Scale-up Worker visa: Indian citizen in United States → United Kingdom
Indian citizens living in the United States need a UK Scale-up Worker visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
Allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business that has been approved as a scale-up sponsor.
- Validity
- You can stay in the UK with a Scale-up Worker visa for 2 years.
- Entries
- Multiple entry for the duration of your visa.
- Max stay per visit
- 2 years; you can apply to extend your visa.
When to start
Start 30 days–3 months before your travel date.
Getting an appointment in United States
- 38 centre locations nationwide plus premium centres (VFS directory, captured 2026-06-11). Ten are full-service Mon–Fri: New York, Washington DC, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Seattle; the rest (Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Portland, Philadelphia and more) run limited schedules.
- With this density, comparing two or three cities usually finds a near-term slot.
- No recent public wait-time reports found for the US — the band below is general guidance.
A Scale-up Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business.
You must have a confirmed job offer to work for an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months.
Complete the application on gov.uk. You'll pay the £937 application fee, plus the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay.
As part of your application, you'll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
From outside the UK you'll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
What you'll need
- Certificate of sponsorship reference number — Your certificate of sponsorship reference number — your employer will give you this. ✓ verified
- Passport / identity document — A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality. ✓ verified
- Proof of knowledge of English — Proof of your knowledge of English. ✓ verified
- Job title and annual salary — Your job title and annual salary, plus your job's occupation code. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
Because you live in the USA, you apply at a UK Visa Application Centre in the US — not in your home country. There are UK visa application centres in 30+ US cities (including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle). Use the official VFS US centre directory (linked below) to find and book the one nearest you.
- UK Visa Application Centres — United States — serves 30+ locations across the US — find and book your nearest
Fees
| Scale-up Worker visa application fee | GBP 937 |
Gotchas to watch
- You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English.
- Your job offer must be to work for an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months, and you must be paid a minimum salary in your new job.