Travelers who are Official Representatives of:
- The French government;
- Recognized International Organizations (United Nations, IMF, World Bank, WHO, etc.); or
- Embassies or Consulates located in France;
AND
- Who are being sent to the United States on official government or international organization business, require a “NOTE VERBALE” from the sending organization or, in the case of French government officials, from the Foreign Ministry.
The above listed applicants should consult with their administrative offices which normally take care of their visa issues.
If You Work for the United Nations or for the World Bank:
If you are traveling on a G Visa to the United Nations or World Bank, you do not necessarily need a NOTE VERBALE. You should bring a letter of confirmation of your next employment, instead of bringing the NOTE VERBALE. Please call 01 43 12 45 86 at the U.S. Consulate in Paris, to verify whether the confirmation fax has been received from the United Nations, the World Bank or the IMF. Applicants applying for A, C3 (transit on official Mission business), NATO and G Visas do not have to pay the MRV fee.
If You Have an Internship for the United Nations:
You do not need a NOTE VERBALE. You should bring an invitation letter confirming the internship. The applicants who request this visa must pay the MRV fee and be interviewed and finger scanned.
If You Are An Employee of A Diplomat:
Employees of Diplomats (like nannies, domestic employees, house keepers, drivers etc., A-3 or G-5) or employees of international organizations (G-Visa) (UN, World Bank) need an appointment to apply for their visa in person but do NOT need to pay the MRV fee.
How to apply:
A completed Electronic Visa Application Form DS-160 is required for each person traveling, children of all ages listed in parents' passports. The visa application form should be delivered to the Embassy with the passport, 1 color passport type photograph and a NOTE VERBALE. The NOTE VERBALE should list the names of the official travelers and specify their title or official status. It should also specify the date of departure from France, the purpose of the trip, the trip's destination (city and state) and the length of the proposed stay in the United States.
The Diplomatic Visa Section is open Monday through Thursday, between 1:00pm and 2:00pm, except for American and French public holidays. Visa processing normally takes 24 hours. Passports are ready for collection the following workday between 1:00pm and 2:00pm at 4 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris. There is no fee for Official or Diplomatic Visas. Diplomats accredited to France are not required to come in person.
Visa processing may be done by mail or in person through the Diplomatic Visa Window during the hours noted above. If applying by mail, three to five workdays should be allowed for the application to be processed.
Additional Details about Applying for Diplomatic Visas:
- Applicants applying for A, C3 (transit on official Mission business), NATO and G Visas do not have to pay the MRV fee.
- Diplomats, applying with their Diplomat passport, do not have to pay the MRV fee, regardless of the type of visa.
- Employees of Diplomats (like nannies, domestic employees, house keepers, drivers etc.) or employees of international organizations (UN, World Bank) (A-3 or G-5) do NOT need to pay the MRV fee, but must be interviewed and need to go through the finger scanning process.
- If a Diplomat applies for a Visitor Visa B1/B2 with his regular passport or if an official representative applies for a journey that is not an official assignment, the MRV fee needs to be paid, and the interview with the finger scanning will be required.
- If a Diplomat applies for a Visitor Visa for a journey that is not an official assignment, such as a B1/B2 Visa, but does this with his Diplomatic passport, he or she will not need to pay the MRV fee, but he/she will be required go to the interview and through the finger scanning process.