Updated November 4, 2026

US visa appointment in London: who needs a visa instead of ESTA, how to book, and interview day rules

To get a US nonimmigrant visa in London, you complete Form DS-160 online, pay the application fee and book your slot through the Visa Appointment Service at ais.usvisa-info.com, then attend an in-person interview at the US Embassy at 33 Nine Elms Lane, SW11 7US.

The US Embassy in London requires you to submit your DS-160 at least 2 business days before your appointment, bring a physical 5 x 5 cm color photo taken within the last 6 months, and leave laptops and large bags at home. If your visa is approved, standard processing takes 3 to 5 workdays plus 2 workdays for courier delivery.

Who needs a US visa in London instead of an ESTA?

Many travelers in the United Kingdom can visit the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program by applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), administered by the Department of Homeland Security. However, the US Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom state that several groups cannot travel on an ESTA and must apply for a visa instead.

If your ESTA application was denied, you are required to apply for a nonimmigrant visa before you can visit the United States. See our guide on ESTA Denied? What It Means and How to Get a Visa Instead for how an ESTA refusal affects your next steps, or review ESTA Questions: The Form and What CBP Asks on Arrival for the questions that trigger denials.

You also need a visa if your trip does not fit short-term Visa Waiver tourism or business, or if your personal record requires review by a consular officer:

• Travelers with a denied or revoked ESTA authorization.
• Applicants with arrests, convictions, or police cautions who must present certified documentation at an interview and may need a waiver of ineligibility.
• Travelers with prior US overstays, denials of entry to the United States, or deportations.
• Students and exchange visitors applying for F, M, or J visas.
• Temporary workers and employment applicants in H, L, O, P, Q, R, or I (media) categories, as well as C-1/D crewmembers and E-1/E-2 treaty traders or investors.
• Foreign nationals residing in the UK who do not hold a passport eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.

Important rules on dual nationals and where to apply

The US Embassy in London highlights two strict eligibility rules before you start an application:

First, dual national US citizens may not use their foreign passport to apply for an ESTA or a US visa. If you are a US citizen or national living abroad, you must travel to the United States on a valid US passport.

Second, applicants for US nonimmigrant visas should schedule their interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026, the United States suspends or limits entry and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries and individuals applying with travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. Those applicants may still submit applications and attend interviews, though they may be ineligible for issuance or admission.

How to book a US visa appointment in London step by step

The US Mission in the United Kingdom breaks the nonimmigrant visa application into three steps, plus a mandatory two-business-day deadline before your interview.

Before you begin, check current slot availability in US Visa Wait Times by Country and Consulate, October 2026 and read US Visa Appointment Wait Times and Emergency Appointments for how wait times work across categories.

1. Step 1: Complete the online DS-160 application form for each person applying, including children, and print the DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode.
2. Step 2: Adjust your social media settings. The US Embassy instructs all applicants to list all social media accounts on the DS-160 and set the privacy setting on all social media accounts to public or open (specifically highlighted for A-3, C-3 domestic workers, G-5, H-1B, H-3, H-4, F, I, J, M, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, TN, TD, and U categories) for identity and admissibility vetting.
3. Step 3: Go to the Visa Appointment Service website at ais.usvisa-info.com to create an account, choose how your passport will be returned by courier, pay the non-refundable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, and schedule your interview.
4. Step 4: Sign and submit your DS-160 at least 2 business days prior to your appointment, and double-check at least 2 business days before the interview that the barcode number on your printed DS-160 confirmation page matches the DS-160 number entered in your online appointment profile.

The 2-business-day DS-160 barcode rule and expedited requests

The most avoidable mistake at the London Embassy is a DS-160 barcode mismatch or a late submission. The US Embassy in London states that if you fail to sign and submit your DS-160 application form at least 2 business days before your appointment, you will be denied entry and required to reschedule. Likewise, if the barcode number on your DS-160 confirmation page does not match the number in your ais.usvisa-info.com appointment profile at least 2 business days beforehand, your appointment will be canceled.

If you have an urgent travel need, you cannot book an appointment by email. You must first schedule a regular appointment at ais.usvisa-info.com and then submit an expedited appointment request through your online Visa Appointment Service account, where a consular officer will review it as quickly as possible. For case-specific questions not answered on the Embassy website, the Embassy directs applicants to use its online London Visa Navigator.

Required documents for your London visa interview

Every applicant attending an interview at the US Embassy in London must bring a core set of physical documents, plus extra records if you are not a UK citizen, have a medical or police history, or are applying for a work or study visa.

Pay special attention to the photograph rule: unlike some US embassies that only ask for a printed photo if your digital upload failed, the US Embassy in London requires every applicant to bring a physical 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) color photograph taken on a white background within the last 6 months, with the date visible. Photographs must not be digitally edited, and AI-generated content is not permitted. If your photo does not meet Department of State requirements, your entry to the Embassy may be denied and you will have to book a new appointment.

How to get to the US Embassy in Nine Elms, London

All London nonimmigrant visa interviews take place at U.S. Embassy London, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London SW11 7US. There is no public parking available at the Embassy, so the Embassy recommends traveling by public transport and using Transport for London's journey planner at tfl.gov.uk.

Here are the exact walking and bus routes from the nearest Underground and National Rail stations in the Embassy's appointment guide:

• From Nine Elms Tube Station (Northern Line, 6-minute walk): Exit the station onto Pascal Street, walk toward and underneath the arches of the railway line, continue along Ponton Road once underneath the arches, and the US Embassy London will be on your right.
• From Vauxhall Tube (Victoria Line) and National Rail Station (10-minute walk or 2 bus stops): Take Vauxhall Tube station Exit 1 for a riverside walk or Exit 4. By bus, take route 156, 344, or 436 for two stops from Vauxhall Bus Station, Stop D, to the United States Embassy stop.
• Other nearby rail stations: Battersea Park and Queenstown Road railway stations are also nearby.
• At the building: Follow the external signs specifically for the Visa Services entrance.

London Embassy security rules: phones, bags, and arrival window

Arrival timing at 33 Nine Elms Lane is strictly enforced. You must arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to go through airport-style security screening. You will not be admitted more than 30 minutes prior to the time shown on your appointment, and if you arrive more than 30 minutes late, your appointment may be canceled and you will need to reschedule.

Unlike many US embassies around the world that ban mobile phones completely, the US Embassy in London allows mobile phones inside the building under strict conditions. However, there are no storage facilities at the Embassy for prohibited items, so bringing a laptop or a large bag means you will be turned away at security.

What happens inside: the 3 stages of your appointment

Expect to spend about 2 to 3 hours inside the US Embassy in London from security screening to completion. Once inside the consular section, you follow the signs through three distinct stages:

Stage 1 is DS-160 Submission and document intake, where staff check your printed DS-160 confirmation page, passport, 5 x 5 cm photograph, and supporting forms. Stage 2 is Fingerprinting, where your fingerprints are electronically scanned. Stage 3 is the Interview with a consular officer at the window.

What the consular officer may ask at a London interview

Because most UK citizens qualify for an ESTA, a large share of B-1/B-2 visitor interviews in London involve either an ESTA denial, a past arrest or caution, or a non-UK citizen living in Britain on a work or student visa. Be ready for direct questions on these areas and have your supporting documents organized to hand over only when asked:

• Why was your ESTA denied, and what is the purpose of your trip? What it checks: whether a prior overstay, travel history, or criminal record triggered the refusal, and whether your visit fits a temporary visa. How to prepare: bring documentation of any prior US overstays, entry denials, or deportations, and state your trip dates and purpose in one sentence.
• Have you ever been arrested, cautioned, or convicted of any offense? What it checks: admissibility under US immigration law and whether you require a Waiver of Ineligibility. How to prepare: disclose every arrest, caution, or conviction truthfully so it matches your DS-160, and bring documentation pertaining to any arrests, convictions, or cautions.
• What is your immigration status in the United Kingdom, and how long have you lived here? What it checks: your legal residence in the UK and your ties outside the United States if you are not a British citizen. How to prepare: bring your printed UK immigration share code or eVisa proof, along with evidence of your job, studies, or family in the UK.
• What will you do in the United States, and who is paying? What it checks: that you meet the requirements for your specific visa class (such as Form I-797 for H/L/O workers or Form I-20 and proof of funds for F-1 students). How to prepare: know the exact figures on your I-20 or petition, and have your SEVIS fee receipt or employer letter ready.

Quick pre-appointment checklist for London

Use this quick reference to make sure your application isn't canceled at the door in Nine Elms:

• Before you finalize your form: Check that your social media accounts are listed on the DS-160 and set to public or open, and prepare your dated 5 x 5 cm color photo and valid passport.
• At least 2 business days before (mandatory deadline): Sign and submit your DS-160 online, print the confirmation page, and check that the DS-160 barcode matches your ais.usvisa-info.com profile.
• Night before: Pack your printed DS-160 confirmation, UK share code or eVisa, category forms, and any police or medical records into a small bag, leaving laptops and perfume over 30ml at home.
• Appointment day (30 minutes before slot): Arrive at 33 Nine Elms Lane 30 minutes before your appointment time and keep your mobile phone put away through all three stages.

Processing times, waivers of ineligibility, and passport return

The US Embassy in London does not allow you to collect your passport in person under any circumstances. Once processing is complete, the Embassy hands your passport to the courier service you selected when booking on ais.usvisa-info.com, and the courier emails you a tracking number.

How long you wait for your passport depends on the outcome at the interview window. If your application is approved at the interview, average processing time is 3 to 5 working days for Embassy processing plus 5 working days for courier delivery, whereas an application requiring a Waiver of Ineligibility can take up to 9 months from the interview date. The Embassy advises all applicants not to make non-refundable travel arrangements until they have received their passport with the visa inside.

Visaful is an AI mock interview app for US visa interviews: an AI officer asks your visa's questions out loud and shows what to fix.

This is interview practice, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney. Visaful is not affiliated with the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom, the U.S. Department of State or any government agency.