[Lightstalkers] US Visa for British Citizens

US Visa for British Citizens

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:25:11 +0000

Dear All, I am traveling to the States for the first time to attend the Festival of the Photograph in June. I have heard that British citizens do not need to get a visa for short trips prior to arriving, due to our 'special relationship' with the US. Can anyone confirm this with me? The visa application procedure here in Beijing seems somewhat laborious and is even hard work to speak to a real human being. Any thoughts would be appreciated on this. If you intend to attend the festival by the way, hope to see some fellow LS'ers there. Thanks and Best, Sean

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:19:29 +0000

I have a British passport and I am going to the Festival from Tokyo. Visa is not required if you can show a roundtrip ticket out of the US and stay less than 90 days. Samson

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:55:22 +0000

It's nothing to do with the special relationship - I'm from Ireland, and I get into the US for 3 month stints for business or pleasure on a regular basis. I've even gone through last year on a long trip (Ireland-NYC-Auckland-Sydney-NYC-Ireland) without a return ticket, and it was fine - especially as I could show I was leaving for another destination. The Visa Waiver countries are here

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:17:09 +0000

"Special" relationship is like describing the welcoming committee at JFK, it's not that special and believe me, you don't want any relationship with them. If you are a criminal, or have criminal convictions (even road related stuff), the visa waiver option isn't allowed.

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:29:20 +0000

The visa waiver also doesn't apply if you're planning to engage in journalism during your visit.

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:46:50 +0000

Sean-- 3 months gratis amigo Ç))))...you are good to go! crunching the numbers (and bank account now) to see if VA is a possibility... hoping cheers running b

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:03:45 +0000

Actually, broadly, you're covered for the three months if you're there on "business" as opposed to for "employment". It covers business meetings, conferences, etc. too, as far as I know.

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:07:05 +0000

Thanks a lot guys....one less thing to worry about for the trip. Bob...am keeping my fingers crossed! Sean

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:56:19 +0000

If you are British, you only need a visa if you are coming as -- and working as -- a journalist. Sounds as if you are coming as tourist. http://www.spj.org/mv-quill.asp

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:14:49 +0000

Hi Daniel How are you? What you mentioned is why the British are now issuing biometric passports to everyone who applies for a new one. Information contained in the chip will be read. It will contain a lot of information. I was under the impression that the visa waiver was only allowed if you had a new biometric passport. I don't and travelled to NY last year and although I was granted entry they did ask me a lot of questions. Not the most friendly but nothing compared to the grilling I get at Ben Gurion on arrival in the State of Israel, who also have the biometric passport readers BTW.

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:01:56 +0000

Biometric passports eh? I only had my regular passport renewed a couple of years ago, so hope the whole 'not having a biometric one' doesn't become too much of an issue in the next few years. Have a feeling it may though. This thread actually reminds me of something I read about Alex Majoli entering the US post September 11th...I jotted it down in my journal at the time. "I had just finished filing out the green customs form for the immigration officer, confirming that: I had not molested children, I was not a spy, I hadn't committed genocide. The officer, holding on tightly to my passport says: - How many days to you intend to stay? - 10, maybe more. - What did you come here for? - I have a meeting with my agency. - What agency? - Magnum - M...a...How do you spell that? - M...A...G...N...U...M - Is that a modelling agency? - No, photojournalism. - And what do you do? - I'm a photographer. - What do you photograph? (she asks in a bored tone) - (And I, quite happily provoked say) - I photograph war. - (she looks at me directly) - Well, there is no war here. J.F.K. October 25th 2001"

Re: US Visa for British Citizens

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:25:11 +0000

Oh the irony. Thanks for that Sean. On my last visit to Israel I was detained at Ben Gurion for more than 4 hours. It was exactly a year after the Lebanon misadventure. "You have been to Lebanon" Yes. "What do you do"? I take pictures! "Off what" Here we go. I could not be bothered to answer so I said why don't you check out my website. So they did. It did not go down to well. They then asked me if I was going to Jerusalem. “Yes” “Are you meeting anyone”? I replied jokingly and without thinking that I had a planned meeting with the Messiah. “Who”? The bitch squad had a little discussion in Hebrew and realised what I said, you know Messiah being a Hebrew word an all. That was it. Follow me please. In a room with all the other “potential threats” for a sporadic grilling and lots of bullshit paper pushing and waiting just to piss me off.