diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/api.js b/app/assets/javascripts/api.js
index 7ebe1599fca..1cab66e109e 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/api.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/api.js
@@ -22,16 +22,14 @@
       });
     },
     // Return groups list. Filtered by query
-    // Only active groups retrieved
-    groups: function(query, skip_ldap, skip_groups, callback) {
+    groups: function(query, options, callback) {
       var url = Api.buildUrl(Api.groupsPath);
       return $.ajax({
         url: url,
-        data: {
-          search: query,
-          skip_groups: skip_groups,
-          per_page: 20
-        },
+        data: $.extend({
+                search: query,
+                per_page: 20
+              }, options),
         dataType: "json"
       }).done(function(groups) {
         return callback(groups);
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/groups_select.js b/app/assets/javascripts/groups_select.js
index b275620c799..e3c39c895ba 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/groups_select.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/groups_select.js
@@ -6,15 +6,16 @@
     function GroupsSelect() {
       $('.ajax-groups-select').each((function(_this) {
         return function(i, select) {
-          var skip_ldap, skip_groups;
-          skip_ldap = $(select).hasClass('skip_ldap');
+          var all_available, skip_groups;
+          all_available = $(select).data('all-available');
           skip_groups = $(select).data('skip-groups') || [];
           return $(select).select2({
             placeholder: "Search for a group",
             multiple: $(select).hasClass('multiselect'),
             minimumInputLength: 0,
             query: function(query) {
-              return Api.groups(query.term, skip_ldap, skip_groups, function(groups) {
+              options = { all_available: all_available, skip_groups: skip_groups };
+              return Api.groups(query.term, options, function(groups) {
                 var data;
                 data = {
                   results: groups
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/project_select.js b/app/assets/javascripts/project_select.js
index b74b4ae68ff..e1acf3c8232 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/project_select.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/project_select.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
                   data = groups.concat(projects);
                   return finalCallback(data);
                 };
-                return Api.groups(term, false, false, groupsCallback);
+                return Api.groups(term, {}, groupsCallback);
               };
             } else {
               projectsCallback = finalCallback;
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
                     data = groups.concat(projects);
                     return finalCallback(data);
                   };
-                  return Api.groups(query.term, false, false, groupsCallback);
+                  return Api.groups(query.term, {}, groupsCallback);
                 };
               } else {
                 projectsCallback = finalCallback;
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/search.js b/app/assets/javascripts/search.js
index 6c2389f202f..d79e6f014f6 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/search.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/search.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
         filterable: true,
         fieldName: 'group_id',
         data: function(term, callback) {
-          return Api.groups(term, false, false, function(data) {
+          return Api.groups(term, {}, function(data) {
             data.unshift({
               name: 'Any'
             });
diff --git a/doc/api/groups.md b/doc/api/groups.md
index e81d6f9de4b..b56d74d25e0 100644
--- a/doc/api/groups.md
+++ b/doc/api/groups.md
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 
 ## List groups
 
-Get a list of groups. (As user: my groups, as admin: all groups)
+Get a list of groups. (As user: my groups or all available, as admin: all groups).
+
+Parameters:
+
+- `all_available` (optional) - if passed, show all groups you have access to
+- `skip_groups` (optional)(array of group IDs) - if passed, skip groups
 
 ```
 GET /groups
@@ -21,7 +26,6 @@ GET /groups
 
 You can search for groups by name or path, see below.
 
-
 ## List a group's projects
 
 Get a list of projects in this group.
diff --git a/lib/api/groups.rb b/lib/api/groups.rb
index bfb89475025..a13e353b7f5 100644
--- a/lib/api/groups.rb
+++ b/lib/api/groups.rb
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@ module API
       #
       # Parameters:
       #   skip_groups (optional) - Array of group ids to exclude from list
+      #   all_available (optional, boolean) - Show all group that you have access to
       # Example Request:
       #  GET /groups
       get do
         @groups = if current_user.admin
                     Group.all
+                  elsif params[:all_available]
+                    GroupsFinder.new.execute(current_user)
                   else
                     current_user.groups
                   end
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/groups_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/groups_spec.rb
index 3ba257256a0..7b47bf5afc1 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/groups_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/groups_spec.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
       end
     end
 
-    context "when authenticated as  admin" do
+    context "when authenticated as admin" do
       it "admin: returns an array of all groups" do
         get api("/groups", admin)
         expect(response).to have_http_status(200)
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
         expect(json_response.length).to eq(1)
       end
     end
+
+    context "when using all_available in request" do
+      it "returns all groups you have access to" do
+        public_group = create :group, :public
+        get api("/groups", user1), all_available: true
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(200)
+        expect(json_response).to be_an Array
+        expect(json_response.first['name']).to eq(public_group.name)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe "GET /groups/:id" do