How to Apply for a United Kingdom Visa in Atlanta
Atlanta has a population of over 6 million people, making it the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States. Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, which is the 8th most populous of the 50 states. The city and surrounding area—known as the Atlanta metropolitan area—is also the commercial capital of the Southeast United States. The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, Decatur, Mableton, Conyers, and others. Atlanta has become a diverse and international city that includes a few thousand citizens of the United Kingdom among its residents. Atlanta and the state of Georgia have a strong connection to the United Kingdom. Georgia was founded in 1733 as a British colony by James Oglethorpe, a British soldier and member of Parliament. Today the United Kingdom is a leading investor in Georgia, operating over 300 facilities and employing over 20,000 Georgians. The city of Atlanta is seen by many British companies as being a strategic foothold to the U.S. market. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta Airlines all have nonstop service to London Heathrow from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Virgin Atlantic also offers nonstop service to Manchester.
The United Kingdom encompasses more than 240,000 square kilometers and 12,700 miles of coastline. Four countries make up the UK: England, Scotland, and Wales (collectively, the island of Great Britain) plus Northern Ireland. England, which accounts for more than half the land, is largely characterized by lowland terrain, with some mountainous areas to the north and the global financial center of London to the south. Scotland, the most mountainous country in the UK, includes some 900 islands. Wales is also primarily mountainous, while Northern Ireland has plenty of beautiful scenery along its northern coast. All four countries feature rugged Atlantic coastlines, busy shipping ports, legendary historic sites, and pastoral countryside villages. The capital city of London is the most visited destination for Atlanta tourists and business travelers. The global financial hub is known for its prominent museums and art galleries; the changing of the guard at Buckingham Place; London Bridge and the Tower of London. Edinburgh, Scotland, is the second most visited city, where towering castles and bustling nightlife echo its traditional Scottish heritage. Manchester in northwestern England boasts a rich industrial heritage, while Liverpool is best known as the birthplace of the Beatles.
Away from its major cities, the United Kingdom draws hikers, bicyclists, and kayakers to its pastoral farmlands, quaint rustic villages, traditional gardens, national parks, and seaside resorts. England’s highlights include the Neolithic megaliths of Stonehenge, the Roman baths of the city of Bath, London’s historic Canterbury Cathedral, and picturesque Lake District National Park. Scotland’s rugged mountains are interspersed with dark highland lakes such as Loch Lomond and Loch Ness, home of the legendary monster. Other famous attractions are Edinburgh Castle, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, and the Culloden Battlefield and Visitors Centre, site of the last battle for Scotland’s independence from England. Cardiff Castle is the best known of Wales’ many castles, while the picture-postcard beauty of the riverside villages of Beddgelert and Betws-y-Coed seem frozen in time. Top destinations in Northern Ireland include the Old Bushmills Distillery (to try Irish whiskey of course), The Dark Hedges, The Giant’s Causeway, The Titanic Belfast, and The Glens of Antrim. The United Kingdom is also a popular destination for college students in the Atlanta area and the state of Georgia; the University System of Georgia has over 40 study abroad programs in the UK.
Entering the United Kingdom
Since early 2020, the United Kingdom has severely limited international visitors to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus. By early 2022, it had eased most travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated international travelers. While many preventative measures remain in place, the rules could change again if new COVID variants arise. The most current information is available from the British government at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
The United Kingdom does not require incoming travelers to be quarantined (although masking regulations vary by country). Fully-vaccinated travelers only need to fill out a passenger locator form 48 hours before leaving the United States. However, the unvaccinated will need to take COVID-19 tests before departing for and after arriving in the United Kingdom. Failing the UK test can lead to being quarantined. Specific guidance is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19#if-you-are-not-fully-vaccinated.
Several visas are available for entering the United Kingdom, including visitor, student, marriage, transit, and work visas (https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk). Americans do not require a visa if they are visiting for tourism purposes or for unpaid business activities. U.S. citizens can visit the U.S. Department of State’s website that shows the entry and exit requirements for the United Kingdom: United Kingdom International Travel Information (state.gov)
If you hold a passport that does require a visa to enter the United Kingdom, you will most likely apply for the standard visa visitor, which is good for up to six months and costs £95 (about $127 based on current conversion rates). Longer visitor visas are available, but they also carry additional requirements. The earliest you can apply for a visitor visa is three months before your arrival date. While the normal standard for turnaround is three weeks, the UK government said it had been averaging six weeks to process applications in early 2022.
Obtaining a Standard UK Visitor Visa
The steps to obtain a standard visitor visa to travel to the United Kingdom are outlined at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa. The process is as follows:
- Fill out the online application at the link found at https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa.
- Pay the visa fee online of £95 (about $127).
- Book a biometric appointment at an Application Support Centre (ASC).
- Mail your completed application package to the proper authorities.
The primary requirement for obtaining a standard visitor visa is having a passport. The passport must be valid for at least the duration of your stay and contain at least one blank page. During the online application process, you will need to provide such details as:
- Passport number
- Travel dates
- Where you will be staying
- Estimated cost of your trip
- Current home address and how long you have lived there
- Parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
- Annual income (if applicable)
- Details of previous criminal, civil, or immigration offenses
You may also be asked for other information, such as your travel history over the past 10 years; employer contact information; and the names, addresses, and passport numbers of your partner and/or any family members in the UK. If you are applying to stay in the UK for more than six months, you may also have to provide certification you have passed a tuberculosis test and pay a healthcare surcharge for access to the National Health Service (NHS).
Once you complete the first two steps, you will receive a confirmation letter from VFS Global, the privately-held visa issuance partner of the UK government. You must take the letter and your passport with you to the ASC appointment (along with any other needed documentation). The biometric information gathered by the ASC office consists of a photograph and your fingerprints. ASC has offices in Atlanta and across all 50 states. Locations can be found at https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asc. The ASC office will stamp your confirmation letter to confirm your visit.
You can also get biometric screening through VFS Global, which has offices in Atlanta and nine other U.S. cities. Their offices can be found at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/gbr/attend-centre. However, you will need to purchase a premium package from VFS to obtain biometric screening at their offices.
Within five days of your ASC visit, you will need to assemble and mail your application package, which will include:
- Your application form.
- The ASC-stamped confirmation letter.
- A UPS return shipping letter.
- Any documents you were unable to upload in Step 1.
Mail the package to:
VFS Services USA Inc.
UKVI Scanning Hub
145 West 45th St
Floor 5
New York, NY 10036
If your application is accepted, you will receive a sticker (called a vignette) to add to your passport. The vignette includes the type of visa issued, start and end dates, and any conditions attached to the visa.
We Can Help if You Need Assistance
If you live in Atlanta or anywhere in the state of Georgia and have difficulty applying for a United Kingdom visa or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company. We are a private agency in Atlanta providing UK visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the British government. Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.
We provide the following UK visa services for our customers in Atlanta:
- UK Standard Visitor Visa
- UK Transit Visa
- UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
- UK Marriage Visitor Visa
- UK Work Visa
- UK Student Visa
- UK Investor Visa
- UK Hotel Accommodations
