Covid-19 pandemic seems to be slowing down, many countries are opening boarders and travelers who were waiting for 2 years to explore the world are starting to look into vacations abroad. One of the biggest challenges of international travel is getting a travel visa.
Fortunately though, challenges are often easily overcome if you approach them with a positive attitude. As such, here are 10 top visa tips to think about and help you navigate the process of getting the right visa in the right way!
Visa Tip # 1. Check Whether You Need a Visa
Visas are travel documents that are issued to enable you to enter a country. That said, though, the ways in which countries manage their visa processes varies not just between nations but also depending on where you come from.
Lots of countries will probably let you in without any visa at all, according to your passport. Notably, though, if a visa is needed then you must have one. Do your research well before you travel, and work out which countries you are planning to visit will require a visa.
Visa Tip # 2. Find Out Which Type of Visa You Need
For those countries that require visas, there are three common types:
- The easiest of these is an online visa or eVisa, like on Byevisa.com. This is exactly what it sounds like – a visa application made in advance over the internet. This sort of application usually takes up to just 20 minutes, and it will require you to have the right information and attachments to supply with your application. Many people choose this option because they feel more confident in travelling with all the right documents in place before setting off.
- Another increasingly used system is a Visa on Arrival (VoA), which you will apply for when you get off the plane and arrive at immigration. There’s usually a fee involved, so make sure you have the right money in the right currency if this is your option.
- The most challenging type of visa available is the one you get after making an application in person at the relevant embassy or consulate. The next section describes this option in more detail.
Visa Tip #3. Research How to Apply for a Visa at the Embassy, if You Need One
The embassy or consulate will have a department that deals exclusively with visa applications, and the people who staff them are usually helpful. They will adhere to the regulations and ensure the information you supply is correct, though fortunately, their intention will be to help you to enter the country. Here’s some guidance to keep in mind:
- Check out the relevant embassy online before visiting, and see if there’s a blank visa application form you can print off in advance. If this option is available, print off a couple of copies and read them before going to the embassy. You may be permitted to actually fill the application in beforehand too, which can save you time.
- Visas processed by embassies always come with a cost, so make sure you have the right money or credit card to pay for your travel permit. Again, the internet should help you find this out.
- Applications are rarely processed while you are there, even if you pay an extra fee for fast-tracking your documents. Given this, expect to leave the application and your passport with the embassy. Then, the staff will process the visa and will contact you within a specified period. For most countries, the visa will actually be attached to a page in your passport.
- You may have to commute a fair distance if you live far away from the embassy. If for any reason you don’t think you can return to collect your passport and visa, then raise this with the processing staff. There might be a way of them posting your passport back to you, sometimes for an extra small fee.
- Remember too that opening hours for either applications or collections of visas issued at embassies may be limited, so check this out in advance before you go.
Visa Tip #4. Look up the Information You’ll Need for Your Application
Whether it’s an embassy visit or an eVisa, there will be paperwork! The precise information needed will vary between countries, but think logically and expect to be asked for the following:
- Your name, date of birth, passport number and gender.
- Your reasons for visiting, the length of your trip, how you intend to travel, and where you intend to go.
- When you plan to leave and where you will go next.
- Your occupation and means of financial support while you are in the country (you may need copies of bank statements).
In addition, you’ll usually need paper documents or online scans to support your application.
Visa Tip #5. If You’re Visiting Multiple Countries, Think About How to Obtain Your Visas
Take a systematic approach and do them one at a time, beginning with your first destination that needs a visa. It’s often easier to get any visa you need for a longer trip before you commence your journey, so try and do as much as you can in advance.
If eVisas or VoAs are involved, then the process is pretty simple. If you’ll be making embassy visits, the best tip is to do these in your home country. This is because sometimes it’s difficult to get the right visa for travel in a third country if you are not a local citizen, even with an embassy visit.
Visa Tip #6. Consider Whether to Book Your Travel Before Applying for Your Visa
Remember that most visa applications are granted, so most people usually book their flights before making their application. In some cases, countries will want to see documentation proving your method of transport in and out before they issue a visa.
If you have any issues with doing this – for example, if you prefer to make a flight booking after you are assured entry to your destination country – then get in touch with the embassy or consulate and ask their advice.
Visa Tip # 7. Be Open About Your Previous Travels
Always answer all the questions about your previous travels. Travel demonstrates confidence, so try and list the countries you’ve already been to. A lot of immigration departments will look favourably if you are well travelled, especially if you are seeking to enter a country which isn’t an obvious tourist destination, since showing you are well travelled will help normalise your application.
Visa Tip #8. Include an Itinerary of Your Trip
Provide as much detail as required about your travel plans, including which locations you plan to visit. If you intend to move around, it will be better to disclose this when you apply for your visa. Some countries will want to know in advance as much as you are able to share.
You should also have at least the first few days of travel accommodation booked before you make your application, as this is important information to include when you complete your forms.
Visa Tip #9. Make Sure You Exit the Country While Your Visa Remains Valid, or Extend It
Your issued visa will always be clear about how long it lasts. If there is any chance it may run out while you are in another country, contact the immigration department of that country before it does. Visas can usually be extended, but only if you go through the correct processes.
Visa Tip #10. Correct the Errors on Your Application if Need Be, and Apply Again!
If your visa application is denied, that’s not the end of the road! Most countries usually permit another application to be made. The important thing to do first is to speak to the embassy and find out exactly why you have been rejected. Often this will be because of a small error, or maybe a document you didn’t complete fully, and this can be corrected. You can then make a new application for entry.
Remember that visas are just a system of managing and tracking people when they visit a country. They are there to make your travel safer and more organised, especially in unusual travel destinations. Once you’ve done one, you’ll feel confident to keep doing more too. So remember these tips and good luck with your application!
These how to get your travel visa tips were shared with me by experts at Byevisa. If you found them useful, please, share them with other as it may help them in their travel plans too. Thank you!
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