US Visitor Visa for UK Citizens

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. The US ESTA allows citizens of the UK to visit the US for tourism, transit or business. It’s easier and quicker as you can get it within 24 hours after submitting the ESTA online application form.

The US ESTA is valid for 2 years and allows UK nationals to stay in the UK for up to 90 days without a visa. Also, it can be used for return visits.

Along with the UK, 38 countries are also in the VWP. Citizens of those countries can apply for an ESTA as well.

The application process is easy; once you begin, you must complete it in seven days or your progress will be deleted. To apply, you will:

• Accept the disclaimers
• Provide your valid passport
• Provide biographical and other information
• List travel arrangements
• Answer yes/no eligibility questions
• Review and confirm provided information
• Pay the $14 processing fee
• Submit your application
• Await decision

You can print or download a PDF version of the above for your records.

If you change your name, gender, citizenship, passport, or answers in the ESTA form, you must apply for a new ESTA.

If you wish to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant Visitor visa, there are three categories:

B1 Business Visitor Visa

The B1 Visitor visa is a nonimmigrant visa that permits holders to visit the US temporarily for some business activities. The permitted activities for business travellers visiting the US include:

• Attending business, educational, scientific or professional conventions, conferences, or seminars
• Negotiating contracts
• Attending business meetings
• Attending sessions/handling disputes in court
• Consulting with business associates
• Engaging in unpaid voluntary work

B2 Visa or Tourist Visitor Visa

The B2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows you to travel to the US for tourism, pleasure, medical treatment, or visiting. These are some of the permitted activities on the B2 visa:

• Visiting friends or relatives
• Receiving medical treatment (where there’s a confirmed diagnosis and a letter from a medical facility in the US treatment).
• Unpaid amateurs participating in musical, sports and similar events or contests
• Vacation

B1/B2 Visa

A B1/B2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits the visa holders to partake in both the permitted activities under the B-1 and B2 visas.

If you are unsure if your activity is covered under any of the US visitor visas, contact an immigration lawyer for assistance. Call us on 0333 305 9375.

Each visitor visa category has specific requirements that you must meet to demonstrate your eligibility. However, there are some general requirements, they include that you:

• Must have a legitimate reason to enter the U.S
• Have enough money to cover your activities and support yourself throughout the duration of your stay
• Intent to leave the US after a limited period of stay
• Have strong ties with the UK and have plans to go back home
• You aren’t planning on giving birth in the U.S (birth tourism)

In addition, the US Visitor nonimmigrant visas do not permit holders to earn a degree while in the US or be employed. Although you can take on some short voluntary activities, you cannot take on paid work. If you are to study, it must not be the main reason for your coming and it must be a short recreational course, for example, a 1-day cooking class while on vacation.

Like with applying for any US Visas, UK citizens must provide some required documents to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility requirements. They include the following documents:

• A valid British passport
• A passport-sized photograph
• Filled form DS-160
• Evidence of your ties and intention to return to the UK, for example, letters from your employer or property ownership documents)
• Proof that you can support yourself and cover all your expenses during your visit
• Documents detailing the purpose of your travel to the US

You may need to present additional documents depending on your reason for applying for a US visitor visa from the UK. For example, if you are applying for a b2 visa because you’re seeking medical treatment, then you must provide evidence of a medical diagnosis from a licensed physician that proves your need for treatment in the US, a letter from the facility in the US that is to treat you with details on your treatment and hospitalization fees, and proof of financial support, including to cover the medical-related expenses.

To apply for any of the US visitor visas from the UK, you must begin by completing the online visa application form (Form DS-160). After you have submitted that, ensure you print the confirmation page as you will need that for your interview.

Upload your photograph and pay the visa application fee. After you have paid visa fees, you can schedule an interview with a consular officer in the U.S. Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Belfast. The visa interview is compulsory for visa applicants between the ages of 14 and 79.

Take the confirmation page of your DS-160 and the required and supporting documents with you for your interview. At the embassy or consulate, a staff will collect, enter, and review your visa application and your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph).

Afterwards, you will meet with a consular officer who will ask you a few questions to determine your eligibility.

Cost of a B1/B2 Visa

The B1 and B2 visitor visas cost $160. This fee is not refundable and must be paid during the visa application process.

Processing times of the B1 & B2 Visa?

Successful B1 & B2 applications from the UK take 3-5 workdays to process. After your business or tourist visa interview, expect a 5-7 work-day window to allow for delivery via courier.

There’s no way to accelerate the processing of your visa for a faster time. If you are in a hurry, apply for an ESTA.

If your application is successful, you will get your UK passport back and your B1/B2 visa. If your application is denied, you will get your UK passport back along with notification of refusal, and you can reapply.