Representatives to certain international organizations may qualify for G visas to permit them and their families to travel to the United States to pursue their official duties. However, G visas are restricted to a narrow class of aliens.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for G nonimmigrant status, an alien must meet three criteria relating to the type of organization they represent, their role within the organization, and the purpose of their trip. First, only representatives to international organizations designated by executive order of the President are eligible for G status. Second, the alien must hold one of the following five roles: (1) a principal resident representative for a recognized government that is a member in the organization (G-1); (2) other representatives of recognized member governments (G-2); (3) representatives of unrecognized governments or representatives of governments that are not members of the organization (G-3); (4) officers and employees of international organizations (G-4); and (5) attendants, personal employees, and servants of the above four classes (G-5). Members of the immediate families of these individuals also qualify within their classes, and immediate family includes spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and unmarried children who are physically or mentally disabled. In some circumstances, older unmarried children may also be eligible. The third criterion an alien must meet to qualify for G status is that the purpose of his or her trip to the U.S. is to pursue official duties for the organization. The trip cannot be personal in nature.

There is no requirement that the alien be a native of the country's government he or she represents, and there is no requirement that the alien maintain a foreign residence.

What Are The Terms Of My Stay?

Aliens whose status is G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 are admitted to the U.S. indefinitely unless the Secretary of State no longer recognizes them as legitimate representatives to international organizations. Attendants, servants, and personal employees are usually assigned a three-year period of admission, but they may apply for two-year extensions of their status.

Although most dependents of G status aliens are not allowed to work in the U.S., G-1 and G-3 dependents may apply to work if the U.S. and the principal alien's home government have a reciprocal work arrangement. Aliens who are dependents of G-4 aliens may apply to work in the U.S. regardless of any such arrangement.

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