Jump to content

USA

Additional services in the USA

This page describes the additional services that are available from us and our commercial partner, WorldBridge Service, to visa applicants.

These services are optional, and each is available for an additional fee. You must pay for the service online on the WorldBridge in the USA website, and include a receipt with your UK visa application.

Priority service

This service is only available to applicants based in the USA and is available for all visa categories except:

  • settlement visa applications (which have a separate priority service detailed below); and
  • British overseas territory visa applications.

Priority service applications will be placed at the front of the queue to be processed ahead of non-priority applications.

Use of the priority service does not imply or guarantee that your visa application will be successful. All visa applicants must meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. The fee for the priority service and the visa application fee are not refundable if your visa application is refused.

You can submit your application by mail or via a registered agent. Mailed applications must clearly state 'Priority Service' on the outermost envelope (the FedEx, UPS, DHL or USPS envelope) in order to be processed under the priority service.

You may experience extended processing times if you:

  • do not mark the outermost envelope containing your application 'Priority Service';
  • do not include the receipt confirming that the priority service has been purchased with the application;
  • submit the priority service receipt after the application has been received by us;
  • have previously been refused a visa for the UK;
  • have previously been refused leave to enter the UK;
  • have previously been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK;
  • have overstayed a period of leave in the UK;
  • have previously been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America or the Schengen countries; or
  • have been convicted of a criminal offence in any country.

We do not encourage you to purchase the priority service after you have submitted your application. Where necessary, you can elect to purchase the priority service after submitting your application. If you purchase the priority service after submitting your application you must:

  • fax a copy of your receipt to 212-754-3062; and
  • include the relevant tracking number(s) for the package containing your application and supporting documents.

Once we have matched your application with your priority service receipt we will place your application at the front of the queue to be processed ahead of non-priority applications.

For further information please see the the WorldBridge in the USA website.

Premium service (Tier 4 students and dependants only)

The student premium service is no longer available. Applicants wishing to have their non-priority application processed ahead of other, may wish to consider taking advantage of the priority service. For more information on this service, please see the guidance atb the top of this page.

Settlement priority service

This service is only available to applicants based in the USA.

Under normal circumstances, settlement priority service applications will be placed at the front of the queue to be processed ahead of non-priority settlement applications. Use of the priority service does not imply or guarantee that your visa application will be successful. All visa application must meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. The fee for the settlement priority service and the visa application fee are not refundable if your visa application is refused. Applicants may experience extended processing times if any of the points listed above apply

You can submit your application by mail or via a registered agent. Mailed applications must clearly state 'Priority Service' on the outermost envelope (the FedEx/UPS/DHL or USPS envelope) in order to be handled as expedited cases.

New York registered agents

Independent visa services and agents can submit priority visa applications on your behalf. However, you do not need to use an agent to submit a priority visa application - you can submit one by mail if you want to do so. For more information about the priority service, see above.

A number of companies are registered with the UK Border Agency at the British Consulate General in New York, and do not require appointments to submit visa applications on your behalf. You can find a list of these agents on the right side of this page. This list is supplied for your convenience only - the UK Border Agency assumes no responsibility for the actions or outcome of the services provided by any individual or company on the list.