New COAs for Certain Surviving Spouses and Children of Deceased Employees of the U.S. Government Abroad

This announcement provides information about multiple new classes of admission (COAs) for the surviving spouses and children of certain deceased employees of the United States Government (USG) abroad who are lawful permanent residents.

These COAs were created in response to section 403(a) of the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (ESSAA 2021) which amends Section 101(a)(27)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Initially, two COAs were created in 2022 and 2023:

• SS1 - Surviving spouse or child of deceased USG employee (Arrival); and
• GS1 - Certain surviving spouses or children of USG Significant Immigrant Visa employee under the Grateful Act (an individual with a GV1 COA) (Arrival).

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created additional COAs to address the remaining relationships within this legislation:

• SS2 - Spouse of SS1 surviving spouse (Arrival);
• SS3 - Child of SS1 surviving spouse or child (Arrival);
• SS6 - Surviving spouse or child of deceased USG employee (Adjustment);
• SS7 - Spouse of SS6 (Adjustment);
• SS8 - Child of SS6 unrelated to deceased USG employee (Adjustment);
• GS2 - Current spouse of GS1 (if any) (Arrival);
• GS3 - Unmarried child of GS1 (if any) (Arrival);
• GS6 - Certain surviving spouses or children of GV1 eligible person (Adjustment);
• GS7 - Current surviving spouse of GS1/GS6 (if any) (Adjustment); and
• GS8 - Unmarried child of GS1/GS6 (if any) (Adjustment).

Documentation

Individuals with these COAs are lawful permanent residents and are employment authorized incident to status.

They may present the following documentation that includes any of the following COAs: SS1, SS2, SS3, SS6, SS7, SS8, GS1, GS2, GS3, GS6, GS7, or GS8. This documentation includes:

• 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 an I-551 Machine Readable Immigrant Visa. 

For additional information about documentation, visit SAVE’s Commonly Used Immigration Documents webpage.

SAVE Verification 

SAVE will now provide an initial verification response of “Lawful Permanent Resident – Employment Authorized” for a COA of SS2, SS3, SS6, SS7, SS8, GS1, GS2, GS3, GS6, GS7, or GS8.  SAVE already provides an initial verification response of “Lawful Permanent Resident – Employment Authorized” for a COA of SS1.

If the automated SAVE response is unexpected, is not sufficient for an agency to make a benefit eligibility determination, or the benefit applicant disagrees with the SAVE response, the agency should request Additional Verification. SAVE Additional Verification provides a detailed verification response, including: 

• Additional immigration statuses and categories, if any; and
• Pending immigration applications.

Additional Information - Legal Authorities

• INA 101(a)(27)(D) – Certain employees or former employees of the U.S. government abroad; INA 203(b)(4) – Certain special immigrants;
• INA 245; 8 CFR 245 – Adjustment of status of nonimmigrant to that of person admitted for permanent residence;
• Section 5104 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY 2024); and
• Section 403(a) of the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021(ESSAA 2021) amends INA 101(a)(27)(D).