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U.S. Visas > Other Visa Categories > Visas for Employees of International Organizations and NATO > Change of Status
If you are in the United States in A, G, NATO, or any other visa status and accept employment with one of the following missions or organizations, you must obtain a change of visa status to the following category from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before beginning employment:
Mission or Organization |
Visa Category |
---|---|
diplomatic mission |
A G |
international organization, including the UN |
|
permanent or observer mission to the UN |
G or B |
NATO |
NATO |
All of your immediate family members should apply for a change to the same status at the same time as you. Under U.S. visa law, a foreign citizen who is eligible for an A, G, or NATO visa status, including immediate family members, must have that visa category.
Please note that the Department of State will not endorse changes into, within, between, or out for anyone currently on A-3, G-5, and NATO-7 status.
For change of status requests for the A or G visa categories, except for members of the UN community print this checklist and follow the steps below:
Step 1: Submit 2 originals of Form I-566, Interagency Record of Request – Change to/from A, G or NATO Status, to the Department of State, Office of Foreign Missions. (OFM-Accreditation@state.gov).
Step 2: Upon receipt of the signed Forms I-566 from the Office of Foreign Missions, the foreign mission or international organization must submit the following documents for you and all of your immediate family members to the Diplomatic Liaison Division:
Required Documentation
Step 3: Submit your Change of Status request to the Diplomatic Liaison Division in person or by mail.
Requests Submitted in Person – Change of Status requests may be submitted at the Diplomatic Liaison Division's Diplomatic Reception Area, Mondays and Thursdays, excluding holidays, between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).
Directions - The Diplomatic Reception Desk is located at 600 19th Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20522.
Mailed Requests – You may mail your Change of Status request, containing all required documents, to the Diplomatic Liaison Division at the following address:
Diplomatic Liaison Division, Department of State, CA/VO/DO/DL, SA-17, Floor 11, Washington, DC 20522-1711
Prepaid Return Envelope – If you would like your passport with visa reflecting your change of status mailed back to you, you must provide a self-addressed, stamped or courier airbill return envelope. If your passport with visa will be picked up in person at our Diplomatic Reception Area, do not submit a prepaid return envelope.
The Diplomatic Liaison Division 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 you can better determine its location after it leaves our office. If using the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Service recommends a padded envelope for passport return. (Please note that packages sent with 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 United States 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.
For change of status requests for the NATO visa category:
Step 1: Submit 2 originals of Form I-566, Interagency Record of Request – Change to/from A, G or NATO Status, to NATO headquarters for endorsement.
Step 2: NATO Headquarters must then submit the following documents for you and all of your immediate family members to the Diplomatic Liaison Division:
Required Documentation
Step 3: Submit your Change of Status request to the Diplomatic Liaison Division in person or by mail.
Requests Submitted in Person – Change of Status requests may be submitted at the Diplomatic Liaison Division's Diplomatic Reception Area, Mondays and Thursdays, excluding holidays, between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).
Directions - The Diplomatic Reception Desk is located at 600 19th Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20522
Mailed Requests – You may mail your Change of Status request, containing all required documents, to the Diplomatic Liaison Division at the following address:
Diplomatic Liaison Division, Department of State, CA/VO/DO/DL, SA-17, Floor 11, Washington, DC 20522-1711
Prepaid Return Envelope – If you would like your passport with visa reflecting your change of status mailed back to you, you must provide a self-addressed, stamped or courier airbill return envelope. If your passport with visa will be picked up in person at our Diplomatic Reception Area, do not submit a prepaid return envelope.
The Diplomatic Liaison Division 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 you can better determine its location after it leaves our office. If using the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Service recommends a padded envelope for passport return. (Please note that packages sent with 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 United States 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.
For change of status requests for the G visa category for the UN community:
Step 1: Submit the following required documents for you and all of your immediate family members 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):
Required Documentation
Step 2: The United Nations Protocol and Liaison Services or the United Nations Transportation Office will forward your documents to U.S. Mission to the UN.
The Diplomatic Liaison Division and the U.S. Mission to the UN coordinate with USCIS on processing change of status requests. If USCIS approves a change of status, the Diplomatic Liaison Division or U.S. Mission to the UN will issue your visa reflecting the change of status.
For questions about change of status, the foreign mission, international organization, or NATO Headquarters may contact the Diplomatic Liaison Division or the U.S. Mission to the UN. See Further Questions for contact information.
Note: USCIS services are only available once per week at the Diplomatic Liaison Division and the U.S. Mission to the UN, so the processing times for change of status requests may be a few weeks.
If you are in the United States in A, G, or NATO visa status and you are leaving your assignment but remaining in the United States in another visa status, you must take the following steps:
Step 1 – Leaving Assignment:
Step 2: For you and/or your immediate family members to remain in the United States in another nonimmigrant visa status:
Required Documentation
Depending on the visa category you are requesting a change of status to, supporting documentation may be required. Examples of supporting documents are:
Step 3: The Diplomatic Liaison Division or the U.S. Mission to the UN will verify that your registration has been terminated with the Office of Foreign Missions (only for A and G visa holders) and that you meet the minimum requirements to change to another visa status. The Diplomatic Liaison Division will then return the 2 signed Forms I-566 to your foreign mission, international organization, or NATO Headquarters, or directly to you, depending on how we received them.
Step 4: Please visit this USCIS link and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the address to file your application
Adjustments to immigrant status: The Diplomatic Liaison Division and the U.S. Mission to the UN do not endorse I-566 forms for individuals requesting adjustment to immigrant status. Contact the USCIS office that is responsible for the U.S. state where you reside to request adjustment to immigrant status.
For the Following Services: |
Contact: |
---|---|
A, G, and NATO visas |
Diplomatic Liaison Division |
G visas for members of the UN community |
U.S. Mission to the UN |