Human Resources

This checklist summarizes the steps to renew a G-4/G-1 visa inside the U.S.

Only staff whose duty station and work location are HQ in Washington, D.C. or New York City, NY with at least six (6) months contract left and an active PID are eligible to apply for renewal of the G-4/G-1 visa inside the U.S.

• The G-4/G-1 visa is a 'non-immigrant' visa. A G-4 visa of a staff member and his/her dependents, expires on the last day of the staff member’s service with the World Bank Group, regardless of the date stamped on the G-4 visa or I-94 form. The U.S. allows a 30-day grace period after completion of HQ service for G-4 visa holders to leave the U.S. or change to another valid non-immigrant visa. 
• A G-4/G-1 visa can expire with no consequences to the staff or their dependents as long as the staff member remains employed by the WBG and registered with the US State Department as HQ assigned staff. Renewal of the visa may also be initiated after the expiration date printed on the visa while the staff remains employed on their HQ assignment. 
• G-4/G-1 principal and dependent visas can be renewed inside the U.S. no earlier than 60 calendar days prior to the visa expiration date printed on the visa except in the case of a passport replacement due to theft/loss or change in nationality, where staff and/or dependents are able to renew the visa when a new passport has been issued. 
• The U.S. State Department has updated the definition of immediate family members in regards to dependent children eligible for G-4 or G-1 dependent visas (Diplomatic Note). Eligibility for a G-4/G-1 visa as a dependent child ends when benefits have terminated for the child, generally at age 26 if not covered by the disabled dependent child provision. The State Department requires verification of dependency with each renewal request for children over the age of 21. If the child does not satisfy the U.S. State Department criteria to obtain or maintain a G-4/G-1 dependent visa as of age 26, the child must obtain an alternate visa in order to remain in the U.S. regardless of the expiration date printed on the G-4/G-1 visa. The child has a 30-day grace period after becoming age 26 to start the change of visa process inside the U.S. or leave the U.S. Once the dependent child has departed, they cannot re-enter the U.S. again on the G-4/G-1 visa. Please contact HR Operations to discuss the process for changing to a different available visa status.

• U.S. State Department withholds the right to conduct additional Administrative Review beyond the standard processing time
• HR Operations continues to coordinate with State Department but has no influence over length of time any additional Administrative Review may take to complete
• Visa length of time is determined by the issuing U.S. Embassy or Consulate and not within the control of WBG HR
• Dependent visas are generally issued with an expiration date matching the principal visa expiration date – if the principals visa expires within 60 days of the dependent, submit all renewal requests simultaneously

• Legally married spouse (domestic partners are not eligible)
• Unmarried children up to 21 years of age, whether by blood or legal adoption, who reside regularly in the household of the principal staff member and are not members of another household (e.g. married)
• Children up to 23 years of age, if enrolled full time as students at a post-secondary school
• Children 23-26 years of age actively receiving a benefit from sponsoring organization
• Children 26 years old and above who are registered with HR as disabled

The U.S. State Department will no longer issue new G-4/G-1 dependent visas/renewals abroad or in the United States for dependent children who do not meet these criteria. Since all unmarried World Bank Group sons and daughters are eligible to receive medical and dental coverage until 26 years of age, the changes in regulations will impact only those dependents of 26 years of age and over.

Step

Action

Action by Staff

01

Verify whether you and/or the G-4/G-1 dependents have Personal Identification (PID) numbers by checking your visa profile in myHR Self-Service.  G-4/G-1 visa holders must have a PID number before HR Operations can initiate the renewal request. PID numbers should be requested through myHR Self-Service.  If you do not have access to this system, email HR Operations.

Note: PID numbers are assigned by the U.S. State Department as a record of HQ assignments and will be remain the same if previously issued but may need to be reactivated if issued for a previous WBG HQ assignment or employment with another IFI/US Embassy.

02

Submit a visa request through myHR Self-Service no earlier than 60 calendar days prior to the expiration date printed on the visa.

Note: If a G-4/G-1 dependent's visa expires within 60 days of your own G-4/G-1 visa, submit all such renewal requests simultaneously.

03

Complete, print, and sign the confirmation page send to you by email confirming renewal request has been submitted in myHR Self-Service.  Include the signed confirmation page with hard copy documents submitted to HR Operations. The confirmation page from myHR Self-Service is available only on Bank’s intranet.

04

G-4/G-1 visa renewal requests must be made to the U.S. State Department using the online Form DS-1648.  For more details on how to fill out the form DS-1648, click here

• Select Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office in Washington, D.C. as the renewal location.
• Upload a digital photograph of each applicant into the online form.
  • Refer to the State Department's photo standards.  Photos must be new and not used for any previous visa, passport, or dependent work authorization application.
  • As of November 1, 2016, eyeglasses are not permitted in visa photos
  • Staff can obtain digital photos from the GCS Photography Unit and from commercial photographers

05

Submit your passport (valid for at least 6 months) and the following hard copy supporting documents to HR Operations in MC3 - 414 via HR Doculockers.

• Signed MyHR G-4/G-1 visa renewal request confirmation page 
• I-94 Record of U.S. Entry: TWO COPIES for each applicant. The latest I-94 record may be accessed at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home.
• Form DS-1648: THREE COPIES of the confirmation page for each applicant. Barcode must be fully visible on the DS-1648 confirmation page
• If requesting a visa renewal in a new passport, submit the expired passport the previously valid G-4/G-1 visa is stamped into
• If you are renewing your dependents G-4/G-1 visa only, include a copy of your passport information page, G-4/G-1 visa, and most recent Form I-94 Record of U.S. entry
• For a G-4/G-1 visa renewals of an extended family member (not a spouse or dependent child), a “To Whom It May Concern” letter from you certifying that your relative is fully dependent upon you and for how long this has been so, and that your relative continues to reside PERMANENTLY in your household at headquarters. This letter is subject to audit by HR Operations to ensure it includes all necessary details.
• For a G-4 renewal of an unmarried dependent child age 21+, a “To Whom It May Concern” letter from you explaining why the child is still a dependent,  
  • if the child is a student include a school certification letter and transcript,  
  • if the reason for dependency is medical/disability, include a certification letter from the physician

Once G-4/G-1 renewal is complete and returned to HR Operations, passports will be returned to staff via the HR Doculockers in MC3 - 414

• Staff will receive collection instructions and a barcode/PIN for retrieval via the HR Doculockers