Renewing A, G, and NATO Visas in the U.S.

General Information

Individuals who are in A1-2, G1-4, or NATO1-6 status in the U.S. and their dependents in the same status may renew their visas while in the United States. As a first step, please fully review this information, as well as the Relevant Links. For further information, you should contact the Divison of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office (CA/VO/P/D) at the Department of State at (202) 663-1743, or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) at (212) 415-4167, Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. holidays, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Eastern Time).

Renewal is Limited to Certain A1-2, G1-4, and NATO1-6 Visa Holders

Diplomatic Liaison Division of the Visa Office reissues clearly approvable U.S. visas and provides related visa services to A1-2, G1-4, and NATO1-6 visa holders who are not employees of the UN community and who are:

  1. registered with State's Office of Protocol or foreign military personnel stationed at U.S. military bases (the latter should refer to our requirements for foreign military stationed in the U.S.),
  2. resident in the United States, and
  3. present in the United States.

U.S. Mission to the United Nations reissues clearly approvable U.S. visas and provides related visa services to employees of the UN community and their dependents who are:

  1. registered with the UN,
  2. resident in the greater New York area, and
  3. present in the greater New York area.

This includes members of the Permanent and Observer Missions to the UN on G visas, and employees of the UN and its related Funds, Programs, and Liaison Offices (excluding consulates). All other A, G, and NATO visa cases are handled by the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office in Washington.

If the Office of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, in consultation with the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office , determines that an application for reissuance of an A1-2, G1-4, or NATO1-6 visa is not clearly approvable, they will inform the applicant that he/she must submit an application overseas. This is relatively rare, but must be done when an application raises questions that cannot be answered by the documentation that has been submitted. Such applicants will be required to apply overseas and be interviewed prior to reissuance of the U.S. visa.

A-3, G-5, and NATO-7 Visas Cannot Be Renewed in the U.S.

The Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations are unable to reissue A-3, G-5, and NATO-7 visas. If you are in A-3, G-5, or NATO-7 status, you are required to apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad for a new visa. For A-3, G-5, and NATO-7 applicants who wish to extend their status in the U.S. but do not wish to obtain a new visa, the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations can coordinate with CIS on the extension of status in some cases. For more information, the foreign mission or international organization should contact the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. You may also see How do I extend my stay in the U.S.?.

Other Visas that Cannot Be Issued in the U.S.

Applicants for renewals or revalidations of E, H, I, L, O, and P visas must apply abroad, generally in their country of residence. In addition, the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations cannot issue visas to American citizens or permanent residents, nor can they, by regulation, assist Americans in obtaining passports or visas for foreign countries, or with U.S. visas for family members or friends.

How to Apply - Required Documentation

Applicants must submit all required documentation with the visa application. The Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations are 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 A1-2, G1-4, or NATO1-6 visa applications.

Each applicant for visa reissuance must submit:

  1. A passport valid for travel to the U.S. Attach the passport containing the most recent A, G, or NATO visa.
  2. The original paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection from the applicant's most recent admission to the U.S. If you entered the U.S. after the automation of Form I-94, and your Arrival/Departure Record was created electronically, you may obtain a paper Form I-94 at www.cbp.gov/I94. 
  3. One visa application form DS-1648, Application for A, G or NATO visa, fully completed and signed. This application must be completed and submitted online by selecting DS-1648 Online: New Application for A, G, or NATO Visa (Applying in the United States only), and then submitting the confirmation page generated at the end of the application, affixed with the Embassy, mission, or organization seal. The non-electronic form DS-1648 is NOT accepted.
    (NOTE: The DS-1648 is ONLY for A1-2, G1-4, and NATO1-6 visa applicants applying in the U.S. In cases of change of status for those working at the United Nations, you should use the DS-1648, not the DS-160.)
  4. One photograph - For Online Application DS-1648, you will upload either a scanned or digital photograph meeting the format requirements explained in the Photograph Requirements, under Applicants using Form DS-160 or Form DS-1648. If the photo upload function fails, continue trying to upload until the application allows you to proceed without a photo. Then, submit one 2x2 inch color photograph that meets requirements explained in the Photograph Requirements, stapled or glued to the online DS-1648 confirmation page ONLY if the confirmation page has an X in the box where the uploaded photo should appear. If the confirmation page includes a photo image, then the photo upload function has succeeded and no separate print photograph is required.
  5. A diplomatic note if applying at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations or if the DS-1648 confirmation page does not include the Embassy, mission, or organization seal.
  6. 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 paper Form I-94, in addition to the requirements listed above. If the principal applicant entered the U.S. after the automation of Form I-94, and his/her Arrival/Departure Record was created electronically, a photocopy of his/her admission stamp can be provided to the family member applying separately. Alternatively, the principal applicant may obtain a paper Form I-94 at www.cbp.gov/I94 and provide it to the family member applying separately. 

Where to Apply

In Washington, D.C.: The application package should be submitted through your embassy or international organization in Washington to the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office Diplomatic Desk, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between 11 a.m. and noon (Eastern Time). The Diplomatic Desk is located in Columbia Plaza, on the west side of 23rd Street NW between E Street and Virginia Avenue. Coming from 23rd Street, the Diplomatic Desk is on the left (or south) side of the Plaza past Casey’s Coffee and the Office of Authentications, near the office building at the rear of the Plaza. NATO visa applicants may submit their applications through their commanding office. If your application package is submitted by mail from your commanding office, include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope or a properly completed commercial courier airbill and envelope. The Visa Office does not endorse the use of any particular commercial courier service, but it may be useful for the return envelope to have a tracking number so the applicant can better determine its location after it leaves the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office. If using the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Service recommends a padded envelope for passport return; please note that packages sent via the Postal Service are often subjected to irradiation, which can damage passports, I-94s, and other enclosures. 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. The Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office mailing address is:

CA/VO/P/D - Visa Office U.S. Department of State 2401 E Street, NW (SA-1, L-703) Washington, DC 20522-0106

In New York (for G Visa Applicants as described in the General Information section above): The application package should be submitted through your mission or international organization in New York to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. holidays, between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). USUN's address is:

U.S. Mission to the United Nations, 799 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Note: Please allow a minimum of 3-5 business days, not counting date of submission or date of receipt, to process any visa at either location. In some cases, processing may take longer.

Change of Status - Into, Within, or Between A, G, and NATO Status

If you are in the United States and accept employment with a diplomatic mission, an international organization (including the UN), a permanent or observer mission to the UN, or NATO, you must obtain a change of visa status to A, G, or NATO, respectively, from the Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) before beginning employment with the foreign mission, international organization, or NATO. All of your dependents (spouse and children) should apply for a change to the same status at the same time, as U.S. visa law indicates that if someone is eligible for an A, G, or NATO visa, the visa holder, as well as his/her dependents, must have that type of visa. If, after reviewing the below, there are still questions about the required documentation to submit, the foreign mission, international organization, or NATO should contact the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations at the numbers above.

  • What to Submit to Change Into, Within, or Between A or G Status - Applicants requesting a change of status to either the A or G category who fall under the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office's jurisdiction must first submit two originals of Form I-566 to the Department of State, Office of Protocol. Upon receipt of the signed Forms I-566 from the Office of Protocol, the foreign mission or international organization should submit to the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office for each applicant:
    • Both I-566 forms signed by Protocol,
    • the I-539,
    • the I-94,
    • the applicant's passport,
    • a diplomatic note,
    • DS-1648 visa application, and
    • any other required documents (such as the original DS-2019 for J visa holders or I-20 for F visa holders).
  • What to Submit to Change Into NATO Status - Applicants requesting a change of status to the NATO category who fall under the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office's jurisdiction must first submit two originals of Form I-566 to NATO headquarters for endorsement, who will then submit to Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office for each applicant:
    • both endorsed I-566 forms,
    • the I-539,
    • the I-94,
    • the applicant’s passport,
    • a letter from NATO headquarters, and
    • DS-1648.
  • What to Submit to Change Into or Within G Status in USUN’s Jurisdiction - Applicants requesting a change of status to the G category who fall under USUN's jurisdiction must submit the following for each applicant to the United Nations' Protocol and Liaison Services (for prospective employees of permanent missions and observer offices) or the United Nations' Transportation Office (for prospective G-4 employees), which will then forward the paperwork to USUN:
    • two originals of Form I-566, 
    •  one I-539,
    • the applicant's passport,
    • DS-1648 visa application,
    • I-94, and
    • diplomatic note.

Change Into, Within, or Between A, G, or NATO Status: Approval by USCIS and Visa Issuance Steps

The Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations will coordinate with CIS on processing I-566 forms. If CIS grants a change of status to the A, G, or NATO category, the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations will then issue the visa if the foreign mission has completed online form DS-1648 (Application for Visa) and submitted the confirmation page with the Embassy, mission, or organization seal or a diplomatic note, accompanied by the applicant's passport, a passport-size photo (if the online application's photo upload function has failed), and the Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) reflecting the change of status. For additional information, the foreign mission or international organization should contact the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Please note that USCIS services are only available once per week at either location, so the processing time for change of status applications may be a few weeks.

Change of Status - Out of A, G, or NATO Status

If you are in the United States in A, G, or NATO visa status and you are leaving your assignment, your foreign mission or international organization must first notify the State Department's Office of Protocol or the UN's Protocol and Liaison Services that you are departing. If you or your dependents are remaining in the U.S. in non-A, G, or NATO non-immigrant visa status, your foreign mission or international organization should submit two copies of the form I-566 directly to the Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations after notifying the Office of Protocol.

Depending on the visa class into which you are applying to change, supporting documentation may also be necessary, such as an I-20 to change to F-1 status, a letter outlining your plans and itinerary to change to B status, or an I-797 and job offer letter for an employment-based visa. The Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations will verify that your registration has been terminated with Protocol and that you meet the minimum requirements to change into the new status (such as no longer being entitled to A, G, or NATO status, having a valid I-20 for an F-1 applicant, etc.) and return the signed I-566 forms to your foreign mission or international organization, or directly to you, depending how we received them. You should then contact your CIS office to complete the change of status request, following Form I-566 instructions. It is very rare that a dependent of an A, G, or NATO would qualify to change out of that status while the principal is still in active A, G, or NATO status, unless the dependent has lost entitlement to the A, G, or NATO visa by divorcing the principal (in the case of a spouse), getting married (in the case of children), or establishing a separate household (in the case of spouse or children).

Please note: The Division of Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office or the U.S. Mission to the United Nations do not endorse I-566 forms for individuals who are changing their status to an immigrant status. Please contact your CIS office directly to complete the change of status to immigrant status.

Relevant Links

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