official and Transit Visas (a&g)
ABOUT THESE VISAS
These visa categories are designed for accredited members of diplomatic missions, employees of international organizations such as the United Nations or the Organization of American States, their family members,
and domestic employees.
Diplomats
To qualify for an A visa, the applicant must be traveling to the United
States on behalf of his or her national government to engage solely in official
activities for that government. The fact that there may be government interest
or control in a given organization is not in itself the defining factor in
determining whether or not the applicant qualifies for an A visa; the particular
duties or services to be performed must also be of an inherently governmental
character or nature. Local government officials representing their state,
province, borough, or other local political entity do not qualify for A visa
status; they require B-1/B-2 visas.
Qualified A visa applicants traveling to the United States for assignments of fewer than 90 days will be issued visas annotated "TDY" (temporary duty).
Important note: Foreign officials who intend to travel to the United States on official business must obtain an A visa prior to their entry. They cannot travel on tourists’
visas or
without visa under the Visa Waiver Program.
Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions or traveling as tourists require a B visa, or if qualified,
a travel visa free; they do not qualify for diplomatic visas.
International Organizations
To qualify for a G visa the applicant must be entering the United States in
pursuance of official duties. Members of a permanent mission of a recognized
government to an international organization are eligible for G-1 visas;
representatives of a recognized government traveling to the United States
temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization are
eligible for G-2 visas and representatives of non-recognized or non-member
governments are eligible for G-3 visas. G-4 visas are issued to individuals who
are proceeding to the United States to take up an appointment at a designated
international organization, including the United Nations.
Immediate family members are defined as the spouse and unmarried sons and daughters of any age who are members of the household. The spouse and unmarried children of the principal applicant are eligible to apply for visas as dependents (although de facto/
common-law marriages are not accepted for US visa purposes). Partners who are recognized as the principal alien's dependant by the sending government, while not eligible for derivative A visas, may apply for B-1/B-2 visas, if otherwise qualified. B-1/B-2 visa applicants are required to pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable.
Each dependent must complete a separate application, and submit separate processing and other visa fees.
Visa processing and issuance fees: Diplomatic passport holders are exempt
from paying visa fees for all types of visas. Official passport holders are not
charged for official visas, but are required to pay visa application and
reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable, for all non-official visas.
| Passport
Type |
Visa type |
Fee |
Fingerprints |
| Diplomatic |
A & G |
No Fee |
None |
| |
Tourist |
No Fee |
Yes |
| Official |
A & G |
No Fee |
None |
| |
Tourist |
Fee * |
Yes |
| Regular |
A & G |
No Fee |
None |
| |
Tourist |
Fee * |
Yes |
| * An additional reciprocity fee may apply based on nationality. |
We take fraud seriously.
Presenting false documents or making false statements to a Consular Officer can
result in a permanent ban from entering the United States.
Don’t do it!
Transit Visas (C-3)
ABOUT THIS VISA
It includes diplomatic, service, or ordinary passports for officers from the Government of Costa Rica, international organizations, and their employees.
REQUIRED FORMS
Diplomatic, official, or ordinary passport with a minimum of 6 months validity.
Recent photograph, 2x2 inches, white background, the person looking directly at the camera, the face measuring 1 3/8 inches.
Application form (DS-156), must be
filled out on-line and printed out so that a bar code about 3 inches appears a
the bottom of the form. DS-157:Male applicants 16 to 45 years old, must complete the supplementary form.
Minors must come with their parents and present birth certificates.
Letter or Diplomatic Note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from the international organization.
Passport processing is carried out Monday-Friday, 8:00 – 11:00 AM.
Passports with visa may be picked up 2-3 days after the documents are
received, 3:00pm to 4:00pm except Thursdays
If the applicant is an employee of a person that works for an international government or organization, he/she must comply with all the
above mentioned requisites and will need fingerprint scanning at the time of the
interview.
Contact Information
If you have any additional questions please contact at consularsanjose@state.gov. Please allow up to 5 business days for a response.
|
Non immigrant Visas
