Visa Types
Domestic Employees
Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following to join a nonimmigrant visa-holding employer in the United States are eligible for B-1 visas; those 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 the 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.
Accompanying a Nonimmigrant Visa Holder to the United States
Nannies, au pairs, and mother's helpers who are accompanying or following to join an employer who seeks admission to, or who is already in, the United States in B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O & P, Q, or R nonimmigrant status may be eligible for B-1 visa classification provided:
- The employee has been employed outside the United States by the employer for at least one year prior to the date of the employer's admission to the United States, or if the employer-employee relationship commenced immediately prior to the time of application, then the employer can demonstrate that he or she has regularly employed (either year-round or seasonally) domestic help over a period of several years preceding the time of application;
- The employee has at least one year's experience as a personal or domestic servant as attested to by statements from previous employers;
- The employer will be the only provider of employment, and will provide the employee free room and board and round trip airfare as indicated under the terms of the employment contract
Accompanying a U.S. Citizen to the United States
Nannies, au pairs, and mother's helpers who are accompanying or following to join a U.S. citizen employer who is traveling to, or who is already in, the United States may be eligible for B-1 visa classification if the employer ordinarily resides outside the United States and is traveling to the United States only temporarily, or the employer is subject to frequent international transfers lasting two years or more and who, as a condition of employment, is going to reside in the United States for a stay not to exceed four years. It is not possible to qualify for a B-1 visa if the U.S. citizen will reside permanently in the United States, even if the individual concerned has previously been in the U.S. citizen's employ abroad.
In addition:
- the employer-employee relationship must have existed for at least six months prior to the employer's admission to the United States or, alternatively, the employer must have regularly employed a domestic servant in the same capacity while abroad;
- the employee must have at least one year experience as a personal or domestic servant and must produce statements from previous employers attesting to such experience;
- the employer will be the only provider of employment, and will provide the employee free room and board and round trip airfare as indicated under the terms of the employment contract.
I believe that I qualify for a B-1 visa. What do I do next?
You should apply for the B-1 visa. When applying for the visa, you will be required to furnish the original of a written contract signed and dated by both you and your employer which guarantees the minimum or prevailing wage, whichever is higher, for an eight hour workday, and any other benefits normally required for United States domestic workers in the area of employment, and requires that your employer give at least two weeks notice of intent to terminate the employment and that you will not give more than two weeks notice of intent to leave such employment.
Documents Required for B-1:
- Original contract signed and dated by you and your employer
- Letters of reference from your previous employers, as described above
- Photocopy of your employer's U.S. passport or U.S. visa
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.
A-3 visa applicants must make an appointment and appear in person for an interview with a U.S. consular officer. A-3 visas are issued free of charge.
Documents Required for A-3:
- Photocopy of the employer's A-1 or A-2 visa
- Diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that includes the name of the employee, the employer's title or official status, the date of departure from Slovenia, and the purpose of the trip and length of stay in the United States.
- Dated contract signed by both the employer and the employee specifying the hours of work, guaranteeing medical insurance, a statement that the the employee will not accept any other employment while working for the employer, a statement that the employer will not withhold the passport of the employee, and 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 as part of the contract.
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. Domestic employees and personal 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 must be accompanied by an official request from the organization to which the 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 ++386-1-200-5599 before applying for the visa.
G-5 and NATO-7 visa applicants must make an appointment and appear in person for an interview with a U.S. consular officer. These visas are issued free of charge.
Documents Required for G-5 or NATO-7:
- Photocopy of the employer's G or NATO visa
- Letter from the employer's accredited organization
- Dated contract signed by both the employer and the employee specifying the hours of work, guaranteeing medical insurance, a statement that the the employee will not accept any other employment while working for the employer, a statement that the employer will not withhold the passport of the employee, and 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 as part of the contract.
Please note that we can give no assurances in advance regarding the issuance of visas. Therefore, please do not make final travel plans or purchase nonrefundable tickets until a visa has been issued.