| Visa service is available to U.S. citizens at the | | | | Most visa applications are short, requesting only basic |
| embassies and consulates of the country or countries | | | | personal and travel information. Application forms can |
| they plan to visit. While there may be some variables | | | | usually be downloaded in PDF format from the |
| that are specific to a particular country, there are a lot | | | | embassy or consulate website. However, more and |
| of visa requirements that are common to most | | | | more countries are exchanging the printed form for an |
| countries. Familiarizing yourself with these will make the | | | | electronic application that is submitted immediately |
| visa application process a lot smoother. | | | | after completion. In fact, some countries such as Brazil |
| Travel Visa Basics | | | | no longer accept printed applications. |
| It is important to understand that a travel visa stamped | | | | Processing times vary depending on the type of visa |
| in your passport is not a guarantee that you will be | | | | and destination. Most consulates process tourist and |
| allowed to enter your destination country. The visa is | | | | business visa applications within two weeks to a few |
| merely permission to travel to a port of entry. It is at | | | | days. Expedited visa service, when it is available, can |
| this port of entry that an agent will examine your | | | | be accomplished as quickly as the same day or next |
| documents and determine whether you will enter the | | | | day. Work, study and resident visas usually take quite |
| country or not. | | | | a bit longer to process. |
| Travel visas are granted according to your purpose of | | | | Some consular services still accept applications that |
| travel. The most common types are tourist and | | | | are sent by mail but this is changing. More and more |
| business visas. Other visas that are usually available | | | | countries are requiring that applications be delivered in |
| include the transit visa, work visa, study visa, crew visa | | | | person. If you are unable to submit your application |
| and resident visa. | | | | personally, consulates allow you to authorize a third |
| Visas are not a requirement of every foreign country. | | | | party to do this for you. This person can be a friend, |
| In fact, there are a lot of destinations that U.S. citizens | | | | relative or travel agent. When none of these are |
| can visit without the need to obtain a visa. | | | | available, you can contract a private visa expediter. |
| Travel Visa Processing | | | | Visa Expediting Service |
| Visa processing is an important service provided by | | | | There are three advantages to using a visa expediter. |
| the consulate section of an embassy or by the | | | | One, you don't have to go to the consulate general |
| consulate general of a country. It is important to follow | | | | yourself. Depending on where you live in relation to the |
| the requirements exactly as given so that you avoid | | | | consulate, this could save you quite a bit of time which |
| delays in the process or, even, the rejection of your | | | | you could use to prepare for your trip. |
| application. | | | | Two, the expediter can look over your application and |
| The first decision you need to make when applying for | | | | documentation to verify that the information is correct. |
| a visa concerns the type of visa you will need. Next, | | | | If necessary, corrections could be made before it is |
| you may be able to apply for a visa with a specific | | | | delivered to the consulate. Finally, a visa expediting |
| validity. This is especially true for business visas. For | | | | service can, more often than not, get your application |
| example, Russia allows you to choose between a | | | | processed more quickly. |
| business visa that has 1-3 months validity and one that | | | | A disadvantage to using an expediter is that they |
| has 3-12 months validity. Following this, you need to | | | | charge an additional fee beyond that which you will |
| choose the number of entries you want your visa to | | | | pay the consulate to process your visa application. |
| allow. Possibilities include a single-entry, double-entry or | | | | The amount is usually not very much and could very |
| multiple-entry. Not every country offers this option but | | | | well be a worthy investment if you consider the |
| many do. | | | | advantages listed above. |