Applying for a Visa to travel to the United States (US)

There are many types of visa available for travelling to the US.

• If your purpose of travel is to attend a professional or educational seminar or conference (that does not result in academic credit), you need to apply for a B-1 visa.
• If your purpose of travel is tourism (to include University-organised trips) and/or you will engage in a short course of study while in the US, you need to apply for a B-2 visa.
• If your purpose of travel is to undertake part of your course at a US University under a Study Abroad arrangement, you will need to apply for either an F-1 or J-1 visa (your host institution will confirm which category is appropriate).

Submitting your application

Application for all the visa types noted above is a two-step process:

• Step 1: Complete the on-line DS-160 form, which can be accessed at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. As part of this, you will be able to upload a digital photo, provided it meets the relevant requirements outlined on the US Embassy’s website. Once you have submitted your details, you need to print off the confirmation page.
• Step 2: Go to https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv to pay the visa (“Machine Readable Visa”) application fee and schedule an interview appointment at the US Embassy. Click on “Apply” if you are a first time user or “Continue” if you already have an account. After creating an account, follow the process and guidance that appears on screen.

Processing time

You will be advised at the interview how long it will take to process your application, though typically it will take around 5 days. It can, however, take significantly longer than this (up to 90 days if additional checks are required), so it is important to submit your application well before your intended date of travel.

Visa fees

For the current fees, please visit https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/non-immigrant-visa-fees/. Although non-refundable, the visa (MRV) fee receipt is valid for a period of 12 months, which is useful in the event you need to reschedule your appointment. Please note, if you are applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa, you will also need to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. For further information about this fee, please visit https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901.

Attending the Interview

You will receive written confirmation by email of your interview appointment. This confirmation, along with the fee receipt email, must be taken with you on the day of the appointment for presentation to the Embassy security staff. Leave plenty of time to get to the Embassy, and do not take any large bags, electronic devices or liquids, as you will not be permitted to take any of these items into the Embassy. Your fingerprints will be electronically scanned as part of the entry process, so if you have cuts or blisters, it is possible that you will be refused admission and advised to reschedule your appointment. Once you have passed through security, you will be allocated a number and will then need to queue to see a Consular Officer. The Officer will ask you about your reasons for wanting to travel to the US and your ties with the UK. It is important to take as much documentary evidence as possible to support your answers.

Required documents

You should take the items listed below to your interview appointment. Where applicable, the documents should be original hardcopies, not scans or photocopies:

• Your appointment confirmation (sent by email).
• Visa application fee receipt (sent by email).
• I-901 SEVIS fee receipt (F-1 and J-1 applicants only).
• Cash or credit/debit card to pay any ad hoc fees advised on the day (e.g. some nationalities are required to pay an ‘issuance fee’).
• Copy of your DS-160 form (for your own reference).
• Passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond your intended return date and with at least one blank page. Please note, for some nationalities, including UK nationals, the six month validity requirement is waived.
• One passport-sized photograph that meets the requirements stipulated on the US Embassy web-site. Although you may have uploaded a photo to the DS-160 site, it is possible that you will need to supply a new photo at the interview appointment.
• A current student letter (this can be obtained by sending an email request to [email protected]).
• Completed DS-2019 ‘Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status’ form from your host university/sponsor (J-1 applicants only).
• Completed I-20 form from your host university (F-1 applicants only).
• Bank statements showing you have sufficient funds to cover all relevant expenses while in the US.
• Evidence of itinerary, accommodation bookings, invitation letter from any relevant host, flight bookings, although you are advised not to purchase non-refundable tickets until you have obtained your visa.
• Medical insurance if you have it, or details of the insurance you intend to purchase once your visa is granted.
• Cover letter setting out your reasons for wanting to travel to the US and clarifying any aspects of your application that may be of concern (optional)
• Evidence of ties to the country you intend to return to after your trip to the US (this could comprise family, property, or employment-related ties). Please note, since it can be difficult to evidence strong ties to a country where you are temporarily resident (e.g. for study purposes), applications submitted outside your home country carry a much greater risk of refusal. If you are an international student, it is therefore not advisable to apply for a US visa within the first six months of your stay – this should instead be done in your home country prior to departing for the UK. Likewise, it is not wise to apply for a visa towards the end of your stay, since the US authorities may consider that you do not have sufficient reason to return to the UK at the end of your trip.

Visa Waiver Programme

If you are a national of one of the countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), have a machine readable passport, and are seeking entry to the US for less than 90 days (for either business or pleasure purposes), you do not need to apply for a visa. Instead, you must apply for ‘authorisation to travel’ under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) arrangements. To apply for authorisation under ESTA, please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.

Countries presently participating in the VWP are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.