Diplomatic and Government Officials

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Overview

Update (as of January 31, 2022): Due to limited resources and local government restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the hours for accepting official and diplomatic visa applications are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. until further notice. As of May 17, 2021, applicants applying for A-3 and G-5 visas may submit their applications on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Please note that the consular section is closed on official Guatemalan and U.S. federal holidays.

A-1, A-2, C-3 and G-1 through G-4 visas may be issued to diplomats and other government officials for official travel to or transiting through the United States. Generally, the classification of visa required by a diplomat or other government official depends upon their purpose of travel to the United States.  There are very specific requirements which must be met by applicants in order to qualify for A, G or NATO visas under U.S. immigration law. Please note that government representatives travelling temporarily on official business with an A-2 visa may submit regular, official, or diplomatic passports with their application.

A diplomatic visa type can only be issued to an applicant that holds a diplomatic passport type or its equivalent.  Diplomatic visas in diplomatic passports are exempted from payment of application processing. Mayors who need to travel to the United States, should apply for a B1/B2 visa.

Government of Guatemala applications for A-1, A-2, C-3 and G-1 through G-4 visas must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy Consular Section through the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and must be accompanied by a diplomatic note.  Do not pay an MRV visa application fee through this site, as it will not be refunded.

The following documents must be submitted with the application:

  1. Diplomatic Note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, or international organization requesting the visa.  The note must indicate whether the applicant has been temporarily assigned to the United States or is traveling on official business. Diplomatic notes must include the following elements: 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 or tour of duty in the United States; the names, relationships, and dates of birth of any dependents and other members of household who will be accompanying or joining the principal. The note should also indicate the dates and reason for specific travel.
  2. The confirmation sheet of the visa application form DS-160.
  3. A recent photograph taken within the last six months.
  4. Valid passport (regular or diplomatic depending on the category of visa one is applying for).
  5. If the applicant with a previous visa of the same class will apply, and such visa has not expired, the visa shall be submitted for physical cancellation.

Note: The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala will resume reception of diplomatic-type B1/B2 visa applications from diplomatic passport holders who hold one of the positions listed below:

  1. Heads of state and their alternates;
  2. Members of a reigning royal family;
  3. Governors-general, governors, high commissioners, and similar high administrative or executive officers of territorial unit, and their alternates;
  4. Cabinet ministers and their assistants holding executive or administrative positions not inferior to that of the head of a departmental division, and their alternates;
  5. Presiding officers of chambers of national legislative bodies;
  6. Justices of the highest national court of a foreign country;
  7. Ambassadors, public ministers, other officers of the diplomatic service and consular officers of career;
  8. Military officers holding a rank not inferior to that of a brigadier general in the United States Army or Air Force and Naval officers holding a rank not inferior to that of a rear admiral in the United States Navy;
  9. Military, naval, air and other attaché and assistant attaché assigned to a foreign diplomatic mission;
  10. Officers of foreign-government delegations to international organizations so designated by Executive Order;
  11. Officers of foreign-government delegations to, and officers of, international bodies of an official nature, other than international organizations so designated by Executive Order;
  12. Officers of a foreign government proceeding to the United States on a temporary basis or through the United States in the performance of their official duties;
  13. Officers of foreign-government delegations proceeding to or from a specific international conference of an official nature;
  14. Members of the immediate family of a principal applicant who is within one of the positions described above from numbers 1-11;
  15. Members of the immediate family accompanying or following to join the principal applicant who is within one of the positions described above in numbers 12 and 13;
  16. Diplomatic couriers proceeding to or through the United States in the performance of their official duties.

Important: Only those possessing a diplomatic passport and a position described above may apply for a diplomatic-type B1/B2 visa at no fee. The applicant and qualifying family members must visit the embassy to have their fingerprints taken (children 14 years old or younger are exempt from this requirement). The hours for accepting diplomatic passports for B1/B2 applications are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 10:30am.

Diplomatic officers applying for a regular B1/B2 visa (in a regular passport) due to medical emergency reasons must follow the instructions to request an expedited visa appointment as described at Emergency Appointment.

More Information

For more information, please visit this web page or consult with your government or agency's administrative office responsible for visa issues.

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.