Apply for a UK visa in the USA
Updated 15 July 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at /government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa
To apply for a UK visa in the USA you need to:
- apply online
- pay your fee
- book and attend your biometric appointment at an Application Support Center (ASC) or Visa Application Centre (VAC)
- mail your application if you are asked to
Apply online
Apply online to complete your application and pay your fee.
Book and attend your biometric appointment
From 15 July 2025, you can only make biometrics appointments at a .
You can still attend an ASC until 1 August if you have already booked an appointment.
Once you have completed your online application you will be prompted to book a biometric enrolment appointment at a VAC. This is to have your photo and fingerprints taken (known as ‘biometric information’).
Attending an ASC
You can only attend your ASC appointment on your scheduled date and time. If you arrive on a different date or time, you will not be processed. Do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.
When you visit the ASC for your biometric appointment, you must take your current valid passport and a copy of your appointment confirmation letter, which will be sent by VFS Global when you book your appointment.
Cell phones, cameras, and other recording devices are not permitted inside the ASC.
before you travel to your appointment.
Attending a VAC
Check your appointment confirmation for details on what to do next. You can also find your closest VAC.
Visa application process for children under 5
Children under the age of 5 applying for a UK visa from within the United States must attend an appointment and have their photograph taken. They will not need to provide fingerprints.
Mail your application
You only need to mail your application if your appointment is at an ASC.
Once your appointment confirmation letter is stamped at the ASC, you will have 5 days to mail this, your application form, current passport, UPS return shipping label, and any supporting documents (if you haven’t uploaded them online) to:
VFS Services USA Inc.
UKVI Scanning Hub
128 East 32nd St
Floor 4
New York NY
10016
All applications must include your current passport with at least one blank visa page on both sides. If your application is submitted without a passport the application will be refused.
The 5 working day priority or 15 working day standard service for processing your UK visa application will only begin once these documents have been received at the above address.
Return shipping
To have your passport or any other documents returned, you must provide a fully addressed UPS prepaid electronic shipping label as we cannot accept non-electronic shipping labels. You must your return shipping label is inside the package, and to keep a copy of the shipping label for your records.