G REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The G visa is one of the nonimmigrant visa categories which allow representatives, officers and employees of international organizations recognized by an Executive Order of the President and their immediate family to work and live in the U.S. Some of the organizations recognized by this Executive Order are: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Labor Organization and the United Nations among others.
The G Visa is subdivided into five categories:
| Category | Definition |
| G-1 | Designated principal resident representative of a foreign government member to an international organization, members of their staff and their immediate family. |
| G-2 | Other accredited representatives of the recognized foreign government to such international organization and their immediate family. |
| G-3 | Representatives of unrecognized or non-member government of an International Organization and their immediate family. |
| G-4 | Officers or employees of international organizations and their immediate family. |
| G-5 | Attendants, servants, and personal employees of the above mentioned categories and their immediate families. |
To be eligible for this visa, the principal applicant must be a representative, officer or employee of the recognized international organization that will be employed for a period of no less than six months. The applicant may bring as beneficiaries their spouse and immediate members of the family that reside in the same house as the principal. These include minor children, unmarried sons and daughters under 25 that are enrolled as full-time students, and adopted children. The accompanying family under this category may also be eligible to obtain employment authorization.
Generally, G Visa holders will remain in this status as long as the Department of State recognizes their credentials and their membership to this class. Unlike most other nonimmigrant visa categories, there is no requirement that the G visa holder maintain a foreign residence to which s/he intends to return.
SIMPLE CONVERSION TO PERMANENT RESIDENT (GREEN CARD STATUS)
The New York City work visa lawyers of Garganigo, Goldsmith & Weiss have successfully represented certain G-visa holders and their G-visa family members in converting their status to lawful permanent resident as "special immigrants". Unlike most other green card applicants, they do not require family or company sponsorships (labor certification). For certain G-visa family members to apply for a green card, they must:
- have resided and been physically present in the United States for periods totaling at least one-half of the seven years before the date of application for a visa or for adjustment of status;
- have resided and been lawfully present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating at least seven years between the ages of five and 21 years; and
- apply for a visa or adjustment of status no later than his/her twenty-fifth birthday.
Garganigo, Goldsmith & Weiss has expertise in assisting certain G-visa holders (retiring officers or employees) who would like to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident as a special immigrant. For certain retiring/retired G-visa holder to qualify for a green card, they must:
- have resided and been physically present in the United States for periods totaling at least one-half of the seven years before the date of application for a visa or for adjustment of status to a status;
- have resided and been physically present for a period or periods aggregating at least 15 years before the date of the officer or employee's retirement from any such international organization; and
- file a petition for status no later than six months after the date of such retirement.
