Us Visa For Uk Residence Permit Holders
Are you a UK resident looking to live in the USA for a few years? Would you like an idea of how best to tackle this task? If so, this article will be of help. With the increasing whirlpool of information available, navigating your way through the process can be like treading a murky river teeming with hazards (log jams, overhanging branches, floating debris, etc.).
If you’re looking for tips about how to easily get a UK residence permit and don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on consultants who speak to you in confusing terminology, I can help. This blog will not only give you the information and give you the tips necessary for having your visa application accepted, but it will also show you how to do it because of a step-by-step guide that we have prepared into a small e-book that can be downloaded in only five minutes and is completely free of charge.
Us Visa For Uk Residence Permit Holders
If you are a UK resident permit holder, and want to apply for a visa to the United States, you can do it through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). If you have been issued an ETA, it will be valid for up to 2 years.
You don’t need to fill anything out in advance. You can apply online with any computer and internet connection. The application fee will be $14 and is charged by credit card or PayPal account. You must be eligible to visit the United States under one of the nine categories listed below:
1) Business Visitor: For people who have business meetings, conferences or seminars in the US.
2) Visiting Family or Friends: For people who come to visit close family members or friends who live in the US temporarily.
3) Medical Treatment: For people who travel for medical treatment at hospitals or clinics in the US (with some exceptions).
4) Student/Scholar: For students who attend academic institutions in the US for study purposes (with some exceptions).
5) Transit: For people traveling through the US without staying longer than 24 hours.
6) Refugee/Asylee Relative; Humanitarian-related reasons (such as emergencies): For people with asylum status whose family members need humanitarian
If you’re a UK resident and want to bring your family to the United States, then you may be able to get a visa for your spouse or partner.
If you are a permanent resident of the United Kingdom (UK), you may be eligible for a “family-based” visa that allows your spouse or partner to live in the United States with you. However, if they are not British citizens, they will need to apply for an Immigrant Visa. The process involves submitting an application and supporting documentation to immigration officials at the U.S. Embassy in London or other available locations outside of the country.
To qualify for this type of visa, applicants must meet certain requirements set out by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If these requirements are met and submitted correctly, then applicants should receive approval within three months from when USCIS receives their application package; however, this can vary depending on how busy USCIS is at any given time during processing periods throughout each year.
US Visa – Why Do You Need a Visa to US?
There may a variety of reasons why you may feel the necessity to travel to the United States. The first thing you would require to visit USA is a Visa. A Visa is an official permit that helps you enter a foreign country and stay there permanently or for a specific period of time.
Based on the purposes and duration of your stay, the United States of America offers different classes and subclasses of Visas. The United States of America follows a strict process of Visa issuance. The majority of the Visa applications to the USA are non-immigrant Visa applications which allow Indians to visit the USA and stay there for a predetermined period of time. When it comes to apply for an Immigrant Visa that allows foreign citizens settle permanently in the USA, the country issues limited number of Visas.
Different Types of Visas Offered by the USA
There are different types of US Visa offered to Indian citizens. They are mainly categorized as Immigrant Visa and Non-Immigrant Visa
Immigrant Visa: It is issued to Indian citizens who wish to stay permanently in the USA. The country issues a limited number of immigrant Visas to foreign citizens. (Can be linked to difference between difference between immigrant and non-immigrant Visas)
Non-Immigrant Visa: Issued to foreign or Indian citizens with permanent residence outside the United States, who wish to visit the USA for specific period of time. Listed below are the different types of non-immigrant Visas offered by the United States depending upon the purpose and duration of travel.
- Business Visa
- Employment Visa
- Tourism Visa
- Medical treatment Visa
- Education Visa
The United States of America offers nearly 20 subclasses of non-immigrant Visas to foreigners visiting the country for short term stays. They include :
- Religious worker Visa
- Domestic employee Visa
- Exchange visitor Visa
- Student Visa
- Ship crew or Transit Visa
- Work Visa (including H1B, H2A, H2B, LI, H4 etc.)
- Media and journalist Visa.
Documents Required for US Visa Application/Interview
The following documents are commonly required for Indian citizens to apply for a US Visa:
- Passport valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States.
- Colored photographs.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable).
- Bank statement and financial record.
- Divorce/death certificate of spouse (if applicable).
- All original documents establishing the relationship between the petitioner and the applicant need to be submitted. for family-based cases or dependent Visa.
- A letter from the prospective employer confirming the essential elements of the job offer needs to be submitted for work visa.
- Police Clearance Certificate.
- Certificate of birth.
- Court records (if applicable).
- Military records (if any).
- DS 160 confirmation page printout.
- Fee receipt copy of US Visa.
- Form 60 or Income Tax return of last three years.
- Day-wise itinerary for tourism visa.
- Practical application of research, if traveling to the US for research purposes.
Eligibility Criteria for US Visa
An Indian citizen needs to meet the following eligibility conditions to get a Visa to USA:
- Must have an Indian passport that is valid for a period of at least 6 months.
- Should not have any past history of crimes or any ongoing criminal cases against them.
- Dependents/ spouses travelling with the applicant should apply for separate Visas.
- Should have enough financial resources.
- Must undergo medical test by approved physician.
- Should have strong ties with their current country of residence.
- Should have a valid reason for travelling to the United States.
- Should not have any communicable disease like tuberculosis.
Steps to Follow to Apply for a US Visa:
The following are the general steps to obtain a Visa to the USA:
- Select the type of Visa you are applying for
- Check your eligibility.
Online mode:
– Fill in the online application form
– Submit the required documents online
Offline mode:
– Download the application form
– Fill the form and submit it to the US Embassy office located in India
- Pay the application fee and schedule the visa interview
- Appear for the Visa interview with all required documents at a the selected embassy
How to Pay US Visa Fees?
Here are the steps to pay US visa fees:
- Payment can be made through NEFT, mobile payment, or cash
- Payment made is non-refundable
- Diplomatic passports are exempt from paying Visa fees, irrespective of the purpose of travel and visa type
- Payment for non-immigrant visa can be made in cash at specific branches of AXIS or Citibank
The non-immigrant Visa fees can be paid in cash at select branches of AXIS or Citibank
Note: Official passport holders are not charged for official visas, and they need to appear for visa interview at the US Embassy between 11am to 12pm on any working day.
Information needed for scheduling US Visa Interview
The following information is needed while scheduling a visa interview:
- Visa application fee receipt number.
- Passport number.
- The 10-digit barcode number from the DS-160 confirmation page.
Conclusion
If you possess this visa, don’t think that a UK residence permit is not possible. Many people get confused and they think they have to leave the UK when their Tier 2 visa expires. This is not true at all. If you want to stay in the UK then the solution is simple: apply for a UK Residence Permit before your Tier 2 Visa expires.
This article, from an immigration lawyer with many years of experience helping clients to get a visa for the United Kingdom, offers information on whether non-UK EU citizens can get UK residence if they need to, and how this might work.