A visa is an endorsement on the passport.
This endorsement allows the holder to enter the territory
of the issuing country.
A visa does not guarantee a person the right of entry
into that country. A person may have to undergo an interview
and nspection by the immigration officials at the port
of entry. He may be required to produce all the documents
he presented at the time of obtaining the visa. The right
of entry into the territory of a country may be denied
if any false information is given or if any important
facts have been concealed. This applies even if a material
change in the circumstance has happened
Validity
A temporary or non-immigrant visa is usually issued with
an endorsement. This will be valid for 3 months, 6 months,
1 year etc. Validity of the visa does not mean the period
one can stay in the issuing country. It means the period
with in which the visa holder has to enter that country.
If the holder does not enter the country within the period,
the visa will lapse.
Types of Visa
Different types of visas are issued depending on the nature
of the visit. The main classifications are:
1. Immigrant or Permanent Visas;
2. Non-immigrant or Temporary Visas; and
3. Transit Visa.
Immigrant Visa or Permanent Visa
This type of visa is issued to persons who intend to immigrate
or settle permanently in the foreign country. Countries
impose stricter regulations in granting this.
Some countries do not issue this type of visa (e.g. Germany).
Visitors Visa
A Visitor visa is issued to a person who intends to visit
a foreign country temporarily.
The applicant has to produce adequate evidence to prove
that he has arranged for the financial support required
during the stay. The applicant may also be asked to produce
a confirmed return air ticket to the home country after
his stay.
Visitors are not allowed to work in the foreign country.
Tourist Visa
These type of visas are issued to persons who go abroad
for touring purposes.
The requirements in the case of tourist visa is almost
the same as that of a visitor visa.
Student Visa
Students who have secured admission in an educational
institution of the visa issuing country are eligible to
apply for a student visa
Such students will have to produce evidence of financial
support during their stay.
Students are also not allowed to work during their stay
without prior permission.
Business Visa
These visas are issued to business men who visit foreign
countries for business purposes.
Most of the countries require among other things a letter
of invitation from a business firm in the host country
for issuance of a business visa.
Work Visa
Work visas are issued to those persons who have got a
job in a foreign country.
Here, most of the countries insist that the procedure
should be initiated by the prospective employer in the
host country.
There are also other types of temporary visas like the
Family Re-Union Visa, Exchange Visitors Visa, visa for
Medical Treatment etc.
With this visa, one can go abroad only for the specific
purpose for which the visa has been issued.
Transit Visa
A transit visa is needed when one will have to pass through
a foreign country to reach another foreign country, which
is his destination.
Confirmed onward air tickets and onward visas have to
be produced.
Single Entry or Multiple Entry Visa
In the case of a single entry visa a person can enter
the issuing country only once.
Even if he returns to his home country before the expiry
of the allowed period of stay he cannot go back again.
A person having a multiple entry visa can enter the issuing
country more than once.
But it is to be noted that this multiple entry is permitted
only during the allowed period of stay. For an entry after
that period one will have to obtain a fresh visa.
Procedure to obtain Visa
Embassy/Consulate
To get a visa, one will have to apply to the Embassy/High
Commission or Consulate of the foreign country he intends
to travel.
If a foreign country has an Embassy as well as Consulates
in India one will have to apply to any of these offices
depending on the area of jurisdiction of the office.
Application Form
The application forms are available at the Embassies and
Consulates.
Only true and correct information is to be provided. In
almost all the cases one may be asked to produce documents
to substantiate the information given.
The completed application form along with the Passport,
the documents asked for and the prescribed fee is to be
submitted to the Embassy or the consulate as the case
may be.
The Embassies have prescribed separate days and specific
times for submission of application forms.
The manner in which the form is to be submitted is also
prescribed.
Many counties allow submission through travel agents.
But some embassies insist on the personal presence of
the applicant.
An interview may also be necessitated.
Embassies of countries like the U. S. provide for 'Drop
Box' facility, by which the applicant can drop the application
forms at the reception, if he satisfies certain prescribed
conditions.
Applications by post are also allowed by some embassies.
After submission, the Embassy/Consulate takes a prescribed
time to process the application and visa is issued after
that time, if found eligible.
Relevant Documents
Along with the application form one will have to submit
a number of documents.
The nature of these documents varies according to the
kind of visa one is applying for.
Evidence for financial support available during the entire
period of stay is insisted upon by many countries in the
case of many non-immigrant visas.
The original documents as well as copies are to be furnished.
The originals will be returned after verification.
Visa Fee
The fee may very according to the nature of the visa one
needs.
There are countries which do not charge visa fee also
(Argentina).
The manner in which this fee is to be paid is prescribed
by the Embassies.
Payment through a Bank Draft drawn in favour of the Embassy
is the most common mode of the payment insisted upon.
