Required Documents

You are required to furnish the following forms and documents in support of your visa application:

    • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160;
Please see our SlideShare presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/us-nonimmigrant-visas-completing-form-ds160-82156771 for tips and guidance relating to Form DS-160, including what to do if you are unsure how to answer a particular question, and what you can do if you experience technical problems, realize you have made a mistake, or if you cannot retrieve your DS-160 confirmation page.
    • Appointment confirmation page (if relevant);
    • A passport or other 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;
    • 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.  If there are any issues with the uploaded photograph, however, you will be required to provide a new one which may delay the processing of your application;

For more tips and guidance on how to obtain a photograph which meets the Department of State requirements, please see our instructional SlideShare presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements

Please note the photograph size for a U.S. visa is not the same as a UK passport photograph. Any photograph which does not meet the Department of State requirements should not be digitally altered.

    • Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom, if you are not a U.K or EU passport holder;
    • Evidence of previously issued U.S. visas: 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;
    • The receipt number of the approved petition – we suggest you furnish a copy of the Notice of Action Form I- 797A, B or C. Your application cannot be processed without this;
    • O-2 visa applicants only, a copy of the I-797A, B or C confirming approval of the O-1 petition; and 
    • If you have ever been arrested, cautioned, convicted you are required to declare it, even if it is considered spent and furnish a police certificate known as an ACRO.  The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law.  Click here for further information;
    • If you have a medical condition that could have a bearing on your eligibility for a visa, furnish a letter from your physician which discusses your current state of health. Click here for further information;
    • If you have been denied entry into or deported, or removed from the United States furnish documents relating to this. Click here for further information.

Blanket L-1 Visa Applicants are also required to furnish the following:  

  • One original and two copies of the form I-129S. This is an abbreviated form of the petition and indicates under which category (manager, executive or specialized knowledge professional) the visa is to be granted. Applicants may also be required to produce evidence of their entitlement to a particular category, such as diplomas, certificates or other proof of their educational background;
  • A letter from your employer stating the position and the organization from which you are transferring, the new organization and position to which you are destined, a description of the actual duties and salary under both the new and the former positions, and the dates and locations of previous stays in the United States in “L” status; and
  • A Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee of $500.00 and for those who are subject to it, a Border Security Act fee of $4,500. Please check with your employer to see if the Border Security Act fee applies in your case. The fee(s) will be paid to the Embassy’s cashier on the day of the visa interview. Fees may be paid in cash – sterling or dollar equivalent, or by Credit Card – Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover or American Express. The Embassy does not accept any other credit or debit cards, or personal checks.
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160;
Please see our SlideShare presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/us-nonimmigrant-visas-completing-form-ds160-82156771 for tips and guidance relating to Form DS-160, including what to do if you are unsure how to answer a particular question, and what you can do if you experience technical problems, realize you have made a mistake, or if you cannot retrieve your DS-160 confirmation page.
  • Appointment confirmation page (if relevant);
  • A passport or other 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;
  • 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.  If there are any issues with the uploaded photograph, however, you will be required to provide a new one which may delay the processing of your application;

For more tips and guidance on how to obtain a photograph which meets the Department of State requirements, please see our instructional SlideShare presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements

Please note the photograph size for a U.S. visa is not the same as a UK passport photograph. Any photograph which does not meet the Department of State requirements should not be digitally altered.

  • Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom, if you are not a U.K or EU passport holder;
  • Evidence of previously issued U.S. visas: – 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;
  • Staff Journalist – a letter from the employer which gives the following information: name; position held within the company and purpose and length of stay in the United States;
  • Freelance Journalist under contract to a media organization – If possible, a signed letter from the organization you will be working for, on official letter-headed paper, with the following information: your name, your job title, your relationship to the company, your purpose of travel, including a brief description of the project, your proposed length of stay in the United States and, if you are contracted to the company, the duration of the contract;
  • Media Film Crew – a letter from the employer which gives the following information: name; position held within company; title and brief description of the program being filmed and period of time required for filming in the United States;
  • Independent Production Company – a letter from the employer which gives the following information: name; position held within company; title and brief description of the program being filmed and period of time required for filming in the United States; and 
  • If you have ever been arrested, cautioned, convicted you are required to declare it, even if it is considered spent and furnish a police certificate known as an ACRO.  The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law.  Click here for further information;
  • Have a medical condition that could have a bearing on your eligibility for a visa, furnish a letter from your physician which discusses your current state of health. Click here for further information;
  • Have been denied entry into or deported, or removed from the United States furnish documents relating to this. Click here for further information.
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160;
Please see our SlideShare presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/us-nonimmigrant-visas-completing-form-ds160-82156771 for tips and guidance relating to Form DS-160, including what to do if you are unsure how to answer a particular question, and what you can do if you experience technical problems, realize you have made a mistake, or if you cannot retrieve your DS-160 confirmation page.
  • Appointment confirmation page (if relevant);
  • A passport or other 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;
  • 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.  If there are any issues with the uploaded photograph, however, you will be required to provide a new one which may delay the processing of your application;

For more tips and guidance on how to obtain a photograph which meets the Department of State requirements, please see our instructional SlideShare presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements

Please note the photograph size for a U.S. visa is not the same as a UK passport photograph. Any photograph which does not meet the Department of State requirements should not be digitally altered.

  • A letter from your employer on letter headed stationary confirming your employment with the company and period that you will be in the United States;
  • Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom, if you are not a U.K or EU passport holder;
  • Evidence of previously issued U.S. visas: 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; and 
  • If you have ever been arrested, cautioned, convicted you are required to declare it, even if it is considered spent and furnish a police certificate known as an ACRO.  The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law.  Click here for further information;
  • Have a medical condition that could have a bearing on your eligibility for a visa, furnish a letter from your physician which discusses your current state of health. Click here for further information;
  • Have been denied entry into or deported, or removed from the United States furnish documents relating to this. Click here for further information.

 

For further 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 additional 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.