| Meaning |
| 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 inspection 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. |
| Top |
| 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 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). |
| |
| Non-immigrant or Temporary Visas |
|
Top |
| A non-immigrant visa
is issued for a temporary period after which the holder will have to return to his
home-country. |
| Depending on the
nature of the visit, different visas are issued. Main classifications: |
| |
| 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 |
|
Top |
| 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 Visas |
| |
| 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 |
|
Top |
| 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 and Multiple Entry Visas |
| |
| 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 |
|
Top |
| 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. |
|
Top |
| 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. |
| |
|
Top |
| |
