Applying from the United States
To apply for a UK visa from the United States, you need to apply for the visa online and pay the relevant visa fees to have your visa application considered by the UK Home Office.
The UK does allow US citizens to come to the UK on a short visit or business entry, however, to remain in the UK other than a short visit, you would need to apply for the visa prior coming to the UK.
In some cases, based on your personal circumstances, you may need to apply for the visa because, you may have had a previous visa refusal or had been denied entry to the UK.
Once you lodge your application online and attend an appointment to submit your biometric data, a decision will be made by the UK Visa team. The US Immigration Services does not have any influence or supportive role in making a visa decision.
Applying for a short-term visit visa & business visa to the UK from the USA
Those wishing to enter the UK on a regular basis and to avoid being questioned at the Border Control in the UK, we recommend that you apply for the visa before you book your travels to the UK.
At the time of applying for the visit visa, you should ensure that both information and documents to support the application are available. To enter the UK as a visitor or to conduct permitted activities as a business visa holder, you need to demonstrate evidences related to your intention of entry.
For example, as a visitor if you’re planning to visit family or friends, then documents from the sponsors should be provided. If you are attending a business meeting, then a letter from the business should be provided.
In addition to the above, you must demonstrate that you will have adequate financial and accommodation in the UK. Further to this, you must prove you will leave the UK after your short visit to the UK. To ensure your application does not fall for refusal as a visitor, we recommend that you enclose a detailed cover letter to support the visa application.
Join your spouse or unmarried partner from the USA to the UK
One of the most common applications that family members apply for, is the partner visa, otherwise known as the spouse visa. The visa route allows you to apply for your partner to come and join you in the UK.
The partner visa does allow you to apply settlement, in most cases after 5 or 10 years residency in the UK.
The spouse or partner visa must be applied prior to your entry to the UK. In some cases, you may be able to apply whilst on a different immigration visa but we would recommend to take legal advice prior to the application is lodged.
To meet the requirements of the partner visa, you must ensure information and evidences related to your relationship, intention to live together in the UK, financial and accommodation requirements are met.
How does ICS Legal help on applying for a UK visa from the US
ICS Legal provides advice and help on applying for a UK visa from the US. Through our collaborative partnership and support, we can help to apply for the UK visa.
Our Lawyers do not compromise on both quality and consistency in supporting your visa application from the USA. We will help to collate the information and documents to support the visa application.
Through our partnership, we will complete the necessary immigration visa application forms, draft the supporting statement of grounds and put together a detailed visa application checklist. In some instances, we will draft the sponsorship documents if required.
Children of British nationals
If one of the parents are British, then a child born in the USA and holding US citizenship, may be permitted to apply for a British passport.
Where a child is not eligible to automatically apply for a British passport because of their parent’s circumstances, an application to register as a British national can be made.
British nationality is a complex matter and we would recommend to take legal advice before applying for a British passport or an application to become British citizen.
Business partnership, Global Mobility and Innovator Visas
The UK based on the special relationship with the US, does have visa scheme to allow US citizens to come and do business in the UK. The visa schemes extends to those intending to come and work in the UK.
If you are planning to work for a UK business, then the skilled worker visa is the most appropriate route to apply. There are 2 schemes either as a worker or temporary worker.
Those considering to do business in the UK, can apply under the Global Mobility visa scheme.
UK visa refusal when applying from the USA
We understand that a visa application may be refused because you have failed to provide the correct information or documents to support the application.
If your visa application is refused, the UK Home Office will tell you in detail their reasons for the decision. In most cases, you will be given a right to challenge the decision. This may be through an administrative review or an appeal.
In most cases, both administrative review and appeal application must be done within 28 days unless otherwise stated.
Most frequently asked questions when applying for a UK visa from the USA?
Does an American holding a US passport need to have a visa or apply for a visa? Yes, you will be required to apply for a visa unless you are coming to the UK on a short term. For example, under the temporary work visa, you may be allowed to enter the UK once your employer provides a certificate of sponsorship.
How long am I permitted to remain in the UK as a visitor when travelling from the US and holding a US passport? 6 months is the maximum duration.
Should I apply for a UK visa from the United States prior coming to the UK? In most cases, you should apply for a visa based on your circumstances prior coming to the UK.
Are US students able to undertake voluntary or unpaid internship work in the UK? You are able to do those activities only if you hold a visa. For example, if you are a student and holding a US passport, you would be permitted to do those activities in the UK.
Can I apply for a student visa if I am a US national in the UK? Unless your completing a short course, you would be required to apply and hold a student visa. Your university or school must provide a CAS and you must have sufficient funds to meet both course & maintenance costs in the UK.
Applying to do business in the UK if I am a US national? Yes, you will be able to apply for a business and work visa only from the US. The schemes are flexible given that you are a US national.
How do I apply for a UK visa from the USA? This is done online and you must ensure the correct visa application is chosen when applying. In some cases, you may also need to complete a paper form alongside the online form.
How do I book a visa appointment in the USA? The visa appointments are usually handled by the US Immigration Services. The booking is done once you have lodged and paid for the visa application.
How long does a visa decision take from the US? We would recommend to choose priority visa service at the date of the visa application. Normal service standards will delay your entry to the UK.
Related FAQ's
Our speciality lies in the field of Immigration, Nationality and EU Law, so it means we always are dealing with this side of the law. We are able to support you in making a correct decision, avoid delays on your case, save money and time, not forgetting the stress of any doubts with your application.
There are many routes available to come to the UK, extend or switch, some of them do not allow extension or even switching. Knowing what is right can be a difficult task and this is why we are here. Simple task of not using the prescribed forms can mean your application is invalid, which means if you have no valid stay, you would have to return back and there is no appeal rights.
Our initial consultations are a chargeable service. We initially discuss the requirements of the application to ensure you meet the requirements and have the documentation required at hand for the submission. It gives you an opportunity to meet us and ask questions.
Each case will be checked thoroughly, everything will be cross referenced so guidelines are met and we will also add our legal document which would outline the Immigration Rules and how the client has satisfied the rules. We use documents that are used by Home Office case workers, so we know exactly what they would look for in your case.
The most important fact is that law constantly changes, policy guidelines and requirements are always changing, so it is best that you always use specialised services to support you. We never compromise our services, our fees remain very competitive but our expertise is at the very highest standard.
We place our clients first, so when you sign the customer care letter and we go through your case file, and we believe that the case would not be successful, we will terminate the agreement and return your documents. We will also provide alternative solutions with no added costs. We also have a cancellation period should you feel you want to withdraw your file.
Please note that all cases cannot be guaranteed as circumstances depends and whether you met guidelines, however the Home Office caseworker can still refuse cases on the balance of probabilities and other factors. Our job would be to prepare your case in the best possible way.
1) You contact us through e-mail or phone.
2) We take some basic information, we ask some relevant questions to understand the type of query and what type of support is required.
3) Your case then gets passed to a case worker.
4) Case Worker would contact you to set up an initial meeting.
5) You attend a consultation, an action plan is drawn up and we find out whether ICS Legal can support your case. A report would be sent where there is a requirement to outline what was discussed and what to do next.
6) You authorise us to be your legal representative by signing our customer care letter.
7) We will then start to request documents and information about your case this will build up your case pack.
8) We will then write our legal report and use Home Office caseworker’s documents to ensure everything has been checked and all requirement have been met.
9) Where possible we will go through every aspect of your case before case submission.
10) We will continue to update you throughout the case life cycle .