Required Documents

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

  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160 – You must show a printout of your DS-160 confirmation page (the page with the barcode) when you arrive at the Embassy;
Please see our SlideShare presentation 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.
  • One 5 x 5 cm (2” by 2”) color photograph taken within the last six months: You will be asked to upload a photograph meeting the Department of State’s photo requirements when you complete Form DS-160. We recommend that you also bring a photograph with you to your visa interview so that it is available if the consular officer asks to review it. It can be the same photograph that you uploaded to the application form as long as it meets the Department of State’s requirements.

Please note the photograph size for a U.S. visa is not the same as a UK passport photograph. Photographs should not be digitally altered.

Please check our SlideShare presentation for information about the
Department of State’s photo requirements and for tips about photographing babies.

  • Appointment confirmation page – You can obtain this through the ‘Print Instructions’ section of your Visa Appointment Service account at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv
  • 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;
  • 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 a medical condition that could have a bearing on your eligibility for a visa, bring a letter from your physician which discusses your current state of health. Click here for further information;
  •  If you have ever been arrested, convicted and/or cautioned (no matter when, where or why this happened) You are required to declare it and bring additional documents with you to your visa interview. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law.  Click here for information about how to obtain the documents that you should bring to your interview;
  •  If you have overstayed in, been denied entry to or deported from the United States, you should bring documents relating to this. Click here for further information.So that it is available in case it is requested for review by the consular officer, you may wish to bring documentation demonstrating the following (note: there is no set form that such evidence need take):
  • Funds sufficient to cover all expenses while in the United States.
  • Residence abroad to which you intend to return.

Important: Please do not attempt to give documents to the consular officer unless they are specifically requested from you. Applying for a U.S. visa is not primarily a document based process and the decision on whether you qualify to receive a visa under U.S. law will be based on the information you provide through your application form and during your visa interview in response to questions.

If you are applying for a child under the age of 14 by courier, please click here for additional 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 (color PDF / 2 pages).
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.