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What is a U.S. Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.

(Note: U.S. citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit. In this situation, when planning travel abroad, learn about visa requirements by country, see country information in the International Travel Section section of this website.)

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Find out what visa type is appropriate for you

The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.

Please visit our Visa Wizard to find out what visa type is appropriate for you.

You can also visit our Frequently Asked Questions   or find out about the  Visa Waiver Program .

Other useful links:  Visa Categories   |   Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate   |   Glossary

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Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

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U.S. Visas News

Jan 2, 2024 Worldwide Visa Operations: Update

Dec 21, 2023 Important Update on Waivers of the Interview Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

Dec 21, 2023 Department of State to Process Domestic Visa Renewals in Limited Pilot Program

Oct 19, 2023 Visa Waiver Travel for Israeli Citizens

Oct 6, 2023 Final Rule Governing Public Charge Grounds of Visa Ineligibility

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Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements.

While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do. Look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool . On the country’s information page, you will find entry, exit, and visa requirements. You will also find travel advisories and a link to the country’s embassy.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/15/how-to-claim-15-hours-free-childcare-code/

How to claim 15 hours free childcare including how to get your code

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We’re making the  biggest investment  by a UK government into childcare in history, doubling the amount we expect to spend over the next few years from around £4 billion to around £8 billion each year.  

  • Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access 30 hours of childcare support.  
  • From  April 2024 , eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.  
  • From  September 2024 , 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old.  
  • From  September 2025 , support will reach 30 hours for eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old up to school age.  

When can I apply?  

Applications are open until 31 March for eligible working parents of 2-year-olds to receive 15 hours free childcare starting from April 2024.  

From 1 April, eligible working parents whose children will be 2 or older by the 31 August, can apply to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024.   

And from 12 May, eligible working parents whose children will be aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31st August, can apply to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024.  

It’s important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months, so parents applying close to 12 May will need to renew their code prior to the offer starting in September.  

How do I apply?   

You apply online here on   Gov.uk once you have checked our  eligibility criteria .  

You’ll need to make sure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:  

  • your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are self-employed)  
  • the date you started or are due to start work  
  • details of any government support or benefits you receive  
  • the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.  

You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.  

Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.  

Eligible parents are also able to access Tax-Free Childcare through the same application system. You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare at any time. However, you don't need to apply for Tax-Free Childcare to be eligible to apply for the 15 hours childcare scheme.   

What happens once I receive my code?  

Once you receive your code, you’ll need to take it to your childcare provider, along with your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth.  

Your childcare provider will process the code to provide your place.  

Places will be available for September in every area of the country, but a significant minority of settings hold waiting lists of over six months. If you have a preferred nursery for September, you should reach out now to secure a place for your child ahead of receiving your code.  

Your local authority can provide support for finding a government-funded place in your area.  

What if I’m already registered for Tax Free Childcare?  

Parents must reconfirm that they are still eligible for Tax-Free Childcare every 3 months.  

Parents who are already claiming Tax-Free Childcare and need to reconfirm their eligibility between 1 April and 12 May will be automatically issued a code in the post from HMRC soon after the 12 May.   

This is to ensure every parent can give their code to their provider in good time. This code will be valid to apply for 15 hours of government-funded childcare from September.   

If I receive a code in a letter from HMRC, does this make my code on my Childcare Account invalid?  

No. Both codes will be valid.   

Do I need to wait for my reconfirmation window to add another child to my account?  

A parent who is already using the childcare service for another child can add a new child to their account at any time.  

Your reconfirmation cycle for your current Tax-Free Childcare will not affect this.  

How are you making sure there will be enough childcare places for eligible parents?  

Parents that have a preferred place for September should reach out now to their local provider to secure a physical place for their child ahead of time.  

To make sure there are enough places available, we’re investing over £400 million in 2024-25 to increase the hourly rates paid to local authorities.  

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has independently reported that the average funding rates for two-year-olds and under 2s paid by government from April 2024 are projected to be substantially higher than the market rate paid by parents last year, and we have committed to further increases to provider rates for the next two years.  

We have also committed to increasing hourly funding rates over the next two years by an estimated £500 million, to make sure providers can increase places at each phase of the rollout.    

You may also be interested in:

  • Budget 2023: Everything you need to know about childcare support
  • Before and after school childcare: Everything you need to know about wraparound care
  • Free childcare: How we are tackling the cost of childcare

Tags: 15 hours free childcare , Applying for 15 hours free childcare , Childcare , Free childcare 2024 , Free childcare eligibility , tax-free childcare , When to apply for 15 hour free childcare

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apply for usa visit visa from uk

Gaza family win visa legal battle with Home Office

A Palestinian refugee has won a legal challenge against a Home Office refusal to allow his family in Gaza to apply for UK visas without fingerprints.

The man took action after officials rejected his request for his wife and children to be exempt from the usual rules because of the situation in Gaza.

He said this was in effect a refusal to allow his family to join him, because they had no way to submit fingerprints.

A court says the Home Office must allow the family to apply without biometrics.

The Home Office told BBC News: "We have complied with the outcome of judicial review proceedings and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

A court anonymity order means the man and his family cannot be identified, for their own protection.

He had brought a judicial review against the Home Office, which is a type of legal action where a person can challenge the decision of a public body.

  • Gaza family takes legal action against Home Office
  • What is the Rafah crossing and why is it Gaza's lifeline?

The judgement from the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Court, seen by BBC News, said the Home Office's refusal to exempt the family from giving fingerprints was "disproportionate" given their "particular circumstances".

It said the decision was also in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to respect for private and family life.

'I am scared'

The man applied for asylum in the UK in 2021 and was granted it in 2023, after the war in Gaza had started.

Once people have refugee status, they can apply for family-reunion visas for their family members to join them in the UK without them needing to go through the asylum system as well.

Asylum Aid solicitor Anastasia Solopova, who is representing the family, said they had applied for these in December.

In most circumstances, when someone applies for a long-term British visa outside of the UK, they need to give their biometrics - fingerprints and a photograph - at a visa-application centre (VAC), for security reasons.

As there is currently no functioning visa centre in Gaza, there was now no way for the family to submit their biometrics, Ms Solopova said.

In a statement to the court, the refugee said the decision from the Home Office had made him feel "like I wanted to die".

Two of his children had caught hepatitis A, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says is spreading in Gaza .

"I want so badly to be with my wife to help her," he said. "I am scared, I am fearing for the lives of my family and my children, I am worried that they might die."

Even before the current conflict, it was not easy for Palestinians to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

They had to register with the local Palestinian authorities two to four weeks in advance and may then have been rejected by either the Palestinian or Egyptian authorities with little warning or explanation.

And since the current war began, Egypt has said it is reluctant to allow an influx of refugees from Gaza.

In November, the Home Office said it was working with the Foreign Office to help British people and their non-British family members evacuate Gaza through the crossing.

And at the time, a team of Home Office staff was helping visa applicants in Egypt.

Now, people able to leave Gaza through the crossing can receive medical, consular and administrative support from British embassy staff in Cairo.

Two of the man's children, not pictured, caught hepatitis A in Gaza

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apply for usa visit visa from uk

  • Visas and immigration

What you need to do

Get access to your evisa.

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. 

To get access to your eVisa, you’ll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

Who can use this service

You can use this service if the Home Office has emailed you about how to get access to your eVisa.

If you’ve not been contacted by the Home Office, you do not need to do anything yet. You’ll be able to set up access to your eVisa later in 2024.

There is more information about when eVisas are being introduced and what they’re replacing .

You will be asked to:

  • create a UKVI account
  • confirm your identity using the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app
  • provide a BRP number

This information will be used to link your eVisa to your UKVI account. You’ll get an email when you can access your eVisa in your account.

Before you start

You will need:

  • an email address and phone number
  • access to a smartphone
  • your BRP card (or a passport and your BRP number)

Helping someone else

You can help someone else to create their UKVI account, for example, your child or someone who cannot use the internet.

You can manage their account for them if you’re acting on their behalf, for example if you have power of attorney.

You can get help setting up access to your eVisa if you:

  • do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
  • do not have internet access
  • do not have access to a device like a laptop or smart phone

You can only get this support if you’re in the UK.

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COMMENTS

  1. How to apply for a U.S. Tourism or Visitor Visa (the B-2 visas)

    If you are applying for a visa for the first time, or are applying to renew a visa, you are required to take the same steps. Step One: Complete the online DS-160 and print the confirmation page for each person applying for a visa, regardless of age. Answer the questions to the best of your ability; we cannot assist you in completing the form.

  2. Visas

    Visas. The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. See our Directory of Visa Categories and usvisas.state.gov to determine ...

  3. Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Apply for a Standard Visitor visa

    You can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa if you visit the UK regularly. This visa lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit. If you're ...

  4. DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

    The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé (e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal ...

  5. Official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service

    There will be no extensions of fee validity. Applicants must have scheduled an appointment or submitted an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023 to avoid paying a new fee. If you paid the MRV fee on or after October 1, 2022, you must have scheduled the appointment within one year of your MRV payment date.

  6. Visitor Visa

    Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both ...

  7. United States travel, holiday and visitor information

    Travel & Tourism in the U.S. Visit the U.S.! U.S. Citizen Services. Alerts and Messages. Alerts and Messages for U.S. visitors to the United Kingdom. See all Alerts and Messages. Emergency Assistance. U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call (0)20-7499-9000. Outside of Office Hours, contact: (0)20-7499-9000.

  8. Nonimmigrant Visas

    Nonimmigrant Visas. In general, a citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States temporarily must first obtain a U.S. nonimmigrant visa, which is placed in the traveler's passport. For information regarding the new VWP/ESTA eligibility requirements, click here. Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for information ...

  9. How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

    The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State. Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information. LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023.

  10. Nonimmigrant Visa

    The first step in applying for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa is to complete your application. It takes approximately 90 minutes to do this. After you submit your application, you can move on to the next steps such as scheduling your interview. ... » Read more about U.S. visas at travel.state.gov. » Visit the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

  11. Visa for USA from UK

    Do I Need a Visa For USA From UK? If you are a citizen of the UK you are not required to apply for a visa for USA since the UK is one of the 41 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. British citizens, with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, have been part of this list since 1988.

  12. Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

    You are a citizen or eligible national of a Visa Waiver Program country. You are currently not in possession of a visitor's visa. Your travel is for 90 days or less. You plan to travel to the United States for business or pleasure. You want to apply for a new authorization for one person or a group of applications for two or more persons.

  13. Entry requirements

    Visa requirements. You will need either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver or a visa to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. You are not normally eligible for an ...

  14. U.S. Visa and Travel FAQs

    Please see our updated FAQs below before making travel plans. Pick the situation that applies to you for more information on U.S. travel requirements and visa processes at this time. If you have more than one traveler, please ensure you check the relevant situation for each individual traveler. Updated: May 5, 2023 at 09:00 GMT.

  15. Apply for a UK visa in the USA

    Updated 24 April 2023. To apply for a UK visa in the USA you need to: apply online. pay your fee. book and attend your biometric appointment. Attend an Application Support Center ( ASC) mail your ...

  16. How to apply for a visa to come to the UK

    Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example: for a holiday or to see family and friends. for a business trip or meeting. to do a short course of study. You ...

  17. U.S. Visas

    A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler's passport, a travel document issued by the traveler's country of citizenship. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the ...

  18. UK Visa Application from USA

    To apply for a UK visa from USA, Green card holders must provide the following documents: Completed UK visa application form. Two UK visa photographs that are taken within the past six months. Your valid Passport. It must be valid for three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the UK after your trip.

  19. USA: apply for a UK visa

    It gives you information on: applying for your application online. paying fees. booking and attending your appointment at an application support centre (ASC) posting your application form ...

  20. Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

    If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements. While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do. Look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool.

  21. Visas and immigration

    Apply to visit, work, study, ... BNO visa, right of abode, UK Ancestry visa. Live permanently in the UK. ... To help us improve GOV.UK, we'd like to know more about your visit today. ...

  22. How to claim 15 hours free childcare including how to get your code

    We're making the biggest investment by a UK government into childcare in history, doubling the amount we expect to spend over the next few years from around £4 billion to around £8 billion each year. Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access 30 hours of childcare support.; From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours ...

  23. Gaza family win visa legal battle with Home Office

    In most circumstances, when someone applies for a long-term British visa outside of the UK, they need to give their biometrics - fingerprints and a photograph - at a visa-application centre (VAC ...

  24. Get access to your eVisa

    An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. To get access to your eVisa, you'll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.