Required Documents

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  2. Overview
  3. Exchange Visitors
  4. Where to Apply
  5. SEVIS
  6. How to Apply
  7. Required Documents
  8. The Interview
  9. Processing Times & Return of Passport
  10. Administrative Processing London

You are required to provide the following documents in support of your visa application:

  • Form DS-160 confirmation page, including the barcode.

Please see our SlideShare presentation for tips and guidance about Form DS-160, including what to do if you are unsure how to answer a particular question, if you experience technical problems, if you have made a mistake, or if you cannot retrieve your confirmation page.

  • One 5 x 5 cm (2” by 2”) color photograph taken within the last six months: If you have successfully uploaded a photograph to the DS-160, you are not required to submit an additional photograph with your application.

For tips and guidance about the Department of State requirements, check our SlideShare presentation.

Please note the photograph size for a U.S. visa is not the same as a UK passport photograph. Photographs should not be digitally retouched.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Instructions: Go to the ‘Print instructions’ section of your Visa Appointment Service account at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-GB/niv/users/sign_in to print the entire instructions page, including the bar codes
  • Your passport or valid travel document: Your passport or travel document must contain multiple pages. U.S. visas are printed into a passport or travel document, not as a separate document or card, which means that one blank page is required for a visa to be printed. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recommend that at least one more blank page is available for your passport to be stamped if you are admitted to the United States. For certain nationalities, the passport or other travel document must be valid for at least six months beyond the proposed stay in the United States. The six-month requirement does not apply to United Kingdom passports. If you will be applying for a visa using a passport of a different nationality, please click here to find out if the validity requirement applies. If your passport is damaged, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before applying for the visa to avoid any delay in the processing of your application.
  • Form I-20 if you are applying for an F or M visa. This will be provided to you by your Designated School Official. You must provide your original Form I-20, not a photocopy or scanned copy. Please check to make sure that the biographical details on your Form I-20 are correct. If there any mistakes, contact your Designated School Office as soon as possible before you apply for the visa.
  • Form DS-2019 if you are applying for a J visa. Your Form DS-2019 will be provided to you by your program sponsor. You must present your original Form DS-2019, not a photocopy or scanned copy. If you are provided with Form DS-7002, Training/Internship Placement Plan, you must also provide that form when you apply for your visa. Check to make sure that the biographical details on your Form DS-2019 are correct. If there any mistakes, contact your program sponsor as soon as possible before you apply for the visa.
  • SEVIS fee receipt: F-1, M-1 and J-1 visa applicants are required to pay a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. You must pay through the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website at least 3 days before your visa interview. For detailed information about the fee, including how much it will be and how to pay, go to ICE’s SEVIS website www.fmjfee.com. If you have questions about the SEVIS fee or your SEVIS status after checking the ‘Help’ section of that website, contact ICE directly using the email address provided on their webpage.
  • Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom, if you are not a U.K or EU passport holder;
  • Previously issued U.S. visa(s), if applicable: If you are no longer in possession of the passport(s) containing the visas, you may advise the consular officer at the time of your interview or if applying by courier, include a statement with your application.
  • If you have ever been arrested, convicted and/or cautioned you are required to declare it, even if it is considered spent. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law. Click here for a list of the additional documents you will need to take to your visa interview. 
  • If you have ever been denied entry into the United States, deported, or removed from the country, click here for a list of the additional documents you will need to take to your visa interview.
For more information to help you prepare for your appointment and help you find your way to the Embassy in London, please see our appointment guide (PDF 274 KB). This includes important information about what you can bring to your appointment. Please note, laptops or large bags (above cabin-baggage size) cannot be admitted into the building and there is no storage facility at the Embassy for these items.

 

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