NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS
Diplomatic, Official, International Organizations and NATO Visas
Diplomatic Visa Section
The Diplomatic Visa Section is open Monday through Friday between 10:00
am and 12:00 pm except for American and Spanish public holidays. No
appointment is necessary. Visa processing normally takes 5 working days.
Passports are ready for collection during the hours noted above. Official or
Diplomatic visas can be sent by courier or dropped off and picked up in person.
There is no fee for Official or Diplomatic visas.
Types of Diplomatic Visas
To qualify for a diplomatic/official visa, the individual concerned must be
traveling to the United States on behalf of his or her
national
government to engage
solely in
official activities for that government. Local government officials representing
their state, province, borough, or other local political entity do not qualify
for "A" visa status; they require business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas
(see
Non-Immigrant Visas - Processing Instructions: Visa Types). Personal
employees of diplomatic/official visa holders may, under certain conditions,
obtain a derivative diplomatic visa to accompany their employer.
Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental
functions or traveling as tourists require the business/tourist
visa or if qualified, may
travel visa free
under the Visa Waiver Program (see
Non-Immigrant Visas - Processing Instructions: Visa Types).
Holders of diplomatic or official passports who wish to apply for business/tourist
visas will be required to come to the Embassy for collection of fingerprints and
an interview.
Important
note: Foreign officials
who intend to travel to the United States on official business must obtain a
diplomatic or official visa prior to their entry. They cannot travel on tourist
visas, or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
Immediate family members: defined as the spouse and unmarried
sons and daughters of any age who are members of the household. They are
eligible for derivate diplomatic/official visas and application procedures are
the same as for the principal applicant. Partners who are recognized as the
principal alien's dependant by the sending government, while not eligible for
derivative diplomatic visas, may apply for business/tourist visas, if otherwise
qualified. All such visa applicants are required to come to the Embassy for an
interview and pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable.
International Organizations & NATO
Visas
International Organizations:
To qualify for an international organization visa the individual concerned must
be entering the United States in pursuance of official duties.
-
Members of
a permanent mission of a recognized government to an international
organization
-
Representatives of a recognized government traveling to the United States
temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization
-
Representatives of non-recognized or non-member governments
-
Personnel
proceeding to the United States to take up an appointment at a designated
international organization, including the United Nations
-
Personal
employees of diplomatic/official visa holders, if qualified
An application for an international organization visa cannot be processed
without an official request from the appropriate international organization or
sending government. The request must be received directly by the Embassy.
Immediate family members
are defined as the spouse and unmarried sons and daughters of any age who are
members of the household. Partners who are recognized as the principal alien's
dependant by the sending government, while not eligible for derivative
diplomatic visas, may apply for business/tourist visas, if otherwise qualified.
All such visa applicants are required to come to the Embassy for an interview
and pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable.
NATO: An alien
shall be classified under the symbol NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, or NATO-5
if he or she is seeking admission to the United States under the applicable
provision of the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, National Representatives and International Staff, or is a member
of the immediate family of an alien classified NATO-1 through NATO-5. However,
many armed forces personnel are exempt from passport and visa requirements if
they are either attached to NATO Allied Headquarters in the United States and
are traveling on official business, or are entering the United States under NATO
Status of Forces Agreement. In the case of the later, they must carry official
military ID cards and NATO travel orders.
Immediate family members are defined as the spouse and unmarried
sons and daughters of any age who are members of the household. If accompanying
a spouse on NATO travel orders, the spouse and children should apply for NATO-2
visas and application procedures are the same as for the principal applicant.
Partners who are recognized as the principal alien's dependant by the sending
government, while not eligible for derivative diplomatic visas, may apply for
business/tourist visas, if otherwise qualified. All such visa applicants are
required to come to the Embassy for an interview and pay visa application and
reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable.
Application Procedure
If you are planning to travel to the United States on official duty (A, G or
NATO category visas), please submit the following documents by mail or courier:
Visits for Other Purposes:
If you are an accredited diplomat to Spain or official government civil servant
but planning to travel to the United States for other than official purposes,
and do not qualify for visa free travel under the Visa Waver Program, you must
appear at the Embassy for an interview. Please visit
Non-Immigrant Visas - Processing Instructions: Visa Types for more
information and to begin the appointment process. Please bring the following
documents to your interview:
back to top ^
|
