Prospective property purchasers from the U.K. generally do not need a visa to visit the U.S. to view property.  However, those wishing to relocate to the U.S. will need authority to do so in the form of a specific visa.  This page provides a summary of visa requirements for non-US nationals seeking entry to the United States of America.  This information is provided as a guide only, and whilst the common visas are listed, the information is restricted to that related to prospective buyers only.  Calabay Homes will be happy to discuss the requirements with any prospective buyer applicable to his / her individual case.
Visa Waiver Program  (VWP)
B-1 Visas  -  business visitors
B-2 Visas  -  holiday visitors
C/D Visas  - transit and crewmen
E Visas  -  treaty trader / investors
F/M Visas  -  students
H Visas  -  temporary professional workers, nurses and trainees
K Visas  -  fiancé(e)s, spouses and children of US citizens
L Visas  -  intra-company transfers
O Visas  -  extraordinary ability aliens and essential support personnel
P Visas  -  athletes, group entertainers and artists
Q Visas  -  cultural exchange visitors
R Visas  -  religious workers
V Visas  -  spouses and children of US permanent residents

Visa Waiver Program
Citizens of designated countries may enter the United States on holiday or for some business purposes for up to 90 days without a full visa under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  Travelling on the VWP is not permitted for those who intend to stay more than 90 days.  A return ticket with a return date within 90 days of entry must be presented with visa waiver applications (usually on the outbound journey to the U.S.).
The designated countries applicable to the VWP are:  United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

B-1 Visa
Outside the remit of the VWP, business visitors to the U.S require a B-1 visa, although the business activities are limited to specific tasks and B-1 visa holders may not engage in “productive employment”.  Business activities deemed to be acceptable to B-1 visas include business meetings, contract negotiation and attendees of professional/educational conferences or seminars. B-1 visa holders can be admitted for a maximum of six months with incremental 6 month extensions available in certain circumstances.

B-2 Visa
For holiday visits in excess of the VWP 90 days limit, a B-2 visa is required.  B-2 visa holders can be admitted for a maximum of six months with incremental 6 month extensions available in certain circumstances.

E Visa
Grant of an E-1 (treaty trader) or E-2 (treaty investor) visa is only applicable when the native country of the applicant has a treaty with the US.
An E-1 visa is usually appropriate for visitors who will be performing a trade function between the U.S. and the applicant’s native country. This trade must be of a 'substantial' nature and primarily between the U.S. and the applicant’s treaty country.  E-1 treaties are currently in place for nationals of the following countries:
United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

An E-2 visa is usually appropriate visa for visitors who wish to travel to the U.S. to develop and manage a business in which he or she has  -  or is in the process of  -  making a significant investment in a legitimate enterprise. 

E-2 treaties are currently in place for nationals of the following countries:
United Kingdom, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia.

H Visa
There are various types of H visa of which two are discussed here:
H1-B visas are applicable to people in a "specialty occupation” defined as those that require the theoretical and practical application in a body of highly specialised knowledge.  Applicants must be educated to bachelor's degree level or equivalent relevant to the specialist occupation.
H1-C visas are issued infrequently and apply to registered nurses having a specific speciality in an area defined as a “health professional shortage area”.

L visa
Foreign nationals who have worked for a multi-national company outside the U.S. for one continuous year within the three years prior to their transfer to the U.S. can normally qualify for the “L” intra-company transfer visa.  These nationals must have performed a function at an executive or managerial level or have "specialised knowledge" and be transferring to the U.S. in a similar role.
An L visa “blanket petition” may be available to a company that frequently transfers employees to the U.S. in this category and is usually both more cost and time efficient to the qualifying company.