 Status as a Foreign Government Official or Employee of an International Organization. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
9. "G-4 Visas". International Monetary Fund. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019.
10. "G00203 Summary of Benefits Applicable to Headquarters-based Open and Term Staff". World Bank Group. September 7, 2018.

See also

• NATO-1 visa
• Travel visa
• Visa policy of the United States

• Visa policy of the United States
• United States Department of State