Citizens of the countries listed here need to apply for a UK visa before entering the United Kingdom.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa For UK?

US citizens do not need to apply for a visa to enter the UK if they travel for tourism or business purposes, for stays up to six months. However, they are required to apply for all other types of visas in order to travel or stay in the UK.

How to Apply for a UK Visa from USA?

To apply for a UK visa in USA, you must follow these steps:

1. Find out if you need a visa for UK.
2. Complete the Online UK visa application form.
3. Book an appointment to provide Biometrics.
4. Attend the visa interview.

Complete the Online Application form

After determining whether you need to apply for a UK visa from the US you can begin the application process. To begin the application process for a UK visa you need to fill the online application form, by submitting correct and honest information and then pay the visa application fees. If the information in the application form doesn’t comply with the information in the other required documents, your application will be rejected.

Compile the document file

To apply for a UK visa from USA, Green card holders must provide the following documents:

• Completed UK visa application form.
• Two UK visa photographs that are taken within the past six months.
• Your valid Passport. It must be valid for three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the UK after your trip. It must also have at least one blank page for the visa.
• A receipt that confirms you have paid the fees as required.
• Translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.
• Proof of US status.  Which might be either an Original Alien Registration Card (Green Card) or an Original US Visa
• Proof that you have purchased round trip flight booking on your planned dates of travel from the US.
• Employment Letter. This is a confirmation that you are the employee of a company which has approved your dates of the leave.
• Proof of Accomodation in the UK:
  • Letter of Invitation for UK visa – if you are planning to stay over at friends or family members, then your host must write you a letter which includes the length of your stay, the address and also the contact information of your host among others.
  • Hotel Confirmation – if you plan to stay at a hotel instead, then a hotel booking confirmation must be submitted.
• Proof of means of subsistence. The applicant will have to submit proof that they are financially capable to maintain themselves during their whole stay in the UK. This includes bank statements not older than three days, pay slips, and other types of evidence for your income as rental income, etc. If you are coming to the UK under some program that will financially support you then you’ll have to submit evidence for that.
• Tuberculosis Test Results. Nationals of several world countries will need to submit the requests of a Tuberculosis Test in order to be eligible for a UK Visa. Check here if you need to provide the TB test results.
• Biometric information. If you are applying for a visa that lets you stay in the UK for more than 6 months, you will need to submit your biometric information. This includes giving your fingerprints and a digital photograph taken at the appropriate application center.

Book an appointment for Biometrics

Then you will have to schedule an appointment at one of 130+ Application Support Centers (ASCs) throughout the United States for Biometric testing. At this appointment, you will have your digital image taken and also a digital scan of all ten fingers. The earliest you can submit your visa application with all of the required documents is one or one and a half days after and the latest 2 weeks after biometric submission.

At the appointment you should have with you:

• your current passport.
• a print out of your application form.
• a copy of your biometric confirmation receipt.

Children under the age of 5 are exempt from having their fingerprints taken.

Attend the visa interview at the UK Embassy/Consulate in the United States

After gathering every required document, then you will have to send them to the British Consulate General in New York via mail or registered travel agent. Put your passport, application form, and the other documents in an envelope. Arrange them according to the checklist and do not staple any of them.

Non-settlement applications should be submitted to the British Consulate General in New York under the following address:

UK Visas and Immigration
British Consulate General
845 Third Avenue
New York
10022

Settlement applications

Settlement applications are done within the United Kingdom and should be submitted here:

International Operations and Visas
6 Millsands
Vulcan House
Sheffield
S3 8NH
United Kingdom

Whether your application gets approved or not, you will, however, have to provide a fully addressed prepaid electronic shipping label inside the package with your documents. Keep a copy of the way-bill for your records.

Types of UK Visa From USA for Green Card Holders

For Green Card holders the first step towards a successful visa application is to decide what kind of visa they need to enter the United Kingdom. Before scheduling an appointment and starting to gather the required documents, check out the list of UK visa types, and try to figure out which visa fits you.

A US applicant can enter the United Kingdom under one of the following visas:

UK Business visa from USA

The UK Business visa category has been established with the sole purpose of attracting successful business people to come and invest in the UK together with their families, ranging from investors, to entrepreneurs and more. To apply for these visas, the applicant must provide the following:

• Short CV.
• Letters of support from a UK based organization, institution or company.
• Letters of recommendation from recognized experts.
• Examples of recent significant media recognition.
• Proof of having won international awards for excellence.
• Proof of appearances, performances, publications or exhibitions in last 5 years.
• A UK-recognized bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD awarded before your date of endorsement.

UK Work visa from USA

The UK work visa is especially for high-end professionals from other countries who wish to work and live in the UK for shorter or longer periods. To apply for a UK work visa from USA you must have:

• A job offer in the UK that cannot be filled by the local or the EU workforce;
• A sponsorship letter (an employer, regional administrator, local authority who holds a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License)

UK Visitor visa from USA

The UK visitor visa is a visa issued to US residents that wish to enter and stay in the UK for tourism or family visit for periods shorter than six months This visa is for travelers that are not citizens of a country that has a visa facilitation agreement with the UK. Visitors are prohibited from getting a job inside UK with this type of visa, just as with many other types.

UK Transit visa from USA

The UK transit visa is for foreigners who are not from the EEA or Switzerland, and are using the UK as a transit country to pass from another country to their destination. This visa offers the opportunity to apply for a long-term transit visa if the applicant has enough evidence that he needs to travel regularly through UK to arrive at their destination, but has no intention to stay or live there permanently. To apply for a UK transit visa in the US you must provide:

• Booked travel tickets confirmed.
• Confirmation from travel agent.
• Document to confirm being permitted to entry the other country.
• Visa for the other country (if required).
• Document to confirm being permitted to entry the other country.
• Documents to confirm the reason for traveling to the other country.

UK Family Visa from USA

The UK family visas type is for people who have family members working and living in the UK and want to join them for more than six months, as their dependents. The dependents can be husband or wife (spouse), partner, fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, children, parents, other family members.

UK Student Visa from USA

The UK student visas are issued to prospective students that plan on enrolling in UK educational institutions, such as universities and schools. To apply for a student visa you must provide the following:

• Parents’ or legal guardian letters (if under 18)
• Criminal record certificate
• A valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Clearance Certificate issued by the Foreign and the Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Counter-Proliferation Department.
• Confirmation Letter From the Official Financial Sponsor

Temporary Visa for Refugees and Stateless persons in USA

Eligible for this visa are only the people who are about to enter in the UK and are at the borders because had to leave their country as their life was seriously threatened. The application for this visa is made from within the UK. To apply for such a visa, you must provide the following documents:

• Registration with the police – police registration certificate.
• Birth certificate.
• Marriage certificate.
• Education certificate.
• Medical documents – if suffering from any medical condition.
• Documents to confirm the home address in the UK.

UK Visas in the Points Based System

The Points Based System is the means of regulating immigration to the United Kingdom, which evaluates visa candidates based on the points they can gather by meeting visa requirements. Each visa requirement has its points, and there is an appointed number of points the candidate should gather in order to receive the visa.

There are 5 different of visas based in the Points-Based System:

• Tier 1 Visas – For highly-skilled professional foreigners.
• Tier 2 Visas – Skilled foreign workers with a job offer in a shortage area.
• Tier 3 Visas – For low-skilled foreign workers with a temporary job offer in a shortage area (This type of visa has never been implemented since it has been assessed that the UK has already enough low-skilled workers.)
• Tier 4 Visas – Foreign students and specialists.
• Tier 5 Visas – Youth mobility and temporary foreign workers.

Priority, Super Priority, and Premium UK Visa Services

These are optional visa services for which the applicant has to pay an extra fee in order to get an answer on their application within a shorter period of time.

These services can be used by applicants applying for one of the below-listed visa types:

• Tourist and short stay (visitor) visas
• Points-based system Tier 2 and Tier 5 applicants with authority to be living in the United States
• Point-based system Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) if you are currently in the US for a similar purpose to take up in the United Kingdom
• Points-based system Tier 5 (Temporary worker – Creative and Sporting) if currently in the USA for a similar purpose to take up in the UK
• Points-based system Tier 4 student visas – for applicants who are resident in the USA and are subject to different document requirements under Tier 4 of the Points-based system

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Getting visitors insurance for parents from will help with any unforeseen incident that may occur during their visit.

What Are the Best Travel Insurance Plans for Parents Visiting the USA?

Here are the top 5 health insurance plans for parents visiting the USA:

• Beacon America.
• Patriot America Plus Insurance.
• Patriot Platinum Insurance.
• Safe Travels USA – Cost Saver Insurance.
• Visitors Care Insurance.

Beacon America

Specifications of Beacon America plan:

• Comprehensive coverage
• Available for people up to 79 years of age
• After the deductible, it covers 100% up to the policy maximum
• Includes coverage for an acute onset of pre-existing conditions for people up to 79 years of age.
• Includes dental coverage
• Includes AD&D coverage

Patriot America Plus Insurance

The Patriot America Plus offers the following benefits:

• Comprehensive coverage
• Within PPO Network: The plan covers 100% up to the policy maximum.
• Outside PPO Network: The plan covers 80% of the first $5,000, then 100% up to the policy maximum.
• Includes dental coverage
• Includes coverage for an acute onset of pre-existing conditions for people up to 69 years of age.

Patriot Platinum Insurance

Here’s the list of the benefits included in the Patriot Platinum plan:

• Comprehensive coverage
• Within PPO Network: The plan covers 100% up to the policy maximum.
• Outside PPO Network: The plan covers 90% of the first $5,000, then 100% up to the policy maximum
• Includes coverage for acute onset of a pre-existing condition for people under the age of 70
• Includes dental coverage
• Includes AD&D coverage
• Includes terrorism coverage

Safe Travels USA – Cost Saver Insurance

The Safe Travels Cost Saver offers the following benefits:

• Comprehensive coverage
• Within PPO Network: The plan covers 100% up to the policy maximum.
• Outside PPO Network: The plan covers 80% of the first $5,000, then 100% up to the policy maximum
• Includes coverage for people up to 89 years old
• Includes coverage for the acute onset of a pre-existing condition (up to $1,000 of eligible medical expenses)
• Includes dental coverage
• Includes AD&D coverage

Visitors Care Insurance

• Limited coverage
• Coverage for people aged up to 79 years of age
• Varying amounts of coverage depending on the policy maximum and medical procedure.
• Policy maximums of  $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000.
• Coverage for people 80-99: Policy maximum of $10,000
• Offers coverage for the acute onset of a pre-existing condition (depending on the policy maximum)
• Does not offer dental coverage
• Does not offer AD&D coverage

How to Buy US Travel Insurance for My Parents?

You have to buy health insurance from a private company in the United States. There are countless plans, with different types and amounts of coverage, so you have to really do your research before you choose one. You can compare and buy health insurance plans for your parents through comparison marketplaces such as Insubuy.

Should I Get Visitors Insurance for My Parents Visiting Me in the USA?

Although it is not obligatory by law, due to the high cost of healthcare, it is strongly advisable to get health insurance for parents visiting you in the United States. This is especially important for elderly parents, who are more prone to sickness.

If your parents were to fall ill during their visit, and they are uninsured, the medical bills will quickly add up to tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the type of medical care they need.

If your parents are joining you in America permanently, then you have to get them health insurance for Green Card holders.

What Are the Types of Health Insurance for Visiting Parents?

There are two main types of health insurance that your parents can look for:

• Fixed-coverage health insurance. This will only cover a fixed amount of your medical bills, and you will have to cover the rest of it. If this “fixed amount” is low while the medical bill is high, then you will have to pay a pretty substantial amount from your own pocket.
• Comprehensive-coverage health insurance. This type of health insurance plan will pay a percentage of your medical bill up to a certain amount, then it will cover 100% up until the policy maximum. For example, it will pay 80% of the bill for the first $2,000 then 100% until the policy maximum ($50,000; $70,000; $100,000 etc. depending on what policy maximum you purchased.)

What is Included in the Visitor Health Insurance Plan for my Parents?

There is a set of medical procedures that all insurance companies will cover, although at varying degrees depending on the plan. When choosing a visitors health insurance plan for your parents, make sure to compare different plans to see which one will suit the needs of your parents the best. Usually, all health insurance plans cover the following medical procedures:

• Consultation with a doctor
• The cost of the hospital room
• The cost of prescription drugs and medicine
• Surgical procedures
• Emergency services, such as the ambulance and ER
• The cost of lab tests and X-rays
• Physical therapy

Some, but not all, also cover the following:

• Dental
• Maternity/pregnancy
• Pre-existing conditions
• AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment)

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With recent media coverage of healthcare cost nightmares in the US, foreigners traveling there have understandably started becoming concerned about the average cost of a doctor visit or a trip to the ER.

Having Travel Health insurance while visiting the USA is optional, but highly recommended and necessary since health services are very costly, more than in any other country anywhere across the globe.

But, just how much does a doctor visit cost in the US? Will visitors have to leave half of their life savings at the hospital because of a simple sprain? What if a more serious medical emergency pops up? What if you get into an accident?

How Much is a Doctor’s Visit Without Insurance in the USA?

The average cost of a doctor’s visit in the US is not too high – provided it is just a consultation and you do not need actual medical treatment. In these cases, the price can range from $200-$300.

On the other hand, if you actually are sick or have sustained an injury and need to visit the Emergency Room, then the prices can quickly add up.

According to a study conducted by the National Institute for Health, the average cost of an ER visit in the US is $2168. The average prices for some of the most common reasons for ER visits are as follows:

• For sprains and strains: $1498
• For open wounds or extremities: $1650
• For a normal pregnancy or delivery: $2008
• For a headache: $1727
• For back problems: $1476
• For a kidney stone: $4247
• For a urinary tract infection (UTI): $2598
• For an upper respiratory infection: $1101
• For an intestinal infection: $2398
• For other injuries: $2103

However, the cost of an ER visit depends on several other factors such as the coverage of your health insurance plan (or whether you have an insurance plan at all) and even which hospital you go to. Additionally, your treatment and even your doctor may affect the cost of your hospital visit.

And keep in mind that the earlier figures are an average, which means some people pay much more than that.

Medical Treatment Costs in USA

The US has some of the highest prices in the world regarding medical treatment, and if you don’t have health insurance, a sprained ankle or another unexpected injury during your trip could end up costing you thousands of dollars. One of the reasons why an ER visit in the US can reach such high prices is due to the cost of medical tests and procedures.

Ambulances

In the US, an ambulance ride is not paid from taxpayer money. Much like the rest of the healthcare services in the US, ambulances are also a private business and can reach hefty fees.

• The cost for an ambulance ranges from $400 to over $1200, depending on the mileage.
• The cost for an air ambulance ranges from $2,000 to upwards of $200,000

Medical tests/screenings

Doctors in the US tend to order more medical tests as compared to other countries. This has been referred to as “defensive medicine” – as a way of protecting themselves from a possible lawsuit. What’s more, these tests are also more expensive.

• Blood tests can range from $100 to upwards of $3,000 in price
• An X-Ray can range from $150 to over $3,000
• An MRI can cost from $1,000 to more than $5,000

Medications

Another reason why medical costs are so high in the US is because the government does not negotiate the prices of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies before they release them. As such, these prices are often very high. Diabetes medication, for example, can cost upwards of $500.

On the other hand, you can find over-the-counter medication (cold medicine, pain reliever etc) for very reasonable prices.

Surgery

Prices for surgical procedures in the US depend on the type of procedure you need. For example, tonsillectomy can set you back from $4,000 to $8,000 or more. Gallbladder removal is at least $10,000 whereas brain and heart surgery can reach hundreds of thousands.

In addition, you may also be required to pay additional fees for hospital stay, per-hour costs of the operating room as well as the anesthesia.

Hospitalization

The price of a hospital stay in the US can change from one hospital to the other, but on average, it is about $3,000 per day. This means that a ten-day recovery period may set you back $30,000.

If your condition requires you to recover in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), the price is even higher than that.

Dental treatment

A trip to the dentist can also be pricey, although it’s not going to put you at risk of bankruptcy. A dental examination costs about $50, whereas a tooth extraction is set at about $280. Average prices for some other common dental problems are:

• Tooth filling: $115 – $190
• Root canal: $695
• Sedated tooth removal: $217
• Wisdom tooth removal: $175

Health Insurance for Tourists in the US

Unlike for Schengen Visas, tourists to the US do not necessarily have to purchase travel health insurance before they enter the country. However, when faced with the hefty fees, obtaining short-term travel health insurance is the superior option to paying from your own pocket. If nothing, it will give you peace of mind knowing that even if something happens, you won’t be at risk of going bankrupt from a visit to the ER.

The price of the insurance plan changes. It can be as little as $2 per day to over $10 per day, depending on the coverage you select, the number of days you are staying in the US, as well as your age.

Health Insurance for Expatriates in the US

If you intend to live in the US long-term, you have to get private health insurance. Again, health insurance in the US is not compulsory. You have the option of forgoing it but it will be at your own risk.

If you are a US Work Visa holder, in many cases, your employer will provide health insurance for you. If they do not, you must purchase it yourself through an international health insurance company.

If you are an international student, you can get F1 Visa Health Insurance, which is often offered by the school as a compulsory insurance plan with predetermined coverage. Even so, you usually have to pay for the insurance plan yourself.

Health insurance plans in the US cost an average of $400 per month, depending on the state as well as the coverage and the health insurance company you choose.

Note: Please keep in mind that this article is for informational purposes only and that the costs displayed are an average and may differ from state to state and even from one hospital or one doctor to the other.

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