The United States remains one of the top destinations for immigrants. A number of these immigrants include British nationals, and with each year, more UK citizens join the ranks of individuals flocking to the US Embassy to apply for a US visa.

The first surge in US immigration took place during the Colonial period, when the French, British, Spanish, Dutch, and Swedish began colonising North America. The second historical era in US immigrations was in the mid-19th century, after the Civil War. The next turning point in US immigration, which was at the beginning of the 20th century, is closely related to the second immigration high point. It was in 1924 when the Immigration Act was established, which restricted access to Eastern and Southern Europeans who had begun relocating to the US in large numbers. The last turning point in the US immigration system occurred after 1965, when the US was involved in the Vietnam and Cold Wars. The wars saw much protest from numerous civil rights organizations. These movements paved the way for the Voting Rights Act, and also affected the then current immigration laws. This was the first major breakthrough in efforts to decrease the incidence of discrimination in the country.

At present, the US remains the country with the largest variety of ethnicities present. Immigration to the US has resulted in the country having 37.5 million ‘permanent residents’ as of 2006. Although the country has strained relations with Mexico, it maintains its reputation as one of the most immigration-friendly countries in the world.