Individuals wishing to travel to the United States for tourism or business must have a passport with six months of validity remaining, a return trip ticket and evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves for the duration of the visit.
Residents of the United Kingdom who plan on visiting the United States for less than 90 days for tourism or business may do so without a visa. There are additional requirements; the online automated system, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), can be used to determine eligibility.
If a U.K. resident anticipates a stay of longer than 90 days, anticipates work or study, does not have a machine-readable passport, has a criminal record, has been refused admission to the U.S. before or plans to travel by private aircraft, then he must apply for a visa.
Applicants for a visitor visa must have proof of residency, compelling economic and social ties abroad and funds to cover the specific, limited time period of their visits.
Applications for a U.S. visa should be made at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of permanent residence. The application, passport, photo and appropriate fees must be submitted.
