Visas For Academic Visits To The USA
1. Do I need a Visa to visit the USA?
- Some nationalities must obtain a visa to visit USA before departure from UK. You can check with the USA Embassy for information regarding which these are at www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/index.html:
US Embassy London: Visa Services
- Obtaining a USA visa in your home country is the easiest option. If you have not obtained a visa, you must apply to the Embassy of the USA in London.
- Refusal rates in London for some nationalities are about 50%.
2. Can staff in Student Support and Guidance help me with my application?
- If you are a student on a degree/PhD course and need to go to the USA for University of Sheffield academic purposes, Student Support and Guidance staff will advise you on your application. Academic purposes include:
- Conferences;
- Research in US Universities or companies (relating to your University of Sheffield degree course).
- We do not have the resources to assist anyone going to USA for personal or family reasons. For assistance with any of these please areas contact the Student Advice Centre:
email : advice@sheffield.ac.uk
What you need to do next
If section 2a applies to you, please make an appointment by emailing:
The International Student Support Team
Your will need to bring the following with you to that appointment:
- Your passport.
- Any old passports, which contain evidence of international travel or earlier US visas.
- Evidence of sponsorship for your studies.
- Documents relating to the purpose of the visit.
- Information about any other members of the party going to USA for same purpose (if appropriate).
- Detailed itinerary (if appropriate).
- Certificate of Student Status (available from SSiD).
- Any links to employers in home country.
- Photocopies of family's passport pages if these indicate history of international travel and return to home country.
- Evidence of employment, schooling of any family members remaining in Sheffield.
The US Embassy advises that:
- You should not buy a ticket before obtaining a visa.
- If you have been refused a visa in your home country, you will almost certainly not obtain one in the UK.
If you have any queries about this subject, you are welcome to consult
The International Student Support Team
This information is correct at the time of publication.
The UK government is making a number of changes to the immigration system. We will update our website as quickly as possible when information changes. You must check these pages regularly.