You don't need a visa — just an eTA.
British citizens travel to United States on a simple electronic travel authorisation — apply online before boarding, no embassy interview, decision in minutes.
United States: Section 214(b) presumption of immigrant intent for B-class applicants
All B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants must overcome the Section 214(b) statutory presumption that they intend to immigrate. Refusal under 214(b) is not a permanent bar — applicants may reapply after material change in circumstances. Documentation of strong ties to home country (employment, property, family, prior compliant travel) materially affects outcomes. Refusal rates vary widely by posting and nationality.
2 additional warnings are folded into the result card below.
The story of United Kingdom → United States
British citizens travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program — apply for ESTA online (USD $21, valid 2 years, 90-day stays), no embassy interview required. For longer stays or work, the UK-US relationship runs through specific visa programmes: E-2 Treaty Investor (UK is a treaty country, $100k+ business investment), L-1 for intracompany transfers, the highly-competitive H-1B lottery, O-1 for extraordinary ability, and EB-5 ($800k+) for green-card-by-investment. The UK is one of the largest source countries for US student visas (F-1) and a major recipient of US-to-UK tech / finance / academic relocations under reciprocal programmes.
Diplomatic visa.
Diplomatic visa applications go through the issuing country's ministry of foreign affairs. The mission/embassy in United States coordinates accreditation. Standard tourist visa rules do not apply.
Your visa options
13 routes availableUnique visa pathways
For United Kingdom applicants specifically
Your documentation process at a glance.
What the generic requirements above actually mean for you in United Kingdom — the exact agency, fee, and processing time for each.
Police / background check
ACRO Police Certificate
ACRO Criminal Records Office
Fee: £59 (Standard, 10-day)
Processing: 10 working days standard; 2 working days premium (£99)
Covers Police National Computer + force records. Required for most Schengen long-stay, Australian PR, Canadian Express Entry, NZ residence, US adjustment of status.
Official site →Apostille / legalisation
Hague Apostille (single-step)
FCDO Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
Fee: £45 (Standard, 2-day) / £75 (Premium same-day)
Processing: 2 working days standard; same-day premium at Milton Keynes office
UK joined Hague Apostille 1965. Documents must be notarised by a UK solicitor / notary public FIRST, then sent to FCDO. Online tracking + courier return available.
Official site →Tax records / income proof
SA302 Tax Calculation + Tax Year Overview
HMRC
SA302s download free from HMRC online portal. Most consulates accept the SA302 + Tax Year Overview pair as proof of self-employment income for the last 3 years.
Official site →Certified translation
ITI / CIOL Member or sworn translator for the destination's legal system
Sworn / certified translator
For Spanish NLV, Italian Elective, Portuguese D7, French long-stay: use a translator on the destination consulate's approved list (consulado.uk / it.esteri.it / lisbon.gov.uk). For US: ATA-certified translator OR certified statement of accuracy.
Standard civil documents you'll often need: Full UK passport (not provisional) — issued within 10 years for Schengen entry; UK driving licence or BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) for non-UK-born residents; Council tax bill / utility bill in your name (address proof, within 3 months); Bank statements (UK high-street bank, certified copy if asked); Original birth certificate (long-form, with parents' details — for citizenship-by-descent applications); …
Fees on the destination's visa page are typically quoted in the destination currency. Your preferred currency for budgeting: GBP. Where to apply: Most embassies in London (Belgravia / Mayfair). Spanish + Italian + Portuguese have additional consulates in Edinburgh + Manchester. Australian + NZ + Canadian use VFS Global / TLScontact centres.
Post-Brexit British applicants are 'third-country nationals' for EU long-stay routes — no preferential treatment vs Americans, Australians etc. Some EU member states still offer streamlined processing for British applicants (Spain, Portugal, France in particular).
Documents on this route
No paper forms — just the electronic travel authorisation.
ESTA authorisation (Visa Waiver Program)
USD 21 fee, valid 2 years, multiple entries. Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before travel.
Alternative routes
If this visa doesn't work for you — adjacent passports, related destinations, second-best routes.
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Alternative routes
If this visa doesn't work for you — adjacent passports, related destinations, second-best routes.
Other visa types for this route
We also have data on these visa categories between GB and US.
Tourism
2/10Visa Waiver Program (ESTA required)
1 option · See details
Business
10/10B-1 Visitor for Business — United States
1 option · See details
Transit
10/10C-1 Transit Visa — United States
1 option · See details
Work
10/10H-1B Specialty Occupation
6 options · See details
Study
10/10F-1 Student Visa — United States
2 options · See details
Family
10/10K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa — United States
2 options · See details
More for British travellers
Other places to go and other reasons to go to United States.
Sources & verification
Every claim above traced to an official government source.
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Sources & verification
Every claim above traced to an official government source.
Sources & references
Every link below is a primary government source. We aggregate; the source is the authority. If anything on this page disagrees with a link below, the link wins.
Where this page's data came from
- Visa Waiver Program (ESTA required)travel.state.gov
- B-1 Visitor for Business — United Statestravel.state.gov
- C-1 Transit Visa — United Statestravel.state.gov
- H-1B Specialty Occupationuscis.gov
- United States Gold Card (US$5M permanent-residency pathway)uscis.gov
- L-1 Intracompany Transferee — United Statestravel.state.gov
- O-1 Extraordinary Ability — United Statesuscis.gov
- E-2 Treaty Investor — United Statestravel.state.gov
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor — United Statesuscis.gov
- F-1 Student Visa — United Statestravel.state.gov
- J-1 Exchange Visitor — United Statesj1visa.state.gov
- K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa — United Statestravel.state.gov
- IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse of US Citizen — Immigrant Visauscis.gov
Official destination portal
Embassies & consulates
Your country's foreign-affairs ministry
Independent travel advisories
While you're here
Practical next steps
Useful links for travel to United States
Official government and authority links only. Commercial provider slots (travel insurance, international health insurance, passport photos, registered immigration advisers) are coming soon — we're shortlisting the first cohort. Get featured here →
Required vaccinations & shots
All providers →Up-to-date guidance from the CDC, NHS Fit for Travel, and other national health bodies on required and recommended vaccinations for your destination. Yellow Fever certificates are mandatory for entry from some routes.
NHS Fit for Travel (UK)
OfficialUK National Travel Health Network's country-by-country vaccination + malaria advice. Authoritative for UK residents; covers routine, recommended, and certificate-mandatory shots.
Australian Smartraveller
OfficialDFAT travel health guidance for Australians, with country pages covering required and recommended vaccinations plus health-system risk levels.
CDC Yellow Book (US)
OfficialAuthoritative US CDC guidance: required + recommended vaccinations and prophylaxis by destination, plus advisories on outbreaks, food/water safety, and traveller's diarrhoea.
Informational only. A valid visa permits entry subject to officer discretion at the border. Always verify with the destination's embassy or official source before travel, employment, or relocation.