The following describes which actions to take for certain common scenarios. More detail about related requirements for each action is provided later in this handbook.
Employees newly arrived in the United States?
The foreign mission or IO must submit a Notification of Appointment (NOA) via the OFM E-Gov system upon the arrival of a principal employee to the United States. If a proposed new employee is already in the United States in another nonimmigrant visa status and is not intended to be hired as locally employed staff, the employing mission or IO must first ensure that the employee changes to the appropriate A or G nonimmigrant visa status. If locally employed, the individual must have permission to work in the United States.
Employee transferring from one foreign mission post to another in the United States?
The foreign mission or IO must submit a Notification of Termination (NOT) via eGov for the prior position and an NOA via eGov for the new position.
Employee promoted from A&T staff to diplomatic agent, or from consular employee to consular officer (i.e., change in position type)?
The employee must submit Form I-566 (signed and sealed by the mission) to request a change in visa status from A-2 to A-1 (including a note from the MFA, not the embassy itself, requesting the A-1 visa and describing the change in duties to be performed), an NOT via eGov for the prior position, and an NOA via eGov for the new position.
A request for the acceptance of accreditation as a diplomatic agent of one who is performing duties of an administrative and technical nature is incompatible with Department policy and the VCDR; therefore, the accompanying diplomatic note must include a detailed description of the diplomatic duties the person will perform.
Employee has a new title without a change in position type (e.g., Second Secretary to First Secretary)?
Submit a Notification of Change (NOC) via eGov with the new title.
Employee promoted from consular officer to head of consular post?
Submit an NOT via eGov for the prior position and an NOA for the new position.
Family members arriving to United States with the principal?
Include family member information on the principal’s NOA.
Family members arriving to United States after the principal?
Do not include family member information on the NOA, but notify OFM of the dependents’ arrival when they arrive. This scenario includes a new spouse because of marriage (include marriage certificate), a new child because of birth or adoption (include birth certificate and/or adoption records), or any family member following to join the principal. Note that a new spouse who is not a U.S. citizen or LPR would be required to change visa status to match the visa classification of the principal.