US Visa Requirements for UK Citizens

What is a US Visa? 

A US Visa is a stamp that is physically placed in your passport that grants you permission to enter the United States for a specific period, as a foreign national. This official documentation is issued by the US Embassy or Consulate in your country of citizenship. It establishes that your application has been reviewed and that you are permitted to travel for a particular purpose.

The US Visa doesn't guarantee entry into the US, it only allows travellers to travel to a US port of entry (e.g. airport or land border crossing) and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), immigration officer to enter. These officials are empowered to determine if your reason for seeking entrance into the US should be honoured or not.
 

Do British Citizens Need a Visa for the USA?

Depending on the duration of your visit to the USA, British citizens may need a visa to travel to the USA. According to the US government, if you will be visiting the US for 90 days or less as a British citizen, you are eligible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the visa waiver program, in this case, you won't need a visa. But if you will be visiting for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a US visa from the UK.

The ESTA system was created following the events of 9/11 as a way of bolstering the security of the visa waiver program. It allows the US Customs & Border Protection to be able to check travellers from the VWP countries to ensure that they are not a security threat to the USA.

As a UK citizen who wants to visit the US, please note that if you have been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen on or after 1st March 2011, you may not be eligible for an ESTA and will need to apply for a US visa. If you have also been in Cuba after 1st  January 2021, you can not apply for an ESTA to travel under the US Visa Waiver Program. You need to get a visa.
 

Travel Purposes That are not Eligible for ESTA 

Please, also note that not all travel purposes are eligible for ESTA. If you want to travel to the US for any of the reasons below, you CAN NOT get an ESTA:   

• Working as a journalist/media duties in the US
   
• Starting a business or investing in a business
   
• Going to school in the US
   
• Job opportunity with an employer in the US
   

Travel Purposes That are Eligible for ESTA

Here are the reasons you CAN get an ESTA when travelling to the US:

• Travelling for tourism/vacation purposes
   
• Visiting friends or family in the US
   
• Travelling to receive medical treatment
   
• Attending a meeting or conference
   
• Visiting clients or business partners
   

Types of US Visas

Considering the information on when you might need a visa as a UK citizen, you should know that if you will be travelling to the US for more than 90 days, you will need a visa. The final decision for whether you qualify for the particular type of visa you are applying for is made by the US embassy official/consular officer in your country. They may suggest a different visa that you are better suited for or deny your application altogether. 

There are majorly two types of US visas, depending on your purpose of visit, they are:

1. Non-immigrant visa: The non-immigrant visa is meant for people who want to visit the US on a temporary basis for reasons like tourism, study, medical, cultural exchange, religious work etc.
    
2. Immigrant visa: The immigrant visa is meant for individuals who want to relocate to the US on a more permanent basis. i.e. marriage, employment, family ties, child adoption, employment creation etc.

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa is fairly popular among UK citizens. These kinds of visas fall under the category of non-immigrant visas. The B1 visa (visitor visa) allows an individual to visit the US for business purposes like attending a conference, negotiating a business contract or meeting with business associates, while the B2 visa (visitor visa) is used when you want to travel to the US for tourism, visit a friend/relative briefly, vacation, or receive medical treatment. Students commonly apply for F visas, while H-1B visas are for workers in speciality occupations.

You can get a visitor visa for a number of purposes but you are not allowed to get a visa for the sole purpose of giving birth on US soil in order to get your child US citizenship (birth tourism). The US Consular officer may deny your application.

US & UK Tourism Relationship

The US and the UK share a robust tourism relationship, and the UK is among the top source of international visitors to the US. According to Statista, there were about 530,000 trips from the UK to North America in 2022 making the UK the third-largest source of overseas visitors.

Simultaneously, the US is one of the preferred destinations for UK citizens due to its shared history, language, and cultural ties. With a variety of destinations from bustling cities like New York and Los Angeles to natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park, it is no wonder why it is one of the preferred vacation locations for UK citizens.
 

How to Apply for US Visa From UK

For stays longer than 90 days or purposes not covered under the VWP, UK citizens must obtain a suitable US visa. This requires the completion of an online application, payment of fees, and an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.

British applicants must demonstrate they have a residence in the UK, which they have no intention of abandoning, as well as provide evidence of economic and social ties that bind them to the UK.

1. Online application: First, you must complete the online non-immigrant visa application (Form DS-160) and submit it electronically.
    
2. Visa fee payment: You are required to pay the non-refundable visa application fee, which can be paid online on the same web page where you filled out the DS-160 form or at designated banks. The visa application fee for non-immigrant visas will now be $185 (£148.33) instead of the $160 that was accepted before. This change will take effect on 17th June 2023. 
    
3. Appointment: Schedule an appointment for a visa interview in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the UK. There are 3 US embassies in the UK, locate the one closest to you to schedule your interview at. Also ensure you schedule an appointment far ahead of your travel, to avoid any delays.
    
4. Interview: Attend the visa interview in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the scheduled date. During the interview, you may be asked questions about your intended purpose of travel, ties to your home country, financial situation, and other relevant factors. Ensure you answer all the questions correctly and truthfully.
    
5. Supporting documents: Prepare and bring along the following documents to the visa interview:
   
   a. Confirmation page of the DS-160 application form.
   
   b. Valid British passport: valid for the duration of your stay in the USA.
   
   c. Visa fee payment receipt.
   
   d. Appointment confirmation.
   
   e. Photograph: Submit a recent coloured photograph that meets the US visa photo requirements.
   
   f. Evidence of ties to your home country, such as family, employment, or property.
   
   g. Financial documents: One of the important aspects of US visa requirements for UK citizens is demonstrating your ability to cover the costs of your visit to the United States. You should be able to provide evidence that you have the financial means to support yourself during your stay without becoming a burden on the US government or seeking employment.
    
6. COVID-19 vaccinations: As of May 12 2023, there is no requirement to show evidence of an approved COVID-19 vaccine before entering the US.
    

The Role of Certified Translation in US Visa Approval 

One of the US visa requirements states that all visa-related documents that are written in a language other than English must be translated. This is where certified translations come into play. A certified translation is an accurate translation of the original document, accompanied by a signed statement from the certified translator or translation company attesting to the accuracy of the translation.

While the official language used in the US is the same as the official language in the UK, there may still be a need for certified translation in cases of dual citizenship, or when documents originate from parts of the UK that speak other languages besides English, like Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In this situation, the US translation requirements must be followed. 

The US government requires certified translations for several documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or proof of financial support. This ensures that US officials fully understand the contents of the documents, contributing to a smooth application process.

Ensuring that all documents are correctly translated by a certified translator is crucial to avoid misunderstandings and potential delays in the visa application process. It helps to create a smoother application process, demonstrating that you have complied with all necessary requirements and have nothing to hide.

In conclusion, while the US visa application process may seem daunting, it can be a smooth process if the requirements are clearly understood and followed. For UK citizens, having an understanding of the visa types, the requirements, and the role of certified translations can contribute significantly to successful visa approval.