The Visits Centre processes all unclassified requests to visit the US Department Of Defense (DOD) and its contractors by MOD, other UK Government Departments (OGD) and UK Industry.

The DOD has placed the responsibility on the British Embassy (BDS in particular) to ensure that visits which the embassy sponsor to DOD and its contractors are undertaken by suitably vetted individuals who have a need to know the information or technology in question, and that such visits are not frivolous or inappropriate.

The Visits Center (VC) ensures that visitors’ clearance levels are certified by an MOD security office and that the information and purpose on a visit application is complete and valid. When these conditions have been satisfied for MOD and OGD visits, the VC requests the relevant BDS staff to sponsor the visit.

Visits by UK Industry are sent through MOD, IVCO for scrutiny and security clearance, and then sponsored by the VC. Click here for link to IVCO Web page. MOD visitors should consult the current DCI on Procedures for Visiting DoD and its Contractors for full details.

PROCESS

All conforming and sponsored visits are processed by the VC through DOD’s Foreign Visits System (FVS). DOD requires a minimum 30 day lead-time to research foreign disclosure aspects of the visit and make their decision by a week before the start date of the visit.

It is imperative that visitors confirm with their US host, at least three working days before the start date of their visit, that the visit has been approved by DOD through the FVS for the appropriate classification level. If there are problems at this stage, UK industry visitors should consult IVCO and government visitors should consult their BDS VC POC.