If you want to travel to the United States of America, you will need a US visa or ESTA USA, even if you are only transiting in the US. The only exception to this rule is made for travellers holding a valid US or Canadian passport. In most cases, you only need to apply for an ESTA for your holiday or business trip to the US, instead of a visa. On this page, you can read everything you need to know about the differences between an ESTA and a visa, and which one is required for your travel purpose.
Do I need to apply for an ESTA USA or US visa?
In general, tourists and business travellers with passports from the UK, Ireland, Switzerland or any other EU country can travel to the US with an ESTA, instead of a US visa. In most cases, an ESTA will be sufficient for a holiday, visiting friends or family, medical travel purposes, or volunteering. Applying for an ESTA is easier and cheaper than applying for a visa for the USA. Therefore, before applying for a US visa, always check whether you and your travel purpose meet the ESTA requirements.
Read all about the ESTA and whether you qualify for it
When do I need a visa for a holiday or business trip?
Both the ESTA (meaning) and the B-1 and B-2 visas are intended for tourist, business and medical travel. In most cases, an ESTA is sufficient, and you do not need to apply for a US visa.
You do need to apply for a US visa in the following cases:
• You intend to stay in the US for more than 90 consecutive days.
• You travel for a purpose other than business, tourism or medical (examples of travel purposes that are not in line with the ESTA requirements include but are not limited to engaging in journalism, investing in the US, entering into employment at a US employer or studying in the United States).
• You are travelling on a private plane, private ship or another carrier that is not connected to the ESTA system.
• You have been in Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, Yemen, Libya or Somalia since 10 March 2011, or have the (second) nationality of one of these countries.
• You have been to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.
• You cannot answer all the security questions on the ESTA form with ‘Noʼ.
• You do not have the nationality of a VWP country, or you want to travel with a passport issued by another country.
• You are inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act § 212.
Are you planning to stay in the US for a maximum of 90 consecutive days, and do you meet the other ESTA requirements?
Apply for your ESTA here
Information on the US visa
There are many US visas that you can apply for. This page provides general information on each visa category. Some visa types have further subcategories with minor differences, such as a special type of visa for specific nationalities, or visas with different application procedures. In total, there are more than 185 different visas for the United States, so it is very important to be well-informed.
Overview of US visas
Below, you can find an overview of all visa types for travel to the US. Unlike the ESTA, all other US visas must be applied for at a US embassy or consulate.
Tourist and business visas
| Visa and travel purpose | This is allowed | This is not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| B-1 visa - Temporary US visa for business | Attending an educational, scientific or business conference or convention. Consulting or negotiating with business associates. Volunteering Attending a short training. | Studying in the US. Attending long-term vocational courses. Completing an internship with work activities. Working in the US for a US employer. Being paid for performances or other professional achievements. However, it is allowed to receive prize money. Arriving as a crew member of a ship or aircraft. Staying in the US permanently. |
| B-2 visa - Temporary US visa for tourism | Going on a holiday or visiting friends/family. Receiving medical treatment. Participating in music and/or sports events/competitions (as an amateur). Attending short recreational courses of less than 18 hours per week. | |
| Combination of B-1 and B-2 | A temporary US visa for business and tourism. This is a combination of the B-1 visa and the B-2 visa. | |
Study and exchange visas
| F visa | For students wishing to pursue full-time academic studies at a US institution. Students with this visa are also allowed to do paid work, but only on campus, for up to 20 hours during the school year and full-time during holidays. Off campus internships are also allowed after the first year. Spouses and children of the student are also allowed to travel with this visa. |
|---|---|
| M visa | For students wishing to pursue non-academic courses, for example on junior or community colleges. With the M visa, students are not allowed to work or to change their study programme. However, students are allowed to do internships if they are related to the study programme they are pursuing. Spouses and children of the student are also allowed to travel with this visa. |
| J visa | For both students and employees participating in exchange programmes recognised by the State Department. Examples include interns, au-pairs, teachers, camp counsellors and doctors. This visa encourages exchanges to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people from other countries. Spouses and children of the visa holder need their own visa (the J-2 visa) in order to stay and/or work in the US. |
Work visas
| H visa | For employees with specialist occupations who want to come and work in the United States temporarily. There are also subcategories of the H visa for internships, trainings, seasonal workers and for spouses and children of the H visa holder. |
|---|---|
| I visa | For representatives of foreign media. This US visa allows journalists and other employees of the press and media to temporarily carry out their work in the US. |
| L visa | For employees with specialised knowledge or a managerial role within companies which have a branch in both the home country and the US. It can also be used to open a new branch in the US. To apply for this visa, the employee must already have been employed for at least one year. The visa is valid for up to 7 years, for both the employee and their spouse and/or children. The visa allows for an easier transfer of employees within companies. |
| O visa | For individuals possessing extraordinary abilities in science, art, education, business or sport. These individuals must be able to demonstrate a proven track record and prove that the work is temporary. |
| P visa | For internationally recognised entertainers, athletes, artists or members of the team that support these individuals in their activities in the United States. |
| Q visa | For employees participating in an exchange programme in which culture and knowledge is shared by both participating parties/countries. The Q visa is applied for by the employer on behalf of the prospective visa holder, and the visa holder must be sponsored by the employer or organisation. |
US visa for other specific purposes
| A visa | For representatives of foreign governments to participate in diplomatic activities in the US. Immediate family members of officials can travel to the US on an A visa too. There is also a type A visa for foreign military personnel stationed in the US, but they are more likely to use a NATO visa. |
|---|---|
| C visa | For travellers making a stopover in the US en route to their final destination. Tourist or business activities are not allowed with this visa. For a stopover in the US, travellers can also apply for an ESTA if they meet the requirements. |
| D visa | For crew members of airlines and commercial ocean vessels who often make short stops in the US. These include flight attendants, pilots, captains and service personnel aboard ships. An international crew member who needs to travel to the US to board a ship or plane needs a combination of the C1 and D visa. |
| E visa | For investors and traders seeking to do business in the US. To qualify for an E visa, applicants must prove that they are involved with the business that is being invested in, or be involved in trade with an individual in the USA. Also, the investor must serve in a vital function in the company that they invest in and make a significant investment of at least $100,000. |
| G visa | For diplomats, officials and employees already working for international organisations in the United States. Family members of applicants can also use the G visa. |
| R visa | For religious workers seeking temporary residency in the US. They must be a member of a religious, non-profit organisation. This non-profit organisation must have had a presence in the US for more than 2 years. Family members can qualify for a subcategory of this visa (R-2 visa). |
| S visa | Also known as the Snitch visa. It is meant for informants with a criminal or terrorist background who assist the law enforcement in preventing illegal activities in the US. People with criminal records or a problematic immigration status may qualify for this US visa if they are able to provide valuable information. The USA offer witness protection for witnesses who are in danger due to providing valuable information. |
| TN visa | For Canadians and Mexicans who have a profession or qualification that is on the NAFTA list. Also, in most cases, they need at least a bachelorʼs degree and to start working in a workplace that is pre-determined. |
| T and U visa | This visa is generally issued to victims of severe mental or physical violence (and their immediate family members) who are willing to assist law enforcement or government officials in tracking down criminals and investigating criminal activities. |
| V visa (Immigrant visa) | This visa is issued to spouses and minor children of US residents who hold permanent residence permits. It allows permanent residents to bring their families to the US temporarily. This way, they can reunite with their families while they are waiting to receive permanent residency themselves. |
| K visa (Immigrant visa) | This visa is issued to the fiancé(e) of a US citizen. With a K-1 visa, a non-American can still travel to the United States. However, that person must get married to the US citizen within 90 days of arriving in the United States. After getting married, that person can become a permanent resident of the US. The K-2 visa is issued to unmarried children under the age of 21 of K-1 visa holders. The K-3 visa is for foreign spouses of US citizens. |
When to apply for an ESTA USA in addition to a US visa
Many visas give very limited options to travellers and temporary immigrants to the US. Should you wish to undertake activities that are not allowed with the necessary visa, you can apply for both the ESTA and a US visa. The ESTA is, however, only valid for a maximum stay of 90 consecutive days in the US.
The US green card
To move to the United States permanently, you need to obtain a green card. This is a document that allows you to live and work in all US States for an unlimited time. Once in possession of a green card, you may not stay outside the US for more than 365 consecutive days. Should this happen, the green card will expire and must be applied for again.
Green cards and many immigration visas have an annual cap; however, this is not the case for non-immigrant visas. If the limit has already been reached when you apply for the visa, it can take a considerable amount of time until it can be processed.
Reasons for a rejection of the US visa
It can never be guaranteed that a visa application will be approved, or that you will be allowed to enter the country with an approved visa. The US immigration service reserves the right to reject travellers at any time. There are many possible reasons for a rejection, for example if you do not qualify for the visa you have applied for. Therefore, it is extremely important to carefully check in advance which US visa you need, considering your travel purpose.
Reasons for a rejection may include:
• incomplete documentation or information;
• a criminal history or public charges;
• health reasons;
• security reasons;
• public opinion;
• too little time between two visits with the same visa for the US;
• a previous denial of entry to the US;
• the fact that the consular officer is not convinced you meet the requirements.
Besides these most common reasons, there are other possible reasons why a visa application may be rejected. In general, you have to meet fewer requirements for an ESTA application than for a visa application. Also note that applying for a US visa takes more time than an ESTA application. Applying for a US visa usually takes a month or more, while an ESTA can often be arranged within a few minutes.
Applying for a US visa
A visa application requires the following documents:
• two recently taken photographs;
• a passport which is still valid for at least six months from the departure date;
• the completed visa application form;
• proof of a health insurance;
• proof that you have sufficient financial resources for your stay in the US;
• proof of the purpose of your journey to the United States, such as a booking confirmation, or a letter from a future employer or university in the US.
To apply for a non-immigrant visa for the US, the DS160 form must be completed online. All questions in the form must be answered truthfully. If any information is incorrect, there is a very high chance that the visa cannot be granted. Once completed, an appointment must be booked at the consulate or embassy for a mandatory interview. During the interview, a consular officer will assess whether you qualify for the US visa you applied for. Children up to the age of 13 years or elderly people from the age of 80 years usually do not have to go through this mandatory interview.
After reading the information on this page, you can also have a look at the “Bureau of Consular Affairs” flyer. The flyer does not contain all existing US visas, but they can be found in the overview of the US immigration service.
Video US visa application
Tips for visiting a consulate/embassy
• Arrive well in time. There may be a queue and your belongings will be checked on entry.
• Bring as little with you as possible. Only carry the essentials, such as your identification document (passport), other required documents and possibly a mobile phone. All electronics (phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, USB sticks, e-books) have to be checked separately, which can take a lot of time.
• Stay calm and follow staff instructions. The security measures are similar to those at an airport. You have to go through security gates where your bags are opened and checked.
e-Visa.co.uk is a commercial and professional visa agency, and supports travellers in obtaining, among others, the ESTA USA. e-Visa.co.uk is an official partner of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, with membership number 57231226, acts as an intermediary, is no law firm, nor does it employ lawyers, does not provide legal advice, and is in no way part of any government. You can also apply for a ESTA directly with the immigration service (21 USD per ESTA, via esta.cbp.dhs.gov). However, not with our level of support. If you submit your application via e-Visa.co.uk, our support centre is available to you 24/7. In addition, we manually check your application and all the documents you provide before submitting it to the immigration authorities on your behalf. If we suspect any errors or omissions while doing so, we will personally contact you to ensure that your application can still be processed quickly and correctly. To use our services, you pay us 21 USD in consular fees, which we pay to the immigration service on your behalf, as well as £33.23 in service fees as compensation for our services, including VAT. Our services have saved many travellers from major problems during their trip. Should an application be rejected despite our support and verification, we will refund the full purchase price (unless an application for a previous USA ESTA was rejected for the same traveller). Read more about our services here.