1. Decide on your visa type. Click here to find out all the visa types and application fees. 6-month General Visitor visa seems like the most straight forward and cheapest type (68 pounds).
2. Online application. All the application is processed online. Go to Visa4UK site to fill in online form.
A couple things to note:
2.1 You don't have to fill all the forms in one setting. You can always save and go back to them another day.
2.2 You will be required to fill in your UK travel itinerary and where to stay. So think about those before your start the process.
2.3 Print out the application form in the end and SIGN. You will need to send it to the British embassy/consulate.
2.4 Pay your application fee online and print out the receipt.
2.5 Pay $12 courier fee online and print out the receipt - for mailing the visa to you
3. Biometric data collection. At the end of the online application, you will required to make an appointment with UK visa ASC (application service centers) to get your finger prints collected and picture taken. Click here to find ASC near you.
4. Supporting documents. To prove your travel purposes, if you have enough funding to fulfill the trip and if you will return to your residing country, you will need to provide supporting Ma. For checklist, click here.
5. Mail out application documents within two weeks after the biometric data are collected. Here is the list
5.1 A valid passport that contains at least 1 blank page on both sides so your visa can be inserted. Your passport should be signed by you and the name and signature should correspond to the details given on your visa application form.
5.2 Previous passport/s (if available)
5.3 Your completed, signed and dated visa application form
5.4 Online payment receipts
5.5 Receipt given to you when you enrolled your biometric data
5.6 Supporting documents relevant to the category you are applying for with photocopy of each original document and translations.
5.7 One recent passport-sized (45mm high x 35mm wide) color photograph of yourself. The photograph should be:
5.7.1 Taken against a light grey or cream background. It should be in sharp focus, clear and of good quality, free from shadows.
5.7.2 Printed on normal photographic paper.
5.7.3 Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons. The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.
5.7.4 The photograph should be a recent true likeness and taken within the last 6 months
There is 1 embassy and 9 consulates in the US. Here is where you should send your documents to.
Residing State | Mailing address |
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and US Virgin Islands. | New York The UK Border Agency British Consulate-General 845 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 |
Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington State and Wyoming. Additionally Guam and the Trust Territory of The Pacific. | Los Angeles The UK Border Agency British Consulate-General 11766 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200 Los Angeles, CA 90025-6538 Note: Please write the proposed date of travel on the reverse of the envelope. |
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. | Chicago The UK Border Agency British Consulate-General The Wrigley Building 400 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60611 |
6. Visa processing period. It takes between 7 days to 90 days, depends on how difficult your background check goes. Usually within 2 weeks, your visa will be issued. Within another week, it will be sent to your doorstep. Before you get too excited about the visa, check two things right away:
6.1 Your green card. That's your identity in the US, and you will need it to return to the US. Make sure your green card is included in the package.
6.2 Check your name, passport #, visa type, entry date on your visa. Make sure everything is correct.
6.3 You will mostly like get a multiple entry one year tourist visa, which means you may go to UK anytime within the next year for as many times as you wish. But each stay is within 6 months.
A UK visa allows you to travel to not only England but also Scotland & Northern Ireland. Make the best use of it! Enjoy your trip in the UK.
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