Domestic Employees
Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following to join an employer who is a foreign diplomat or official are eligible for A-3, G-5 or NATO-7 visas, depending on the visa status of their employer. This category of persons includes, but is not limited to, cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, housemaids, parlormaids, valets, footmen, nannies, au pairs, mothers' helpers, gardeners, and paid companions. Please refer to the appropriate section for further information.
Accompanying an A-1 or A-2 Visa Holder
Personal or domestic servants of an employer who seeks admission to, or who is already in, the United States in A-1 or A-2 status may be issued A-3 visas.
Embassy London accepts for processing the visa applications of domestic employees of all diplomatic passport holders accredited to their missions in the United Kingdom.
Applying for the Visa
Applicants are required to complete the form DS-160 for each person traveling, even children and babies listed in parents'
passports.
The visa applicant is required to appear in person for an interview with a U.S.
consular officer. Please see "Scheduling an Appointment" in the top, righ-hand side of the page for further information.
In addition to the DS-160 Confirmation Sheet, the applicant is required to furnish his or her passport, a copy of the employer's diplomatic visa and a Note Verbale.
The Note Verbale should list the name of the employee, give the employer's title or
official status. It should also specify the date of departure from the United Kingdom,
and the purpose of the trip and length of stay in the United States.
When applying for the visa the applicant must be able to show that he/she will receive a fair wage comparable to that offered in the area of employment in the United States, and that the wage is sufficient to provide financial support for them and their dependents. Additionally the applicant is required to submit an english language contact signed by both employer and employee that at a minimum must include the following:
- hours of work
- medical insurance
- a guarantee that the employee will be compensated at the state or federal minimum
or prevailing wage, whichever is greater. Any deductions for food and lodging must be
no more than reasonable and voluntarily agreed to on the part of the employee;
- the employee will not accept any other employment while working for the employer; and
- the employer agrees not to withhold the passport of the employee.
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.
Accompanying a G or NATO Visa Holder
Domestic employees and personal servants of persons holding G-1 through G-4 visas may be issued G-5 visas and servants of persons holding NATO-1 through NATO-6 visas, may be issued NATO-7 visas. An application for a G-5 or NATO-7 visa cannot be processed without an official request from the organization to which his/her employer is accredited. This is sent either to the applicant or the Embassy. If the request is being sent to the Embassy, you should confirm receipt by calling 020-7499-9000 ext. 3050 before applying for the visa.
Applying for the visa
Applicants are required to complete the form DS-160 for each person traveling, even children and babies listed in parents'
passports.
Note: Applicants experiencing problems in connecting to the DS-160, may complete the old style visa application form DS-156. Please follow this link for further information. If completing the DS-156, males aged 16 - 45 and applicants born in or hold a passport from Cuba, Iran, Syria or the Sudan are also required to complete the DS-157.
The visa applicant is required to appear in person for an interview with a U.S. consular officer during the opening hours of the Diplomatic Visa Section. Please see "Scheduling an Appointment" in the top, righ-hand side of this page for further information.
In addition to the DS-160 Confirmation Sheet, the applicant is required to furnish his or her passport, a copy of the employer's visa and the original official request from the organization, if it has not been sent directly to the Embassy.
When applying for the visa the applicant must be able to show that he/she will receive a fair wage comparable to that offered in the area of employment in the United States, and that the wage is sufficient to provide financial support for them and their dependents. Additionally the applicant is required to submit an english language contact signed by both employer and employee that at a minimum must include the following:
- hours of work
- medical insurance
- a guarantee that the employee will be compensated at the state or federal minimum
or prevailing wage, whichever is greater. Any deductions for food and lodging must
be no more than reasonable and voluntarily agreed to on the part of the employee;
- the employee will not accept any other employment while working for the employer;
and
- the employer agrees not to withhold the passport of the employee.
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.
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Domestic Employees
