American citizens who wish to visit the UK as tourists or business persons must apply for a UK visa. Our immigration solicitors in London can offer proper guidance and legal assistance if you are from the US and you need a UK visa. You can rely on the support of our immigration lawyer if you want to know more about immigration to the UK.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| UK visa required for American citizens (YES/NO) | YES |
|
Tourist visa validity |
6 months |
|
Eligibility criteria |
– family member of a British citizen, – future employee of a UK company, – partner/spouse, or an American investor in the UK |
| Legal immigration requirements |
– valid passport, – proof of income, – tuberculosis test, – visa application form |
| Permanent residence in the UK |
For stays longer than 6 months, on a work or business permit |
| Visa for American students in the UK (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Ancestral connection for relocation to the UK |
Available option |
| Employment visa for Americans |
For work purposes in the UK |
| Can I apply for a spouse visa for the UK? |
Yes, the fastest way to immigrate to the UK if your partner is in this country |
| Is a UK skilled work visa available for Americans? (YES/NO) | YES |
| When should American citizens apply for a work visa for the UK? |
3 months before starting the job in the UK |
| When is a biometric residence permit issued? |
For stays in the UK for longer than 6 months |
| When can American citizens apply for IRL (Indefinite Leave to Remain)? |
After living in the UK for at least 5 years |
| Access to public funds while living in the UK as an American citizen |
Restricted |
| Why choose the legal services of our immigration lawyers in the UK? |
We offer: – assistance in managing immigration documents, – professionalism, – affordable prices. |
| UK ancestry visa for American citizens | For Americans proving they have parents or grandparents with British origins. |
|
Use of the ancestry visa in the UK |
For: – work, – study, – family reunification |
|
Indefinite Leave to Remain status |
For American citizens who want to permanently live in the UK |
| Digital nomad visa for American citizens | UK does not have a digital nomad visa program |
| Presenting a sponsor certificate for a Skilled Worker visa (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Youth Mobility visa for Americans |
Available, with a validity of 24 months |
| What can you do with a Youth Mobility visa? |
Work in the UK |
| Bringing family members with a Youth Mobility visa (YES/NO) |
NO |
| Using the driving license in the UK as an American citizen |
For only one year, and then must be changed. |
| Global Talent visa for Americans |
Available option if activating in arts, culture, research, and digital technology. This visa allows US citizens to work in the UK. |
| Validity of a Global Talent visa |
5 years |
| Can Americans apply for British citizenship? (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Accessing National Health Services for Americans living in the UK |
By paying a fee |
| Cities preferred by US citizens for living in the UK |
– London, – Edinburgh, – Manchester, – Cambridge, etc. |
| Other relocation considerations |
For: – shipping, – renting a house, – applying for residency in the UK, etc. |
Table of Contents
UK tourist visa for a US citizen
This type of visa is available for six months and the US citizen needs to show the intention of visiting the UK for no more than this period, however, those who want to move to the UK from the USA in the long term must apply for specific permits. It is necessary to offer a bank statement that proves the possibility of self-supporting, without asking for public funds. Besides having a valid passport, there are no other special requests. Talk to our UK immigration lawyer for legal advice.
If you want to move to the UK, our lawyers can help you.
Eligibility Criteria for US citizens relocating to the UK
There are a series of formalities and eligibility criteria that must be respected in order to be able to relocate as an American citizen to UK. Here are some of these to take into account, with the specification that one of our immigration lawyers in the UK can provide you with the necessary legal support:
- you have a partner or a spouse of British origin,
- you have a family member who lives in the UK,
- you are a future employee in a company registered in the UK,
- you will work in a US company that has a representative in the UK,
- you want to invest in the UK as an American citizen,
- you have ancestral connections in the UK,
- if you want to start a business in the UK and apply for a UK business visa.
These are some of the situations you may find yourself in when you want to immigrate to the UK from the US. You can learn more about the required visa and the formalities that must be completed from our specialists. Please discover the following infographic with details on this topic:
Family visas for US citizens
US citizens have several options available if they want to relocate to the UK for family matters. Here are some of these options:
- Child dependent visa – Applicants must be at least 18 years old and prove that they have a parent of British origin in the UK.
- Adult dependent relative visa – Parents, grandparents of a British citizen, or settled person can opt for this type of visa. You can ask for a long-term visa if you have to take care of a person with health problems.
- UK ancestry visa – If you have relatives in the UK and you can prove this, then you can apply for this type of visa. Those born before 1983 to British parents can apply for this visa and also for UK citizenship. Our immigration lawyers in the UK can explain all the formalities.
Below is a video presentation about relocation to the UK from the USA:
UK business visa for a US citizen
US entrepreneurs who wish to visit the UK for business purposes can apply for a business visitor visa. In order to receive this type of visa, it is recommended to ask for help and guidance from our UK immigration lawyers. Those who want to immigrate to the UK must apply for other residence permits. Take into consideration the following conditions:
- US citizen must not replace another person in the UK for a temporary period;
- US citizen must not be involved in offering services or selling goods in the UK;
- US citizen must not visit the UK for an internship or for work;
- US citizen needs to receive the payment from abroad. If there are travel expenses involved, they can be received in the UK.
People who want to relocate to the UK can contact our specialists for support. Numerous visas allow you to get residency in the UK. An adult-dependent can go to the UK and live with a family member who is a British citizen or a settled person with the help of an adult independent visa, such as elderly parents or close relatives. Our UK immigration solicitors can provide more details on this topic.
Who can apply for a partner visa in the UK?
You can immigrate to the UK from the US if you are in a civil relationship with a British citizen or married to one. Here are the visas you can apply for, as appropriate:
- A spouse visa is one of the fastest methods of relocation from the USA to the UK. The formalities are relatively simple and can be explained to you by one of our specialists.
- An unmarried partner visa is another option for US citizens who want to reunite with their British partners. Here it must be proven that the relationship has existed for at least two years.
- Fiance visa is addressed to those who are going to marry their British partner, within 6 months from the date of arrival in the UK.
So, you have options at hand if you want to join your partner in the UK as a US citizen. As in the situations described above, we recommend those interested to ask for specialized legal help to be able to fulfill all the conditions. It is very important to avoid cases where the authorities refuse visa applications due to a lack of documents or due to errors in visa applications.
UK residence permits for US citizens
A US citizen can obtain a residence permit if he or she is already staying in the UK for more than five years. This type of document will demonstrate the legal rights of every citizen in the UK, and it is not deliberated by the British Consulate. Our London immigration lawyer can tell you more and represent you if you want to immigrate to the UK.
A US citizen, who wishes to get married in the UK, needs to be at least 18 years old and must give notification within 6 months about the marriage or the civil partnership if involved. The Immigration Regulations 2008 provisions stipulate details about the identity cards for US citizens who wish to apply for an extension of their visa, no matter if they are staying in the UK as students, permanent residents, or family members.
Work visas for American citizens in the UK
US citizens who relocate to the UK for work purposes must first obtain a work permit. This is also known as the work visa and can be obtained when the employing company acts as a sponsor. Here are some of the most popular work visas in the UK:
- The Skilled Work visa can be obtained with a certificate of sponsorship and if the employing company has the agreement of the Home Office in the UK. The job position can be filled by an American citizen only if there are no UK workers to occupy the position.
- The Sportsperson visa is available for athletes and coaches from the USA coming to the UK for various competitions. The endorsing body is the institution in charge of their sports category.
- There is also the possibility of applying for an Intra-company transfer visa. This visa can be issued for American citizens working in the US and who can be transferred to an office of the same business, but established in the UK as a branch.
- Religious workers and missionaries from the US must apply for a Religious visa to enter the UK for work purposes in specific communities.
We recommend that US citizens immigrating to the UK discover our legal services. Our London immigration lawyers can handle relocation procedures and can provide information about existing UK visas.
Studying in the UK as a US citizen
American citizens can apply for a study visa for the UK if the purpose is relocation. This is the UK student visa, and among the formalities, a letter of invitation from the British college/University affirming the course of studies is required. There is also a UK child student visa for minors in primary/secondary schools, and it can be issued when US parents apply for a British visa before immigration. In addition, students can apply for a permanent stay in the UK after graduation, which is quite an advantage.
How to get Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK
Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR, as it is known, is a status that can be obtained after at least 5 years of residence in the UK. However, there are also exceptional cases where this ILR can be obtained earlier. Here we will tell you what this ILR allows:
- permanent residency in the UK,
- working and traveling outside the UK and reentering the country,
- study,
- British citizenship after 1 year of ILR.
Interested in ILR status? Please explore our services and speak with our UK immigration lawyer to discover the conditions imposed.
UK immigration data
The UK offers a multitude of possibilities for those who want to relocate for work, family, or business. Below, we present some statistical data in this regard:
- According to the Office for National Statistics, around 606,000 was the net migration in the UK in 2022.
- It is estimated 1.2 million long-term immigrants for the year ending June 2023.
- Around 968,000 immigrants in the UK came from non-EU countries.
- 129,000 EU citizens immigrated to the UK according to data for the year ending June 2023.
In order to receive additional information about how to relocate to the UK from the USA, you are invited to contact our immigration lawyer in the UK. We can also help foreigners apply for a UK investor visa or an innovator visa in the UK. Those interested in citizenship in the UK can rely on our support in terms of formalities and procedures.
