A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4: Diplomats, Foreign Government Officials and Immediate Family Members
If you believe you may be eligible for a no-fee diplomatic or official visa (categories A-1, A-2, C-3, or G1 through G-4 visas), please submit an online request and include your name, position, passport number, purpose of trip, and sponsor. Please attach letters of invitation from the U.S. government or other sponsoring agencies and a diplomatic note. We will respond to your submission and confirm the appropriate visa classification within 24-48 hours, excluding weekends and other American and Vietnamese public holidays. Please do not pay the visa application fee. Visa application fees cannot be refunded or transferred to another applicant.
The type of visa required by a diplomat or other government official depends upon their purpose of travel to the United States. A Consular Officer will determine whether you qualify for the visa. A-1 or A-2 visas are issued to diplomats and other national level government officials who wish to travel to the United States solely to conduct official government business. Government officials travelling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature or travelling as tourists do not qualify for A visas and should apply for visas in B1/B2 (tourist and business) category. Kindly note that local government officials representing their province, municipality, or other local political entity do not qualify for A or G visa status. Please click here for information on B visas and application fees.
Foreign officials who are travelling to the United States on official business may only travel on an A visa and may not enter the United States on tourist visas. Qualified A visa applicants travelling to the United States for assignments of less than 90 days will be issued visas annotated “TDY” (temporary duty).
C-3 visas are issued to accredited officials of a foreign government intending to proceed in immediate and continuous transit through the United States on official business for that government.
International Organization (G) and NATO visas are issued to diplomats and other government officials for travel to the United States to meet with designated international organizations.
How to apply
Applications for A-1, A-2, C-3 and G-1 through G-4 visas for Vietnamese and third country nationals may be submitted directly to the U.S. Embassy Consular Section at the Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi between 1PM – 2PM. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Government officials should submit their visa applications at least five business days prior to their travel. Permission to drop off applications outside of these hours must receive prior approval. Please fill out our online inquiry form to request an appointment outside of the mentioned hours.
If you would like to submit your application in Ho Chi Minh City, please fill out our online inquiry form to request an appointment.
Required documents
The following documents should accompany all applications for A-1, A-2, C-3 and G-1 through G-4 applications:
- Online Non-Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160
- A Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Note that clearly states the following: Name and date of birth; position and title; place of assignment or visit; purpose of travel; brief description of duties; travel date; anticipated length of stay in the United States; and the names, relationships, and dates of birth of any dependents and other members of household who will be accompanying or joining the principal. Please click here (PDF 1.63MB) for a sample Diplomatic Note.
- If immediate family members are accompanying the principal applicant to the U.S., kindly submit document(s) proving the relationship with the principal applicant such as: copy of Marriage Certificate, copy of Birth Certificate, etc. Additional documents may be requested to establish if the person is qualified. Immediate family members are defined as the spouse and unmarried sons and daughters who are members of your household, even if studying in a different location. An immediate family member may also be a person who will reside regularly in your household, is not a member of some other household, and is recognized as your immediate family member by the sending Government, as demonstrated by eligibility for rights and benefits, such as the issuance of a diplomatic or official passport or travel and other allowances.
Note: For any foreign government official or employee who will serve at a diplomatic or consular mission (including a mission to an international organization) or at a miscellaneous foreign government office in the United States for 90 days or more, the diplomatic note should be issued by the sending government’s foreign ministry, and not by a mission or miscellaneous foreign government office in the United States. In the case of a career official currently assigned outside of the United States, we may accept a note from the embassy or consulate outside the United States where the official is currently assigned, provided that the note certifies that the foreign ministry requests the visa application.
- Any letters of invitation from the U.S. government or other sponsoring agency
- Valid passport with at least 6-month validity and 2 blank pages for visa
- One photograph (2″ x 2″ color photograph that meets the requirements explained in the Photograph Requirements section)
After submitting your application, you will register with our designated courier to have your passport delivered to your address. You will have to pay delivery depending on your location. This fee is payable directly to the courier at their counters at the Embassy and Consulate General.
More Information
You can visit the Department of State website for additional information about qualifying for Diplomatic and Official visas and for more specific information about A visas and G visas.
Personal/Domestic Employees of Diplomats (A-3, G-5 visas)
A-3 and G-5 visa applicants are exempt from paying visa application fees but are required to schedule an appointment for an interview.
All applicants for A-3 or G-5 visas must be interviewed, regardless of whether the applicant has been issued a previous visa in the same classification to work for the same employer. The interview of an A-3 or G-5 applicant must be conducted outside the presence of the employer or recruitment agent.
Please complete the no-fee visa online inquiry form to request an appointment for your A-3 or G-5 visa interview. We will respond to your submission and confirm the date and time of your appointment to the email you provided within 24-48 hours, excluding weekends and other American and Vietnamese public holidays.
Please include the following information in your request:
- Name
- Visa type
- Passport number
- Passport type (Diplomatic/Official/Regular)
- Local contact number
A-3 and G-5 visas:
If you are the attendant, servant, or personal employee of someone classified A-1 or A-2 or G-1 through G-4 then you may be entitled to the appropriate A-3 or G-5 classification. You must demonstrate entitlement to an A-3 or G-5 classification (e.g., letter of reference from a former employer, evidence of previous employment in that sector, etc.). Consular Officers must establish the official status of the employer and the intent of both parties to enter into (or remain in) an employer-employee relationship. In addition, domestic helpers of diplomats (A3) and international organization employees (G5) must first be registered with the Department of State’s Office of Foreign Mission Management Information System (TOMIS) before applying for a visa. For details of TOMIS registration please contact the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions.
The Consular Officer must be satisfied that the wage to be received by the A-3 or G-5 applicant is a fair wage comparable to that offered in the area of employment and sufficient to overcome public charge concerns. Applications for such visas must include an employment contract signed by the employer and the employee.
Required documentation:
- Online Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160
- A valid passport with at least 6-month validity and 2 blank pages for visa
- One photograph (2″ x 2″ color photograph that meets the requirements explained in the Photograph Requirements section)
- A copy of your employer’s visa or other method they will use to enter the United States (their Visa Waiver country passport or U.S. passport)
- An employment contract, signed by both the applicant and his/her employer, which meets all requirements
- A Note Verbale confirming the employment status of the principal, the date of departure, the purpose of the trip and the length of stay in the United States. The Note Verbale should list the name of the employee and give the employer’s title or official status. It should also specify the date of departure, and the purpose of the trip and length of stay in the United States. A-3 and G-5 applicants are not required to pay application fees.
After submitting your application, you will register with our designated courier to have your passport delivered to your address. You will have to pay delivery depending on your location. This fee is payable directly to the courier at their counters at the Embassy and Consulate General.
Non-official Visas for Diplomatic Passport Holders
Applicants with diplomatic passports who are eligible for diplomatic visas of categories B, F, M, J, or H visas are exempt from paying visa application fees but are required to schedule an appointment for an interview.
Please complete the no-fee visa online inquiry form to request an appointment for your no-fee B, F, M, J, or H visa interview. We will respond to your submission and confirm the date and time of your appointment to the e-mail address you provided within 24-48 hours, excluding weekends and other American and Vietnamese public holidays.
Please include the following information in your request:
- Name
- Visa type
- Passport number
- Passport type (Diplomatic/Official/Regular)
- Local contact number
If you are eligible for a no-fee diplomatic type of visa, you must bring the following documents to your interview:
- Online Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160
- A valid passport with at least 6-month validity and 2 blank pages for visa
- One photograph (2″ x 2″ color photograph that meets the requirements explained in the Photograph Requirements section)
After submitting your application, you will register with our designated courier to have your passport delivered to your address. You will have to pay delivery depending on your location. This fee is payable directly to the courier at their counters at the Embassy and Consulate General
Government-Sponsored Programs
U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are not required to pay application processing fees if participating in a Department of State, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or a Federally funded educational and cultural exchange program which has a program serial number beginning with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 printed on Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are also not required to pay applicable issuance fees.
Exchange visitors of government-sponsored programs and dependents are still required to schedule an appointment for an interview. Please refer to this page for further information on how to apply and how to renew government -sponsored J visas through the interview waiver program.