Passport / VISA

Restricted entry: The following are not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program and must apply for visas before traveling:
(a) people afflicted with certain serious communicable diseases;
(b) anyone who has been arrested or who has a criminal record;
(c) narcotics addicts or abusers and drug traffickers;
(d) anyone who has been deported from or denied admission to the USA.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all.

Note: (a) For nationals of countries under the Visa Waiver Program, passport must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except for nationals of Andorra, Brunei and San Marino, who must hold passports valid for at least 6 months from date of departure from the USA). (b) For all other nationals, passports must be valid for 6 months from date of departure from the USA. (c) As of 15 May 2003, Belgian nationals wishing to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme must be in possession of a machine-readable passport (with a barcode) issued by their government. This will also apply to citizens of all 27 visa-free countries traveling under the Visa Waiver Program as of 1 October 2003. Those who do not possess such a passport may still travel, but must first apply for the relevant visa.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) citizens of countries under the Visa Waiver Program (see 2. below);
(b) 1. nationals of Bermuda and Canada, provided holding valid passports;
(c) nationals of Mexico, provided holding a valid passport and a US Border Crossing Card (form DSP-150, which replaces forms I-186 or I-586);
(d) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or connecting aircraft, within 8 hours or on the next available flight, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. However, the following nationals are not eligible to transit without a visa:
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burma, Burundi, Central African Republic, China (PR), Colombia, Congo (Dem Rep), Cuba, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea (Dem Rep), Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan. Citizens of the following countries may use the in-transit lounge facilities if traveling on an approved in-transit-lounge carrier and arriving at an approved port of entry: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. However, they should contact the airline before traveling, otherwise they may be denied boarding. Note: The TWOV (Transit Without a Visa) Program has been indefinitely suspended as of 2 August 2003 pending a review within the next 60 days. This does not affect qualified travelers traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

Visa Waiver Program: (a) 2. The following nationals do not require a visa under the Visa Waiver Program:
Andorra, Australia, Brunei, EU countries (except nationals of Greece, who do require a visa, and nationals of Belgium and (as of 1 October 2003) the UK with non-machine-readable passports (see Note above)), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia and Switzerland.
To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a passport (valid for at least 90 days from date of entry, except for nationals of Andorra, Brunei and San Marino whose passports must be valid for 6 months after the departure date) for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days; hold a return or onward ticket if traveling by air or sea (if onward tickets terminate in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands travelers must be legal permanent residents of those countries); if entering the USA by air or sea, hold a completed form I-94W and enter aboard an air or sea carrier participating in the Visa Waiver Program (lists of participating air or sea carriers are available from most travel agents or the carriers themselves); if entering the USA by land from Canada or Mexico, hold a completed I-94W issued by Immigration at the port of entry and a US$7 fee.
(b) 3. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Persons unsure about visa requirements (including those defined in ‘Restricted Entry’ above) should write to the US Consulate General or the Visa Department of the US Embassy (see Contact Addresses section).

Types of visa and cost: Non-immigrant and Immigrant. Non-immigrant visas are subdivided into a number of different visa categories, including Business, Student (participating in academic or exchange programmes), Employment and Holiday. For details on other types of non-immigrant visas and application requirements, contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) or US Embassy (see Contact Addresses section). Recorded visa information is also available (tel: (09068) 200 290; calls cost 60p per minute).
The visa application fee is £67, regardless of whether the visa is denied or issued and regardless of the duration of the visa or entries required. The Embassy will provide a paying-in slip, which is attached to the application form DS-156. The fee must be paid in cash at a bank prior to submitting a visa application to the US Embassy, and the bank will issue a receipt of payment which must be attached to the application form. Some nationals may also have to pay a reciprocal visa issuance fee – details are available from the State Department (website: http://www.travel.state.gov/ ).

Validity: Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires, or if marked ‘valid indefinitely’ for up to 10 years. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally 6 months: there is however no set time. For extensions and further information, apply to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services when in the USA.

Note: (a) As of January 2003, most non-immigrant visa applicants are required to schedule an appointment for a visa interview with a consular officer. (b) All visa applicants, regardless of age, are required to complete a DS-156 and DS-157 form. (c) The Embassy no longer issues visas valid indefinitely. Any new B-1/B-2 visa issued will be valid for a maximum of 10 years. (d) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality.

Application to: Visa branches at Consulates General. Those residing in England, Scotland or Wales should apply to the Embassy in London. Nationals of Northern Ireland should apply to the Consulate General in Belfast (see Contact Addresses section). The Consulate in Scotland does not process visas.

Application requirements: (a) Completed visa application form DS-156 and form DS-157. (b) Passport valid 6 months after visit and with at least one blank page. (c) One passport-size colour photo. (d) Embassy copy of the fee receipt endorsed by the bank. (e) Documentation of intent to return to country of residence. (f) Supporting documents (such as purpose of visit), where relevant. (g) Self-addressed, special delivery envelope, for return by post.

Note: (a) Nationals of China, Cuba, Russia and Vietnam are also required to complete two DS-156 application forms and provide two colour passport-size photos. Nationals of North Cyprus are required to provide four colour, passport-size photos. (b) Those defined in ‘Restricted Entry’ above are required to provide extra documentation. Please note that requirements are subject to change at short notice and any applicant should check with the US Embassy (website: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ ).

Working days required: Routine applications will normally take at least 10 days from the date of receipt. However, due to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, applications may take up to several weeks. Passports will be posted back in the self-addressed, registered envelope. It is important to allow sufficient time for processing the visa, and final travel plans should not be made until a visa has been issued. Applications lodged during the peak travel season may take longer.

Temporary residence: The law in the USA is complex for those wishing to take up residence. More information may be obtained from the Embassy (see Contact Addresses section).