United States•North America

Open

A-2 — Other Foreign Government Official

Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

5–20 days

Estimated Cost

Free

Stay Duration

Duration of Status (D/S) — coextensive with official assignment

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Other foreign government officials or employees on official duty, and their immediate family.

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Stay & Extensions

Status type

Tied to program duration

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a foreign government official or full-time employee assigned to a US embassy, consulate, or official government post

Travel must be solely for official government activities

Immediate family members (spouse, unmarried dependent children) qualify as derivatives

Assignment must be governmental in character as determined by the US Department of State

Valid diplomatic/verbal note from the applicant's government or foreign mission

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)

DS-160 confirmation page

Passport-style photograph (uploaded during DS-160)

Diplomatic/verbal note from applicant's government or foreign diplomatic mission specifying: full name, date of birth, position/title, assignment location, purpose of travel, duties description, travel dates, and anticipated length of stay

For in-US renewals (foreign military): DS-1648, military orders in English or certified translation, original I-94, self-addressed stamped return envelope

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No MRV application fee — entirely exempt from visa fees
No annual cap or numerical limit
Interview typically waived
Duration of Status admission — no fixed expiration tied to date
Renewable inside the US without departing
Dependents (spouse and children) may qualify for derivative A-2 status
Dependents may seek separate employment authorization via I-566 if a bilateral work agreement exists

Worth Knowing

Strictly limited to official government duties — no private employment or side work permitted
Assignment must be recognized and approved by the US Department of State
Not a pathway to permanent residence in practice
Dependent work authorization requires a bilateral employment agreement and separate USCIS filing
Status ends when the official assignment concludes
Serious criminal convictions may trigger inadmissibility under standard INA grounds
Particularly severe violations of religious freedom while serving as a foreign official are an unwaivable bar

Application Process

Obtain a diplomatic/verbal note from your government or foreign mission addressed to the US Embassy

Complete Form DS-160 online at ceac.state.gov

Upload a passport-style photo taken within the past 6 months during DS-160 completion

Submit the DS-160 confirmation page and diplomatic note to the US Embassy's Official Visa Office to request an appointment

Attend the in-person embassy appointment with all required documentation

Await visa issuance (interview is generally waived; consular officer may request one)

Application Forms

DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online
DS-1648 Online Application for A, G, and NATO Visas	Fill online
I-566 Interagency Record of Request - A, G or NATO Dependent Employment Authorization or Change/Adjustment to/from A, G or NATO Status	Fill online

Verified Claims (40)

Last verified Jul 2, 2026

Application Steps

Obtain a diplomatic/verbal note from your government or foreign mission addressed to the US Embassy;…

travel.state.gov

Blockers

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travel.state.gov

Can Convert To

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travel.state.gov

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a foreign government official or full-time employee assigned to a US embassy, consulate, or official government post

Travel must be solely for official government activities

Immediate family members (spouse, unmarried dependent children) qualify as derivatives

Assignment must be governmental in character as determined by the US Department of State

Valid diplomatic/verbal note from the applicant's government or foreign mission

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)

DS-160 confirmation page

Passport-style photograph (uploaded during DS-160)

For in-US renewals (foreign military): DS-1648, military orders in English or certified translation, original I-94, self-addressed stamped return envelope

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No MRV application fee — entirely exempt from visa fees
No annual cap or numerical limit
Interview typically waived
Duration of Status admission — no fixed expiration tied to date
Renewable inside the US without departing
Dependents (spouse and children) may qualify for derivative A-2 status
Dependents may seek separate employment authorization via I-566 if a bilateral work agreement exists

Worth Knowing

Strictly limited to official government duties — no private employment or side work permitted
Assignment must be recognized and approved by the US Department of State
Not a pathway to permanent residence in practice
Dependent work authorization requires a bilateral employment agreement and separate USCIS filing
Status ends when the official assignment concludes
Serious criminal convictions may trigger inadmissibility under standard INA grounds
Particularly severe violations of religious freedom while serving as a foreign official are an unwaivable bar

Application Process