US Visitor Visa Documents for UK Residents: The Full List (2026)

TL;DR

Two lists matter. The US Embassy in London requires the DS-160 confirmation page, one physical 5 x 5 cm photograph, a passport with multiple blank pages, evidence of UK status if you are not a UK passport holder, and papers covering previous US visas, medical, criminal or immigration history where they apply. The embassy says that list is not definitive. Everything else, including ties and funds evidence, is our recommendation.

List one: what the embassy requires

These are the documents the US Embassy London application page tells every applicant to bring:

• DS-160 confirmation page, printed, for each applicant.
• One physical 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inch) colour photograph, white background, taken within the last six months, not digitally edited, with no AI-generated content.
• Passport with multiple blank pages, valid at least six months beyond the period of stay.
• Evidence of UK status (share code or eVisa) for anyone who is not a UK passport holder.
• Evidence of previously issued US visas, if any.
• A physician's letter for any medical condition that might affect eligibility, if applicable.
• Documents about any arrests, convictions or cautions, if applicable.
• Documents about any prior US overstay, denial of entry or deportation, if applicable.
• Relationship documents for dependants, such as marriage or birth certificates.

The embassy adds that this list is not definitive and the officer may ask for more.

The photograph is worth a separate paragraph

A photo that fails the requirements can mean refused entry to the building and a new appointment. Since visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, according to the State Department fee schedule, that is an expensive mistake for a five pound print. Have it taken by someone who does US-specification photos, check the size is 5 x 5 cm, and bring the physical print rather than a phone image.

List two: the supporting evidence we recommend

None of the following is on the embassy's official list. It is our recommendation, based on the files we build and the interviews our clients report back to us. Bring it in addition to list one:

• Employment letter or recent payslips, showing your job and that you are returning to it.
• Bank statements for recent months, so the money behind the trip is visible.
• Proof of UK residence, such as a tenancy agreement or a council tax letter.
• Your travel plan and accommodation, matching the dates you gave on the DS-160.
• An invitation from family in the US, if the trip is to visit family.
• Evidence of previous travel, showing where you have been and that you returned on time.

In our experience these are the themes a visitor visa interview turns on: purpose, ties, funds and travel history. Our page on the London interview goes through how they come up.

How to organise the file

A file that answers a question in five seconds is worth more than a thicker one that does not. We recommend one order, used consistently:

1. DS-160 confirmation page and passport on top.
2. Evidence of UK status, then previous US visas.
3. The trip: plan, accommodation, invitation.
4. The ties: employment, residence, bank statements.
5. Anything conditional, such as medical or legal papers, at the back.

Use the bundler to assemble the pages in that order into a single file, and the compressor to bring anything you upload inside the size limits. Remember that a mobile phone cannot be used at any stage inside the building, so everything you might need has to be on paper.

Before you build the file

Two things should be settled first. Complete the DS-160 form, because half the file exists to match what you wrote on it, and book through the official scheduling site described on the appointment page at ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb. The full guide to applying from the UK sets out the order.

One caveat before you spend money. Presidential Proclamation 10998 suspends or limits visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries, as the embassy's visas page confirms, and the partial list covers B-1 and B-2 visitor visas. If you are affected, no document file changes that, and our guide to refusals under 214(b) explains why. Otherwise, start your plan.

Prefer someone to do the paperwork? Our prepared-for-you US visitor visa service completes the DS-160 with you, builds your document pack, books the interview with you on the official site and gives you a written interview brief, for a £129 service fee. You pay the $185 visa fee yourself and attend the interview.