UK Visa Requirements for US Green Card Holders | How to Apply for UK Visa

If you are a U.S. green card holder considering a vacation to the United Kingdom, you may have questions such as Can a U.S. green card holder go to the United Kingdom without a visa? What are the visa requirements for green card holders from the United States in the United Kingdom? below in this article, we will give answers to the questions above.

Who is a U.S. Green Cardholder?

As previously noted, green card holders are frequently mistaken for citizens, despite the fact that there is a significant difference on paper. Simply described, a U.S. green card holder is someone who has visited the United States and obtained permanent residency status. Immigrants who have obtained lawful status as permanent residents of the United States are known as green cardholders. This implies they will be able to work and reside in the United States indefinitely.

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U.S. Green Card Holders Can However not do any of the Following:

1. Vote in any of the general elections.
2. Leave the U.S. and stay away for unlimited periods of time.
3. Cannot get the same assistance and benefits citizens can get from the U.S. government.

Do U.S. Green Card Holders Need Visas to Visit the UK?

This is a question that has been posed many times in many places. The reality is that the United Kingdom is one of the best destinations to visit in the world, especially for Americans. You might be wondering why. It is most likely due to the royal family, the palace, the gorgeous tourist destinations, the commercial prospects, the Premier League, and other factors. Citizens of the United States are normally granted a special visa waiver, but green card holders are not that fortunate.

As a result, if you have a green card from the United States, you will need to apply for a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Another issue that needs to be answered is how simple it is to obtain a visa. Obtaining a visa is typically a simple procedure. Individuals from certain nations, on the other hand, are subject to stringent checks in the United Kingdom. This implies that if your birth country is one of those listed as requiring extra scrutiny, the process may be more complicated or time-consuming.

The green card holder can apply for a variety of visas in the United Kingdom. Except for the application costs and the documentation that must be supplied, the application processes for all visas are comparable.

UK Visas Available to U.S. Green Cardholders

Immigrants can apply for particular types of visas in each nation, and the United Kingdom is no exception. Here are the most popular visas issued by the United Kingdom:

1. Visitor visa. This is required for any U.S permanent resident currently domicile in the United States. This is applied for if the individual just wants to visit the country for a few days to a few months, especially for tourism. The individual must possess a valid U.S. green card, a valid U.S. visa, or an employment authorization card.
2. Study visa. This visa is also known as a Tier 4 visa. It is usually issued to individuals who have been offered provisional admission to study in any of the institutions within the United Kingdom. It is usually valid for the duration of the course and a little time is usually added as a cushion. There are also student visas for short-term courses, ranging from 30 days to 6 months.
3. Business Visitor visa. This is usually issued to U.S. green card holders who plan to visit the United Kingdom for business purposes. The individual must possess a valid U.S. green card, an employment authorization card, and a valid U.S. visa.
4. Work visa. This is usually issued to U.S. permanent residents even though they have been offered employment opportunities within the United Kingdom. The visa issued is usually the tier 2 visa. It is important that before selecting this visa the applicant must have received the employment letter from the employers as proof to be presented during the visa interview.
5. Settlement visa. This visa is issued to individuals who plan to relocate to the United Kingdom to stay. To do this the individual must be a relative of a UK citizen or resident working and living in the United Kingdom on a permanent basis. The visa also applies to the spouses, children, parents, grandparents, or dependents of a UK citizen or resident.
6. Transit visa. This is issued to individuals who are passing through the UK to another destination. This cannot be waived regardless of the means of transport, air, land, or sea. This type of visa has two categories which are:
   1. Direct airside transit. Issued when you are changing planes within the same airport in a duration less than 24 hours.
   2. Visitor in transit. This applies to every other kind of transit.

Steps in Applying for a UK Visa From the United States

The procedure is not as difficult as it appears. In reality, applying for a UK visa from the United States by a permanent resident is one of the simplest procedures ever. Here‘s how you can do it:

• Complete the online application form. As with many other visa applications for other countries, this is the initial stage. You must go to the website and complete the online application form. Whatever you do, it’s critical that you fill out the form completely and accurately. Make sure the information you supply matches the information on the other documents you’ll be submitting. If you don’t follow these instructions, your application will be immediately denied or declined. Make sure you pay the visa application expenses as well. If you choose not to do it yourself, there are various firms that can help you with the application procedure.
• Book an appointment. After you’ve completed and submitted the online application forms, you’ll need to do this. In the United States, there are approximately 130 Application Support Centers (ASCs). Make an appointment with them to get the biometric testing procedure completed. Your digital image, as well as a digital scan of your 10 fingers, will be taken at these locations. You must bring the following items with you to the ASC:
• A clear printout of your application form.
• A clear passport photograph that is in conformity with visa application standards.
• A clear copy of your biometric application receipt.

One thing to keep in mind regarding the biometric visit is that children under the age of five are excluded from having their fingers digitally scanned. Following the biometric capture, you have one and a half days to two weeks to submit all relevant papers.

• Collect the list of required documents from the UK Embassy. Now that you are done with the biometric appointment it is important to know the exact documents you are required to present. To get this list you will need to visit the UK embassy where you are making the application in the U.S. As you know, asides from the general documents to be presented, each visa has specific documents peculiar to their processes. These extra documents are required to prove your reasons for traveling to the United Kingdom.
• Post your visa application. Before posting your application ensure that your passport is still valid for at least 3 months. It is actually better if it is valid for a minimum of 6 months. The passport must also have at least a page left for stamping at the embassy. Ensure you add to the package a prepaid electronic shipping label addressed to you if you want your visa posted back to you. It is also important to have such records kept for reference purposes.

Visa application can be posted to any of the following addresses, depending on whether the individual in question will be settling in the UK or not:

1. Non–settlement applications should be addressed to:

UK Visas and Immigration,

British Consulate General,

845 Third Avenue,

New York,

10022.

2. Settlement applications should be addressed to:

International Operations and Visas,

6 Millsands,

Vulcan House,

Sheffield,

S3 8NH,

The United Kingdom.

UK Visa Fees For U.S. Green Card Holders Applying in the United States

How much are UK visa fees? is one of the most often asked questions concerning UK visas? The reality about UK visas is that the costs for each visa are distinct from one another. To find out what the costs are for the visa you want to apply for, go here.

 Documents Required for Applying for a UK Visa by U.S. Green Card Holders

When applying for a UK visa, US green card holders must provide the following documents:

1. A valid passport.
2. Old passports if available. This is shows travel history likely to make the application process easier.
3. The passport photograph was taken according to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
4. Proof of U.S. permanent residency. That means the presentation of a valid U.S. green card.
5. Proof of travel itinerary. The flight tickets and dates.
6. Employment letter and a letter to show that you have been approved to go on leave, as well as the approved leave dates.
7. Proof of accommodation either by showing hotel payments or a letter of invitation from a resident in the UK.
8. Proof that you are able to sustain yourself financially throughout your stay in the United Kingdom.