The Pope’s Visa

photo by Aletia Image Department

As we told you yesterday, Pope Francis is coming to America. Here’s the question tickling in the back of my head: How?

I imagine he needs a visa. Vatican City is notably absent from the list of Visa Waiver Countries.

But what’s the proper visa for a head of state? I tried finding the answer in Kurzban’s but there’s a noticeable absence in the index for “pope” or “head of state.”

I’m guessing he would qualify for any number of options. He could perhaps obtain an A visa as an ambassador, a B visa for a tourist or one traveling for business (this would seem to be in keeping with his famous humility), an O visa (he’s got the “extraordinary ability” and “international acclaim” down pat), a P visa (which, according to the ambiguous footnote 157 in 4  Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent. L.J. 533 (1993) may be a visa a pope once received), or an R visa. Does anyone know for certain what he will likely seek?

And, finally, who is doing his visa work? I’d love to be the immigration law firm who can boast on their website “We represented Pope Francis. We can help you too.”

Please, if you know, give us all some insight in the comments below.

-KitJ