In general, a citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States temporarily must first obtain a U.S. nonimmigrant visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport.
For information regarding the new VWP/ESTA eligibility requirements, click here.
European Travel Info & Health Advisory: advice on travel for UK citizens and Global Health Advisory
This remains the status of operations following the UK national lockdown effective January 5, 2021: We will continue to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services as resources and local conditions allow. Visa appointments remain limited.
We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.
Please keep checking our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the latest information about travel to the United States and visa services in the UK.
If you have an interview scheduled, please check your email and your Visa Appointment Service account for appointment status.
If you have recently entered the UK, your appointment must take place more than 10 days after your arrival into the UK. Please sign in to your Visa Appointment Service account if you need to reschedule your appointment.
Diplomats & Other Government Officials
Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature or traveling as tourists require the appropriate H, L or B visa, or if qualified, travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program; they do not qualify for diplomatic or official visas.
See All Visas
The chart on this page contains many different purposes of temporary travel and the related nonimmigrant visa categories available at Travel.State.gov.