| - Types of Visas - |
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For information specific to each visa type, click on the links below. |
DIPLOMATS AND EMPLOYEES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Do I Qualify for a Diplomatic (A) or International Organization (G) Visa?
Diplomats: To qualify for an A-1 or A-2 visa, you must be traveling to the United States on behalf of your 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 if you qualify for an A visa; the particular duties or services that will be performed, must be governmental in character or nature. Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature or traveling, as tourists, require the appropriate visa, and do not qualify for diplomatic visas.
International Organizations: To qualify for a G visa, your visit to the United States must be for official business. Permanent mission members of a recognized government to an international organization are eligible for a G-1 visa. 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.
Foreign officials who are traveling to the United States on official business must obtain an A or G visa prior to their entry. They cannot travel on tourist's visas, or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
Are My Family Members Also Eligible for Official A and G Visas?
Only immediate family members qualify for A and G visas. Immediate family members are defined as the spouse and unmarried sons and daughters of any age who are members of the principal applicant's household. Immediate family also includes close relatives of the principal applicant or spouse who are related by blood, marriage or adoption and are not members of some other household will reside regularly in the household of the principal applicant and are recognized as dependants by the sending government. An unmarried partner, even if recognized as the principal applicant's dependent by the sending government, would not be eligible for a derivative A or G visa, but may apply for a B visa, if otherwise qualified. B visa applicants are required to pay visa application and reciprocal issuance fees, if applicable.
Do I Need an Interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania does not generally require an interview for those applying for A-1 and A-2 diplomatic or G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas; however, a consular officer can request an interview.
Personal employees, attendants and servants of A and G visa holders, that is, applicants for A-3 or G-5 visas, are required to be interviewed. Additionally, as part of the visa interview, a quick, two-digit, ink-free fingerprint scan will be completed.
What Documentation Do I Need to Apply?
Each applicant must submit the forms and documentation below:
Visa application forms and supporting documents should be delivered to the Embassy's consular section Monday - Thursday between 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
I Do Not Need an Interview - What Do I Do With My Documents?
Send your passport, completed and signed application forms (with 2" x 2" photo attached), and diplomatic note to the Consular Section before 10:00 am Monday through Thursday. For applications dropped Monday through Wednesday, the visas will be available for pick up the following day after 2:00 pm. For applications dropped on Thursday, visas will be available for pick up on Monday after 2:00 pm. There is no fee for A or G visas.
I Am a Government Official Traveling on a Regular Passport to Attend a World Bank Conference - What Do I Need to Do?
Government and international organization officials holding regular passports and traveling to the US to attend an international organization meeting, conference, or training applying for G visas do not need interviews and do not need to be fingerprinted. However, the international organization sponsoring your travel must send a fax directly to the Consular Section requesting a G visa (FAX #255-22-266-8247). Applicants may call the Consular Section at 266-8001, ext. 4318, between 2:00 - 4:00 pm, to verify that the FAX has been received. After the fax has arrived, you may send your passport and completed and signed application forms (with 2" x 2" photo attached) to the Consular Section before 10:00 am Monday through Thursday. For applications dropped Monday through Wednesday, the visas will be available for pick up the following day after 2:00 pm. For applications dropped on Thursday, visa will be available for pick up on Monday after 2:00 pm. There is no fee for G visas.
I Am a Government Official Traveling on a Regular Passport on Official Business to Washington or New York - What Do I Need to Do?
Government officials holding regular passports traveling to the Tanzanian Mission to the U.N. in New York or Tanzanian Embassy in Washington and applying for A (diplomatic) visas do not need interviews and do not need to be fingerprinted. You can send your passport, completed and signed application forms (with 2" x 2" photo attached), and diplomatic note to the Consular Section before 10:00 am Mondays through Wednesdays. For applications dropped Monday through Wednesday, the visas will be available for pick up the following day after 2:00 pm. For applications dropped on Thursday, visa will be available for pick up on Monday after 2:00 pm. There is no fee for A visas.
I Am a Government Official Traveling for Official Business on a Regular Passport, But I Am Not Going to Washington or New York - What Do I Need to Do?
Government officials holding regular passports traveling on official business (other than to the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington or Mission in New York) must be interviewed and fingerprinted. You should pay the $100 application fee and make an appointment with CitiBank Tanzania. We recommend that you obtain an appointment from CitiBank at least three weeks before you intend to travel.
I Am Traveling on a Diplomatic Passport to Visit Family and Friends - What Do I Need to Do?
Diplomats or other diplomatic passport holders traveling on personal business who are applying for B1/B2 (business/pleasure) visas do not need to pay a fee but they do need to be interviewed and fingerprinted. You should call 266-8001, ext. 4318, between 2:00 - 4:00 pm, to make an appointment. You should bring your completed application forms, photo, and other documents to the interview.
Additional Information
No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of nonrefundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.
Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visitor visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
Misrepresentation of a Material Facts, or Fraud
Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.
Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry
Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a port-of-entry in the United States, such as an international airport, a seaport or a land border crossing, and request permission to enter the U.S. Immigration inspectors with the Department of Homeland Security's, Customs and Border Protection, will permit or deny admission to the United States, and determine your length of stay in the U.S., on any particular visit. Upon arrival, A-3 and G-5 visa holders will be enrolled in the US-VISIT entry-exit program. A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visa holders are exempt from entry into the US-VISIT program.
If allowed to enter, the U.S. immigration official will authorize the traveler's admission to the U.S. with a Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure. The Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S. and notes the length of stay permitted; it is very important to keep the Form I-94 in your passport.