london visa processing

The Embassy is located at:

24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 2LQ

The Mailing address is:

24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 1AE

The general telephone number of the US Embassy in London is: +44 (0)20 7499-9000.
Additional phone numbers:
·  London Embassy Call Centre: +44 (0)20 3608 6998 (Monday – Friday, 7am – 7pm).
·  Belfast Consulate Call Centre: +44 (0)28 9568 0208 (Monday – Friday, 7am – 7pm).
·  Contacting the Call Centre from the US: +1 (703) 439-2367 (Monday – Friday, 7am – 7pm, US Eastern Time).
·  Contacting the Call Centre via Skype: USVISAUK

The Call Centre can help with the following:

• Provide information on where to research visa information.
• Provide information about the visa application process.
• Provide information about how to pay the visa application fee.
• Schedule or reschedule an appointment as an alternative to doing so online.
• Provide status information about the return of documents once a tracking number has been issued.

As with all consular posts, local procedures and policies often change. 
Please consult the Embassy's excellent website at london.usembassy.gov for the most up to date information.

A nonimmigrant visa is required by anyone seeking temporary admission into the United States who is not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or is not exempt from the visa requirement. Nonimmigrant visas (NIV) cover visits for tourism, business, work or study.
Almost all nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to schedule a personal interview with a consular officer at the Embassy.
Visa interviews are now scheduled via the Embassy’s appointment booking website: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/.
Visa applicants must create an account on the website and enter their personal details, including full name, telephone number, email address and passport number.  Applicants must also provide their DS-160 Visa Application Form “barcode” number before they can schedule an appointment.
The DS-160 is available online from the Department of State here: https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/.  Applicants must follow the instructions to complete and submit the DS-160 and print the confirmation page.  The “barcode” number will be displayed on the confirmation page.  Please see the more detailed DS-160 guidance below.
Once applicants have entered all the necessary information and created their profile and added any family members applying with them (if applicable), they are required to pay the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee before scheduling their interview.
The MRV is payable by debit card only, whether the interview is scheduled via the online booking system or the call centre.  The MRV fee due depends on the type of visa being applied for.  The current MRV fees are as follows:

$160 USD	$190 USD	$240 USD	$270 USD
(B) Visitor: Business, Tourism, Medical Treatment	(H) Temporary Worker/Employment or Trainees	(K) Fiancé or Spouse of a U.S Citizen	(E1) Treaty Trader
(C) Transiting in the U.S.	(L) Intracompany Transferee		(E2) Treaty Investor
(D) Crew Member	(O) Persons with Extraordinary Ability		(E3) Australian Professional Specialty
(F) Academic Student	(P) Athletes, Artists, and Entertainers
(M) Vocational/Nonacademic Student	(Q) International Cultural Exchange Visitor
(I) Media or Journalists	(R) Religious Worker
(J) Exchange Visitor
(TD/TN) NAFTA Professional
(T) Victim of Trafficking
(U) Victim of Criminal Activity

 

Once the applicable MRV fees have been paid, applicants are required to select the courier hub where their passport will be sent following the visa interview.  Once a hub has been selected, applicants can access the appointment calendar for either the London Embassy or Belfast Consulate and can choose their appointment date and time.  Once the appointment has been chosen, the appointment confirmation will be displayed.  Applicants must print this page and take it to their interview.  Security staff at the Embassy or Consulate must scan the barcode on this page before applicants will be allowed to enter the Embassy/Consulate for their interview.
Applicants can access and re-print the confirmation page by logging into the booking system at any time prior to their interview.
Once the appointment has been scheduled, applicants can choose to pay an additional $30 USD fee (per applicant) to arrange for their passport to be delivered to a nominated address following their visa interview.  The $30 USD courier fee can be paid by either debit or credit card.  The nominated address can be changed at any point until 6am on the day of the applicants’ interview.
Applicants will receive an email to advise them once a tracking number has been issued for their passport (following the issuance of the visa by the Embassy/Consulate).  Applicants can track their passport by logging into the appointment booking system or by using the courier website - www.thedx.co.uk.
Tracking numbers are issued to passports that are being delivered by the courier as well as to passports being returned to a courier hub.
Emergency appointments for nonimmigrant visa interviews, when granted, are usually scheduled from 8:00 am, Monday through Friday. Applicants can request an expedited appointment via the appointment booking website. However, please note that the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit in London generally only grants emergency appointments when there is a life or death emergency. Financial and business emergencies are not considered emergencies for the granting of an emergency nonimmigrant interview.
The US Embassy in London will accept applications and grant interviews to anyone who is physically present in the United Kingdom and who makes an appointment for an interview.
Please note that there is no right to counsel at either nonimmigrant or immigrant visa interviews. Attorneys are not permitted to accompany applicants to their interview at the Embassy.
Most nonimmigrant visa applicants between the age of 14 and 79 are required to appear in person for an interview with a consular officer.
Exceptions to the interview requirement are made for the following applicants:

• Those eligible for the Visa Re-issuance Program.
• Children under the age of 14.
• Adults aged 80 and over who are:
• a U.K. or E.U. passport holder, or have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom from the U.K. government and are not ineligible to receive a visa
• have not been refused a visa under Section 214(b), or if refused, the refusal has been overcome
• have not been denied entry into or removed from the United States

Applicants under the age of 14 or over 80 may be eligible for submitting their nonimmigrant visa application through the Embassy approved courier service.
The following applicants must apply in person regardless their age:

• Anyone who has ever been arrested or convicted of any offense or crime, even though subject to a pardon, amnesty or other similar legal action. Those who have unlawfully distributed or sold a controlled substance (drug) or been a prostitute or procurer for prostitutes. Please note: The U.K. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law.
• Anyone who has been refused admission to the United States or been subject of a deportation hearing, or sought to obtain or assist others to obtain a visa, any other U.S. immigration benefit or entry into the U.S. or by fraud or wilful misrepresentation or by other unlawful means. Those who have attended a U.S. public elementary school on student (F) status or a public secondary school after November 30, 1996 without reimbursing the school.
• Anyone seeking to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, subversive or terrorist activities, or any other unlawful purpose.
• Anyone who is a member or representative of a terrorist organization as currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State, or has ever participated in persecutions directed by the Nazi government of Germany; or ever participated in genocide.
• Anyone who has ever violated the terms of a U.S. visa, or been unlawfully present in or deported from the United States.
• Anyone who has ever withheld custody of a U.S. citizen child outside the United States from a person granted legal custody by a U.S. court, voted in the United States in violation of any law or regulation, or renounced U.S. citizenship for the purpose of avoiding taxation.
• Anyone afflicted with a communicable disease of public health significance or a dangerous physical or mental disorder, or ever been a drug abuser or addict.

Please note: Applicants who hold a passport from one of the 4 countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, at this writing, Cuba, Syria, Sudan and Iran, will be required to schedule an appointment to appear in person before a consular officer.
Applicants should not make final travel plans until the visa has been issued and the applicant is in receipt of the passport with visa issued in it.
Families or married couples applying for visas at the same time may schedule one appointment per family or couple. Everyone else must schedule individual appointments. The parent(s) of a child under the age of 14 may bring the child’s completed visa application to the Embassy at the time of their visa interview. A child under the age of 14 is not required to attend the interview.
Applicants who arrive at the Embassy more than 30 minutes after their scheduled appointment may not be seen by a consular officer. They will be required to reschedule a new appointment for another day. Applicants should expect to be at the Embassy for approximately two to four hours if interviewed, and should expect their passports to be returned generally within 5 business days of the interview.
Set out below is a brief guideline of the documentation required for a nonimmigrant visa application. Please see the London Embassy’s website regarding detailed requirements for the specific visa application: http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html.
Supporting Documentation

• A current passport or other travel document, valid for at least six months beyond the holder's period of stay in the United States, with at least one blank page is required. The six-month requirement does not apply to United Kingdom passports
• One passport type color hard photograph. For detailed photograph specifications please visit this official page.
• Additional documentation is required depending on the type of visa application.  The appointment confirmation page will list the documents required for the type of visa applied for.
• The electronic version of all forms can be found at the Embassy’s website at http://london.usembassy.gov/visaforms.html. All forms should be fully completed and all questions should be answered unless they are not applicable.

Additional Fees
Some applicants may also have to pay a visa reciprocity fee, in addition to the visa application fee, once the visa has been authorized, but before the visa can be issued. Reciprocity fees vary by type of visa and the nationality of the applicant. This is based on what your government charges American citizens for an equivalent visa. British citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee only for an L-2 dependent or an E-2 visa. 
Visit the Department of State's Reciprocity Fee Website at: travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity to confirm whether your application requires a visa reciprocity fee.
Special instructions for the Form DS-160

• To complete your DS-160 online visa application, you must upload a digital photo. Please carefully review the requirements to upload your photo and the photo specifications before you begin completing your application. You must upload the digital photo in order to submit your application.
  If the photo you upload is not accepted as suitable, you will be given the option to continue processing the DS-160 Form without a photo. If you choose to do this, you must bring with you to the interview a photograph which meets the above-mentioned photo specifications.
• Fill out all required information completely and correctly, including selecting the appropriate visa type. Significant errors or information marked as "N/A" or "Nil" may result in your application being rejected at the time of your interview. This would require you to complete the entire application again and to reschedule your interview.
• Select England, London as the location at which you are applying for the visa.
• In the "Travel Information Section" please ensure that you select the correct visa category under "Purpose of Travel to the United States" - the drop down list will appear in answer to the question "Are you the Principal Applicant". Please note that all visitors for pleasure (B2) or (B1/B2) visitors are principal applicants even if travelling with family members.
• Print the Confirmation Sheet in "Portrait" format.

Important Notice: As you complete the visa application, save a copy on your hard drive, CD or USB and 'save' often.
Before going any further, please ensure that you have your passport and travel details to hand. The application will time out after 20 minutes and any unsaved data will be lost.
Fingerprinting
Most nonimmigrant visa applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 are subject to another requirement, finger scanning. In order to ensure the quality of the finger scans taken at the time of the interview, applications of persons with cuts or blisters on their fingers will not be processed.
Please note that you may be ineligible to receive a visa if any of the following apply:

• If you have ever been arrested, cautioned or convicted, at any time, for an offence anywhere in the world.
• If you were denied entry to the United States or removed from the United States.
• If you have certain medical conditions.
• If you have overstayed the period of time granted on admission for 60 days or more.

When scheduling an appointment you will be required to answer security questions with regard to the above and the online booking system will confirm what documents you will be required to furnish at the visa interview. 
The consular officer conducting the interview will review the documents and advise if you are ineligible to receive a visa.  The consular officer will also advise if there is a waiver of ineligibility available in your situation and whether they are recommending you for such a waiver.  If a waiver of ineligibility is recommended by the consular officer, your case will be referred to the Visa Office at the Department of State in Washington D.C. for review.  Cases involving waiver or ineligibility issues can take six months to be reviewed and adjudicated. 
You will be contacted by email following the conclusion of the adjudication and if the waiver of ineligibility has been approved by the Department of State, you will be asked to send in your passport via the courier service for the visa to be issued.  
Arrest, Caution and Conviction
If you have been arrested, cautioned or convicted you are required to obtain a Police Certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The police certificate must be issued within six months of the visa interview. If your police certificate states "No Trace" or "No Live Trace" or does not list in full your arrests/cautions/convictions, or the offense took place outside the United Kingdom, you are also required to submit a court record from the court(s) in which you were tried. The court record(s) must show the nature of the offense committed the section of law contravened and the penalty imposed. If the arrest did not result in a conviction, you may submit with your application the documents relating to the arrest. If you are no longer in possession of these documents, you may submit a sworn statement which gives the reason and location of the arrest, state and county.
For information on the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the application form, processing times and expedited service please visit their website athttp://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp.
Denied Entry
If you were denied entry to the United States or were removed from the United States you will have to furnish a copy of the report of the incident, Form I-877 or I-275. If you were deported you will have to submit a copy of the removal proceedings or any documentation relating to the deportation or removal.
Medical Conditions
If you are suffering from certain medical conditions you will have to obtain a letter from a professional practitioner, doctor or specialist. This document should explain

• The diagnosis and relevant medical history of the your condition.
• Your current state of health.
• The likelihood of a need for care or hospitalization during your stay in the United States.
• Whether you, in the opinion of the doctor, are likely to remain in a stable condition during the trip, and are likely to cope with a strange environment.
• The details of any history of harmful behavior you have shown towards yourself, others, or property.

Overstay
If you overstayed in the United States for 60 days or more you are required to submit the completed and signed scanned copy of the Form VCU-1.
Special Procedure for individuals arrested or convicted for drunk driving
The U.S. Department of State now requires a medical examination for any applicant who has been arrested or convicted for drunk driving within the past five years or who has been arrested or convicted of drunk driving two or more times in their lives.
The applicant must first appear at the U.S. Embassy for a visa interview and disclose the arrest. The Consular Officer will then refer the applicant to the Embassy's panel physician for the examination, which the applicant must schedule. These appointments are generally scheduled within several days of the visa interview.
After the examination, the blood sample is sent to a processing laboratory where tests are conducted to determine whether the applicant has a long-term history of alcoholism. The results are returned to the interviewing Embassy approximately two weeks later and the applicant is contacted.
If the results of the blood test are satisfactory the applicant will be instructed to send his/her passport to the Embassy for visa issuance.
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, as a result of the ongoing review of visa practices by the State Department and other government agencies, visa applications are subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past which means that in some instances visa applications are taking longer to process to conclusion than has been customary.

Immigrant visas are for applicants who wish to live and work in the United States permanently.  There are two main types, family-based immigrant visas and employment-based immigrant visas.  Each of these has a number of sub-categories.
Some US citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents can “petition” for immigrant visas for certain family members.  Normally petitions must be adjudicated in the United States, however, some can be filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office at the London Embassy.
Immediate Relative Petitions
USCIS London adjudicates I-130 immediate relative petitions from US citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who can demonstrate that they have permission to legally reside in the UK and who have resided in the UK for at least six months from the date of their arrival, unless emergent or humanitarian circumstances permit discretionary acceptance. Any such request must be made in writing.
Please see the USCIS webpage at the Embassy website to find more details about local filing procedures, including checklists to help put the petition together properly and to check on the progress of I-130 petitions filed with USCIS London. Please note: All I-130 petitions must be filed by mail. Information about current processing time for I-130 petitions is available at http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html.
Other Immigrant Visas - Processing Times and Procedures
The Embassy will accept immigrant visa (IV) applications from:

• A resident of the United Kingdom.

or

• Any person whose last residence before entry into the United States was in the United Kingdom.

or

• Third Country Nationals (TCN) who are lawfully present in the United Kingdom and who will be able to remain in the United Kingdom for the time required to process the application.

As with nonimmigrant visas (NIV), attorneys are neither admitted into the waiting room nor afforded the opportunity to accompany the applicant to the interview. IV interviews usually last approximately 10 minutes unless a case has unusual problems.
Police Certificates
If you are applying for an immigrant visa and you resided in another country or countries since the age of 16, police certificates covering residences of six months or more must be obtained. Generally, applications for police certificates should be made directly to police authorities in the district in which you resided.
Applicants who have resided in the United States are not required to obtain a police certificate to cover their period of residence in the United States since a clearance will be obtained on their behalf by the Department of State. Please note: Police certificates from certain countries are either obtained on the applicant's behalf by the Department of State or are not currently available. For further information, please visit the Department of State's website.
If you are required to have your fingerprints taken in connection with an application for a police certificate, the U.K. police authorities may be able to assist you. Residents of London or Greater London should contact the Metropolitan Police. Please visit their website for further information.
Residents outside of the Greater London area should contact their nearest local police for assistance.
Metropolitan Police Fingerprinting Services
The Visa Fingerprint Section will take fingerprints of members of the public who are currently residing in the United Kingdom, where they require Police Clearance and Good Conduct certificates from abroad.
To book an appointment for fingerprinting, please contact the Visa Fingerprint Office on 020 7230 2099 between 8:30 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. The appointment line is closed on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The fee for this service is £70.50 per person for the first set of fingerprints, £105.70 for two sets of fingerprints, £140.90 for three sets of fingerprints and £176.10 for 4 sets of fingerprints.
Please note: Payment can be made by cash only.
Documents required by the applicant are the following:

• Current passport.

or

• Full new style UK Driving License with photograph and counterpart form D740.

If your passport is being held by the Home Office, a letter and a photocopy of your passport is acceptable only if it has been officially stamped. A covering letter on its own is not acceptable. You may also request for your passport to be released from the Home Office for 24 hours to enable your fingerprints to be taken.
The address is New Scotland Yard, 10 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BG, right at Victoria Street. The nearest mainline train is Victoria and the nearest underground tube station is St James's Park on the District & Circle lines.
Please note: If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact 020 7230 2128 as soon as possible between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday to Friday. A cancellation fee will be incurred if we are not informed.
Visa Issuance Rates
The great majority of IV refusals in London are relatively simple INA §221(g) refusals for lack of proper documentation. Most of these refusals are eventually rectified and the IV issued.
Immigrant Visa Photograph Requirements and Changes
Photograph requirements for immigrant visas are the same as for nonimmigrant visas. This is due to the fact that the Embassy issues a similar machine readable nonimmigrant style visa in the passport of each applicant applying for an immigrant visa. The same packet of information will be provided to the applicant and will be sealed for the Officer at the Port of Entry. A label will also be attached to the packet with the letter "A" printed on it. The same rules will apply for the new IV in the passport and packet of information. Three photographs will need to be provided for IV appointments and an additional photograph will be needed for the medical examination as stated above. The photos will need to meet the NIV photo requirements i.e. full face, frontal, passport style, color photograph 2 by 2 inches with white background, taken within six months.
Most immigrant visas will be issued the next day. Fingerprints will be taken for all applicants applying for immigrant visa. Even for those who are under 14 and over 79. Electronic fingerprints and an electronic photograph for facial recognition will be taken and the Embassy will be able to check information through electronic fingerprinting on a U.S. database. Applicants who travel to a third country, rather than their home country for their IV interview before entering the United States may have problems if the third country is not issuing the same type of visa.
Appointments will not conclude until early afternoon.
Medical Examinations
The medical examination must be performed by an embassy approved physician. Knightsbridge Doctors conduct examinations for the Embassy at the following two locations:

• 15 Basil Mansions, Basil Street, London SW3 1AP, which is very close to the Knightsbridge Underground Station on the Piccadilly Line

and

• 4 Bentinck Mansions, London W1U 2R which is within walking distance of the Bond Street station on the Jubilee and Central lines of the London Underground.

Applicants will be advised at which of the two offices they must appear when they call for an appointment. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 020-7486-7822, Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Applicants must quote their case number from the when scheduling an appointment.
The cost for the medical examination is £235 for applicants aged 15 and over, and £110 for those aged 14 and under. Payment must be made at the time of the medical examination and will be accepted by cash, credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or debit card. Personal checks are not accepted.
Applicants are required to present their passport,  driving license or photo license to prove identity. Applicants must also bring one photograph for each applicant including for babies. The photo specifications are the same as those for the IV application. Additionally, applicants aged 16 or over are required to bring their police certificate.  In most cases it will take about 3 days to have the medical report and X-rays couriered to the Embassy following the examination. Medical results remain valid for 1 year after the examination.
Vaccination Policies and Procedures
All applicants, including babies, must present their vaccination records at the time of their examinations. If one is not available, the physician will work with the applicant to determine what, if any, vaccinations must be administered. Payment to the designated physician for such vaccinations as are required at the time of the examination may only be made in local currency, in cash or by credit card.
Fiancé(e) visa applicants and those applying for the K-3 or V visas will be required to meet the vaccination requirement at the time of their application for adjustment of status in the U.S.
Vaccinations may be performed by the immigrant’s general practitioner or a medical facility authorized to administer vaccines. They can also be performed by the Embassy’s physician, on the day of the interview, at the following rates (all fees are subject to change without notice):

(Fees Subject to Change)	AGE
VACCINE & COST	Birth-1 mo.	2-11 mo	12 mo - 4 yrs	5-6 yrs	7-17 yrs	18-64 yrs	65 yr
DTP/DTaP/DT - £25.00	no	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no
Td - £15.00	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes
Hib - £30.00	no	yes	yes	no	no	no	no
Polio: IPV or OPV - £30.00	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Measles, MR or MMR - £35.00	no	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Hepatitis B - £35.00	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Hepatitis A - £35.00	no	no	yes (between 12 months and 23 months)	no	no	no	no
Varicella - £60.00	no	No	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Pneumococcal - (Child - £45.00, Adult - £35.00)	no	yes	yes	no	no	no	yes
Influenza - £20.00	no	Yes (once over 6 months)	yes	no	no	yes (once over 49)	yes
Meningococcal MCV - £20.00	no	no	no	no	Yes (once over age 10)	no	No
Human Papillonomavirus Virus (HPV)- £120.00	no	no	no	no	yes (for females over 11)	yes (for females under 26)	No
Rotavirus - £65.00	no	Yes (between 2 mths and 6 mths)	no	no	no	no	no

Suggested evidence of prior vaccination is one of the following:
·  Written report from your doctor, indicating at least the month and year when you received the vaccination; OR
·  Written report from a medical laboratory indicating immunity.
Please take vaccination reports with you to the medical exam. It will be determined at that time if further vaccination is required.
Immigrant Visa Waivers
USCIS adjudicates I-601 applications and where appropriate I-212 applications for the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The average processing time is approximately 15 weeks for the date of receipt by the Consular Section.
INA § 212 immigrant visa waivers are available in limited circumstances. If available, waiver applications are submitted on Form I-601 directly to USCIS in the United States after the visa is refused. The applicant will be provided with written notification of refusal and the grounds for refusal at the IV consular interview and a waiver package consisting of instructions on how to apply for the waiver.