Business Travel USA: Complete Guide for the UK

Business travel includes pretty much any trip you might need to take on behalf of your company or employer - to negotiate and sign a contract, meet new clients or look for a new office location for example.

Unlike personal travel - where you’ll likely be kicking back and relaxing - business travel requires some quite rigorous advance planning to make sure you make the most of your time, and achieve your personal and company aims.

Business travel globally plummeted by 50% during the height of the Covid pandemic¹ - but is starting to rebound significantly. If you’re planning a business trip to the US, this guide is here to help. We’ll cover visa issues, how to get around and book accommodation, and some smart ways to cut the costs of international spending with Wise Business.

Business travel to the USA from the UK - quick guide

The US is the UK’s largest trading partner, accounting for 16% of the UK’s global trade according to government figures from February 2023². As you’d expect, this leads to a lot of transatlantic trips as US and UK companies work and trade together.

If you need to travel to the USA on business - for a meeting, convention or conference, for example - you’ll need to consider how to set up your trip so it’s stress-free and efficient, with no unexpected issues. That means thinking carefully about:

Visa and documents - make sure you’re legally able to enter the US and conduct the work activities you’re travelling for.

Transportation - don’t waste time unnecessarily working out how to get from A to B when you arrive - plan your transfers in advance so you can get more done.

Accommodation - US trips are not going to be done and dusted in a day. Plan your accommodation for efficiency and comfort, so you’re refreshed and ready to work when you need to.

Currency and spending - Use a smart provider like Wise Business to let you cut the costs of spending in USD, so you can do more with less while you’re overseas.

Itinerary - Finally - pull everything together in a neat itinerary so you’re confident you’ve got all your bases covered.

Not sure where to start? This guide to business travel to the USA from the UK is for you.

Do I need a visa for business travel to the USA?

We’ll dive into the details about the documents and visas you’ll need for your US business travel in just a moment. The good news is that if you’re headed to the US for temporary business activities on behalf of your UK business or employer, you may be covered by the US visa waiver scheme. This means you can apply online for an ESTA³ visa waiver, and travel to the US for a trip of up to 90 days.

However, it’s important to note that this visa offers cover for business trips - not for employment in the US. If you’re planning on working long term in the US, or for a US based employer, you’ll likely need a full work visa before you travel.

Double check how all the details relate to your specific trip - and get professional advice if you need it, to stay on the right side of the law.

Business travel to the USA from UK - step by step travel management

When you travel for business it’s important to make the most of your trip while avoiding unnecessary stress and expense. Lets walk through some of the crucial aspects of effective travel management one by one, to help you plan your business travel from the UK to the US.

Travel to USA on business - Visa and Documents

UK citizens are able to apply for an electronic visa waiver document, known as an ESTA, if they’re entering the US for under 90 days, for tourism or business travel purposes. Business travel is quite strictly defined, so you should double check the rules apply to your specific case - ESTAs are available for things like meetings and consultations with business associates, conferences, short term training or contract negotiations⁴.

So, you’ll need to apply for your ESTA online in advance, and you’ll also have to comply with the other US entry rules, which include⁵:

• You must have a valid passport which covers the length of your planned visit;
• You need an ESTA or other valid travel visa as relevant;
• You must be vaccinated against Covid, and have proof of your vaccination.

It’s also worth noting that there are some limited circumstances in which an ESTA may not be granted - including if the applicant has previously travelled to certain hostile countries, or if they’ve previously overstayed an ESTA. If you can’t get an ESTA you’ll need to apply for a standard US visa instead.

Travelling to US for work - Transportation

There are nonstop flights to the US from the UK, including departures from London, Manchester and Edinburgh - plus plenty of ways to travel with a connection if you’re flying from a regional UK airport. There are also plenty of choices - over 100 daily transatlantic flights leave from Heathrow alone.

While flight times vary based on the route, you’re likely to find it’ll take about 8 hours to go from London to New York, or 11 hours if you’re headed to San Francisco for example.

If you’ve got the option, travelling business class can be a good idea, to allow you to get some much needed rest so you can hit the ground running when you arrive. Business travel also offers access to a business lounge at the point of departure and when you need to change - this can be a good place to catch up on some work, particularly if your plane ends up delayed.

Business travel USA - Booking accommodation

Lining up your accommodation before you travel means no need to worry about where you’re sleeping when you hit the runway after a fairly long flight. Business hotels are widely available throughout all the major cities in the US, and typically come with work-related amenities, such as good wi-fi, a business centre and dedicated space to work in rooms and common areas.

Picking a comfortable and reliable hotel can also be a bonus if you need to meet colleagues or clients - grab breakfast together or have a coffee in the lobby, to cut down on travel time and make the most of your time in the US.

Naturally, when you book you’ll also need to be mindful to select a secure, reliable and well located place, so you’re not adding in an unnecessary commute to your working day.

Travelling to USA for work - Spending in Dollars

While you’re in the US for business you’ll need to manage your money in US dollars. Spending in a foreign currency isn’t hard - these days it’s simple to spend with your bank debit or credit card, or to make cash withdrawals as you travel. But it can be expensive - the last thing you want on a business trip.

Banks tend to add foreign exchange charges to your overseas spending, which pushes up the price you pay, even if you don’t realise it. Some smart alternatives to avoid this include:

• Opening a dedicated business multi-currency account
• Using multi-currency debit or credit cards

Both of these solutions can cut the costs of currency exchange, and make it easy for you to manage your business expenses while you travel.

If you’re looking for ways to bring down the costs of international business travel, check out Wise Business. You can open an account easily online or in-app, to hold and exchange 50+ currencies with the mid-market exchange rate - and get a linked Wise debit card for easy spending around the world. More on that later.

Planning a business travel to US - The Itinerary

Your itinerary is your A to Z guide for your planned trip, containing all the information you need to make your travel stress free and successful. You might put your itinerary together yourself, or have it prepared for you by a travel management specialist. In either case, it should have all the details about your plans, including what to do if there are any hiccups or issues along the way.

Your travel itinerary should include:

Flight details: Flight number, departure and arrival times - details of any layovers.

Cancellation or delay information: Travel agency, airline and reservation information in case of any problems en route.

Transport details: Based on your preferred means of transport when you arrive.

Accommodation details: Hotel information and reservation number/confirmation.

Schedule on arrival: Planned meetings, activities, events, conferences and so on - including contact details for any organisers or connections you’ll be with.

Manage travel expenses with Wise Business

International business travel is picking up. If you’re taking your business global and looking for ways to manage the financial side of business travel, check out Wise Business.

Wise Business accounts can hold and exchange 50+ currencies for easy spending while you travel. Just add funds in pounds - or the currency of your choice - and switch to the currency or currencies you need for your trip, with the Google exchange rate and low fees from 0.41%.

You’ll be able to get linked debit and expense cards for you and your team, to spend in 170+ countries with low, transparent fees. And if you don’t hold the currency you need, the Wise card’s smart autoconvert technology can switch your balance for you - with the lowest available fees every time.

Spend less time worrying about managing your money across currencies - and more on growing your business, with Wise.

Get started with Wise Business

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So there you have it. Global travel - including business travel - is rebounding, and with that comes opportunities for business expansion and growth beyond borders. If you’re planning on taking a business trip from the UK to the USA, this guide is for you. Use this as a starting point to design your perfect business travel itinerary, and don’t forget to check out Wise Business as a simple, low cost way to manage your money across 50+ currencies.

Sources used in the article:

Sources last checked March 21, 2023