U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 26, 2024, that foreign nationals (and their spouses and children) can now receive special immigrant visas when the foreign national has been employed by the U.S. government abroad for at least 15 years and the Department of State has found that it is in the national interest to award the visa. A limited number of such visas are available each fiscal year.

Individuals with the new classes of admission (COAs) are lawful permanent residents (LPRs). They may present the following documentation that includes a GV1 (USG SIV Employee—2024 NDAA (Arrival)), GV2 (Spouse, Arrival), GV3 (Child, Arrival), GV6 (USG SIV Employee—2024 NDAA (Adjustment)), GV7 (Spouse of GV6, Adjustment), or GV8 (Child of GV6, Adjustment) COA:

  • Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);
  • Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record with a Temporary I-551 Permanent Resident Stamp;
  • Foreign passport with a Temporary I-551 Permanent Resident Stamp; or
  • Foreign passport with a Temporary I-551 Machine Readable Immigrant Visa.

Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements will provide an initial verification response of “Lawful Permanent Resident – Employment Authorized” for a COA of GV1, GV2, GV3, GV6, GV7, or GV8.

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