Immigration Information for UNICEF applicants and personnel in the US
Immigration Information to be aware of to work at UNICEF New York Headquarters, in the US
a. US National or Permanent Resident:
All UNICEF personnel in New York Headquarters, including US citizens and permanent residents, need to be registered with the Host Country authorities, i.e. the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN), and be assigned a Personal Identification (PID) number by the US Department of State. This refers to all personnel on fixed-term and temporary assignments, individual contractors/consultants, and personnel seconded to NYHQ, full-time interns and UN volunteers.
• Can my non-US citizen legal partner or soon to be spouse apply for a G-4 visa?
Non-US citizen partners of US citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for G-4 visa as it is a derivative visa status (i.e. linked to the visa status of the person who is offered employment with UNICEF).
• Can my non-US citizen dependents apply for dependent employment authorization (i.e. work permit)?
Non-US citizen dependents of US citizens and permanent residents are not eligible to apply for a work permit. This type of employment authorization is only available for eligible G-4 dependents.
b. Non-US National or Permanent Resident:
All UNICEF NYHQ based personnel who are not US Citizens, not Permanent Residents, have approved Asylum or Refugee or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, as well as travelers from “US visa waiver/ESTA” countries, must be in G-4 visa status to be eligible for UNICEF employment. This applies to personnel on fixed-term and temporary assignments, individual contractors/consultants, full-time interns and UN volunteers.
All UNICEF personnel in New York Headquarters, including US citizens and permanent residents, need to be registered with the Host Country authorities, i.e. the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN), and be assigned a Personal Identification (PID) number by the US Department of State.
• As a G-4 visa holder coming to NY, can my family members residing with me in NY retain their own non-G-4 visas (i.e. business, work, study, etc.)?
- All immediate family members, spouses and dependent children of non-US citizen who reside with the staff member must also be in G-4 visa status. Additional criteria will apply for dependent children between the ages of 21 to 25.
- Spouses who are in a different visa status (H1-B, L-1) are required to obtain G-4 visa status at the same time as the UNICEF recruit.
- Same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners of staff members on a G-4 visa:
- Same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners accompanying or seeking to join the staff members appointed in the United States will not be issued a new nor a renewed G-4 visa unless the staff member provides proof of marriage.
- Same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners who currently hold, and wish to maintain, a G-4 visa after 31 December 2018, must provide proof of marriage. Without such proof of marriage, the domestic partner will be required to leave the United States within 30 calendar days, unless a separate authorization is obtained to remain in the United States through a change of their non-immigrant status.
• Who must apply for employment authorization/work permit?
- A UNICEF staff member’s spouse, who holds a derivative G-4 visa and is seeking employment in the US but outside of the UN Common System.
- A UNICEF’s staff member’s eligible dependent children who hold a derivative G-4 visa, are in full-time school attendance and are seeking employment in the US but outside of the UN Common System, even if it is an unpaid internship/volunteer assignment. The maximum age for dependent children to apply for work permit is 23 years old.
- When and how can we start the application process for the employment authorization/work permit for my dependent(s)?
- Eligible non-US citizen dependents who wish to obtain a work permits must apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with the help of the UN Visa Committee by completing an Interagency Record of Request (I-566 form). A pre-requisite to apply for a work permit is for the G-4 dependent to be registered with the U.S. Mission to the UN and be assigned a Personal Identification (PID) number by the US Department of State after one to two months of processing.
For more information on G-4 visa and work permit applications, please visit the U.S. Department of States’ website and FAQs, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website.