Tourist

Valid US Passport

You must submit your current undamaged passport and it must have one blank visa page. The passport must be signed and valid for six months from the date of departure.

Proof of US Immigration Status

Applicants must provide proof of their current immigration status (H1-B, H-4, I-20, L-1) or a copy of their Green Card.

Proof of Sufficient Funds

For proof of sufficient funds, applicants must:

Provide proof that you possess sufficient funds.
Provide a copy of your most recent bank statement.
Provide three recent paystub copies.

Application for Children Under 18

Travelers under the age of 18 must also provide:

A copy of the minor’s birth certificate.
A signed letter of consent for the minor to travel from both parents/guardians.

Travel Itinerary

If you have a copy of your flight itinerary or ticket, it’s optional to include it.

Consulate Fee/Payment Method

Consulate fee is prepaid by applicant online (directly at the consulate website). For expedited processing, please call us.

Service Order Form

If you are processing your application with us via mail, please fill out the Service Order Form and send it along with the documents.

Business

Letter of Invitation

You must obtain a letter of invitation copy. The organization you will be visiting is responsible for obtaining the invitation. The letter must be written on company letterhead and include the full address and phone number of the organization or person you’re visiting.

Business Letter from US Company

A letter from the employer or sponsoring company in the United States on company letterhead is required. The letter must be signed by an appropriate person in the applicant’s company such as a human resources representative, an executive of the company, or the direct supervisor of the applicant. The business letter will have to introduce the applicant, indicate the applicant’s employment status or position held in the company, and clearly state the purpose of the visit to the UK. The business must also state the validity of the visa applied for and indicate who will be financially responsible for the applicant. Contact information about the organization must be included as well.

Tier-4 Student

Tier-4

Applicants coming to the university to study a full-time course of more than six months must apply for a visa under Tier-4 Student before going to the UK to start their course, otherwise they won’t be allowed to enter the United Kingdom.

Birth Certificate

The applicant must submit a copy of their birth certificate.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Applicant must submit the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies statement from the school. The CAS statement must include the school’s sponsor license number (SLN) and a CAS reference number.

The document should also include this information:

Your name.
Your date of birth.
Course title.
Course’s start and end date.
Details of financial sponsorship or deposits taken.
Document that should be included as part of an application to prove qualifications.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Calculate Your Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

You may need to pay a healthcare surcharge before lodging your visa application. Certain applicants are exempt from paying this fee. To determine if your visa application requires an Immigration Healthcare Surcharge and/or to determine the fee, we encourage you to calculate your Immigration Health Surcharge. Even if you’re exempt from paying the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge, you may need to obtain an IHS reference number for your visa application.

Proof of Sufficient Finds

You must provide online statement printouts that are stamped and signed by a bank. If you’re being financially supported by family members, you must also submit a notarized copy of your birth certification as well as a signed letter from a family member stating their relationship to the applicant and that they are financially supporting the applicant while in school. Bank statement copies from the family member must also be included.

Tier-2 General

Tier-2

Tier-2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Visa: If you’re staff, a graduate trainee, or taking part in a skills transfer – eligibility, documents, extend or switch, bring your family.

Tier-2 General Visa: This visa is for skilled workers coming to the UK for employment, usually with a salary of at least £20,800. To apply for this visa, you must have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a UK employer with a valid Tier-2 sponsorship license.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applicants must provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, which must be obtained by your sponsor through the Home Office in the UK. Applications without this approval cannot be processed.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Calculate Your Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

Proof of Sufficient Funds

Copies of bank statements showing at least £900 or equivalent currency in savings continuously over the last 90 days or sponsor is A-rated and has certified that they can support and accommodate the applicant for the first month of employment is required.

Note: If you’re traveling with dependents, here’s what you need to know: If you will be accompanied by a dependent who is applying for a visa, you must provide proof of your financial capacity to support the dependents during your stay in the United Kingdom. Your last three bank statements showing a continuous minimum balance of £945 for the applicant and £630 per dependent is required. A maintenance letter issued by your employer confirming that they will support you and each named dependent for the first month of employment is required.

Tier-5 Work

Tier-5

Applicants must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from their employer in the UK. They must be going to the UK for creative or charity work, or government exchange for work experience or religious work are eligible for a Tier-5 visa.

Visa Application Form

UK Visa Application

Follow these steps for the online application:

You must create a login and password-protected account. Creating an account allows you to save your application and make changes before submitting it. After you create your account, you will receive a confirmation email that will allow you to start the application process.
Once the online application is completed and the payment is made online, applications will be prompted to schedule a biometric appointment with the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) center.
You can regular or rush your UK visa application with Chicago Passport & Visa Services no later than two weeks after the biometrics are completed.

UK Biometrics Stamp Page

Applicants are required to provide the original biometrics confirmation page stamped and dated.

Visa Photos

One color photo that meets the following strict criteria:

Taken within the last six months.
Against an all-white background.
Printed on high-quality photo paper.
Exactly 45 mm tall x 35 mm wide.

Letter of Invitation

UK Invitation Letter

If visiting a friend or relative, a letter of invitation-signed copy is required from the host explaining the relationship to the applicant and the purpose of travel. The letter must include the length of stay, place of stay, and contact information. A copy of the host’s British passport must be attached as well.

Hotel Confirmation

If you’re staying at a hotel, a copy of the hotel reservation is required. If you’re staying with family or friends, you must submit a letter of invitation from the person you’re staying with.

Letter of Employment

If you are currently employed, you’ll have to submit a letter or personal statement of employment. The letter must:

State that you are traveling strictly for tourism reasons.
Provide your vacation dates from work or three paystubs from work.