The agreement provides that, in general, the categories of government workers mentioned
in the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations will not be affected
by the coverage provisions of the agreement. The Conventions, to which both the United
Kingdom and the United States are parties, apply to members of the staff of a diplomatic
or consular mission, including the diplomatic, consular, administrative and technical
staffs; dependents of members of those staffs; the domestic service staffs of the
missions; and, under certain conditions, the private servants employed by members
of such missions.
In general, nationals of a country who work abroad in the diplomatic or consular service
of their country are exempt under the Conventions from social security coverage and
contributions under the laws of the host country unless they specifically waive their
exemption. Persons who waive their exemption under the Conventions, are subject to
the coverage provisions of the agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, a U.S. or U.K. national who is not covered by the
Vienna Conventions but who is employed by his/her government in the other country
is subject only to the laws of his/her own country.