What is a Visit Visa?
A visit visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows temporary stay in a specific country for a certain period of time for short-term business activities, tourism, visiting family/friends or receiving medical treatment overseas.
What can I do on a Visit Visa?
Generally, activities permitted on a visit visa include:
- Tourism.
- Vacationing.
- Visiting Relatives.
- Meeting up with friends.
- Attending a Business Conference.
- Negotiating a Business Contract.
- Medical treatment.
- Holding Consultations with Business Associate.
- Taking part in Short-term Training.
However, work or study is not allowed unless the individual switches to another visa category. The visit visa application process is usually hassle-free and requires proof of funds and a genuine reason for travel. A visa interview and biometrics may also be required. The duration of a visit visa is typically granted for three to six months.
What are the types of Visit Visa?
There are various types of visit visa that are contingent on the purpose of traveling to a specific country. Every country has its own set of eligibility criteria and application procedures.
Visit visa are categorized based on the nature of travel, such as tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or transit. Furthermore, visas may differ based on the number of entries permitted, such as single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visas.
A tourist visa is a type of visitor visa that allows individuals to travel to a foreign country for the purpose of tourism or vacationing. This type of visa is issued by the host country’s embassy or consulate and has specific rules and regulations that must be followed by the traveler. The length of stay and eligibility criteria vary depending on the country being visited.
A business visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to enter a foreign country for a specific period of time for business-related purposes such as attending meetings, negotiating contracts, or participating in conferences or trade shows. It is intended for individuals who do not intend to work in the host country but rather engage in business activities with a foreign entity.
A transit visa is a type of temporary visa that allows a traveler to pass through a country for a limited period of time while on their way to a final destination in another country. This visa is usually required if the traveler’s flight itinerary includes a layover or stopover in a country where they do not have the right to enter without a visa.
A employment visa is a type of visa that allows foreign nationals to enter a country for the purpose of employment or work-related activities. It is typically issued to skilled workers, professionals, or individuals with specific job offers or employment contracts. The rules and regulations for obtaining a Work Visa vary depending on the country and the specific job requirements. It usually requires a sponsor or employer to file a petition on behalf of the employee and for the employee to meet certain qualifications, such as education or experience.
A sponsored family visit visa is a type of visa that allows individuals to visit their family members in a foreign country, where the sponsor in the host country acts as a guarantor for the visitor’s stay and assures that they will abide by the visa conditions.
A single-entry visa allows the holder to enter the country only once during the validity of the visa.
A double-entry visa allows the holder to enter the country twice during the validity of the visa.
A multiple-entry visa allows the holder to enter the country multiple times during the validity of the visa.
The type of visa granted depends on the traveler’s purpose of travel, duration of stay, and the policies of the country being visited.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for a Visit Visa?
The eligibility criteria for a visit visa varies depending on the country you wish to visit, the purpose of your visit, and the type of visit visa you are applying for. However, some common eligibility requirements include:
- Purpose of Visit: You must have a clear reason for visiting the country, such as tourism, attending a conference, visiting family or friends, or medical treatment.
- Financial Stability: You must have sufficient funds to cover your travel and living expenses during your stay. This may require providing bank statements or other financial documents to demonstrate your ability to support yourself while in the country.
- Strong ties to your home country: You must demonstrate that you have strong ties to your home country and that you will return home after your visit. This can include proof of employment, property ownership, family ties, or other evidence.
- Good health and character: You must not have any criminal record or serious health issues that could pose a risk to public health or safety.
- Proper documentation: You must provide all necessary documentation for your visit, including a valid passport, visa application form, and any other required documents such as invitation letters, travel itinerary, or hotel reservations.
What Documents are Required for a Visit Visa?
To apply for a visit visa, you will generally need to provide the following documents:
- Completed visa application form.
- Valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the intended date of departure.
- Passport photocopy of the applicant.
- Recent passport-sized photograph(s) per the specifications provided.
- Proof of financial stability such as bank statements, income tax returns, and other financial documents.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel bookings or an invitation letter from a relative or friend residing in the host country.
- Health check-up report or medical certificate, as required by the host country.
- Travel itinerary or a copy of two-way tickets.
- Travel insurance policy or medical insurance, as required by the host country.
- Certificates of good character or police clearance certificate.
- Invitation letter from the sponsor, if applicable.
- Financial statement of the sponsor, if applicable.
- Passport photocopy of the sponsor, if applicable.
- Marriage certificate, if the applicant is married to a foreign national.
- Birth certificate and marriage certificate of the parents, in case of minors.
What is the Standard Procedure to get a Visit Visa?
The standard procedure to obtain a visit visa varies depending on the country you plan to visit, but the general steps are as follows:
- Check eligibility: Check if you are eligible for the visit visa and ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the visa type you are applying for.
- Gather documents: Gather all the required documents such as passport, photographs, visa application form, proof of accommodation, financial documents, etc. as per the requirements of the embassy or consulate of the host country.
- Fill out the application form: Fill out the visa application form completely and accurately. Some countries may require you to fill out an online application form.
- Pay visa fee: Pay the visa application fee as required by the host country.
- Schedule an appointment: Schedule an appointment for a visa interview (if required) with the embassy or consulate of the host country.
- Attend interview (if required): Attend the visa interview as scheduled and provide all the necessary documents.
- Wait for visa approval: After the interview, wait for the visa to be approved. The processing time for a visit visa may vary depending on the country.
- Receive visa: Once the visa is approved, collect your passport with the visa stamp from the embassy or consulate.
How Long is the Processing time for Visit Visa?
The processing time for a visit visa application varies from country to country.
- Australia: It typically takes about 2-4 weeks to process a 6-month visit visa application to Australia from the date of submission.
- Canada: The ideal processing time for a Canada visit visa application is a maximum of 15 days from the date of submission.
- USA: Processing times for a USA Visit Visa can take anywhere from 3-5 weeks, depending on the type of visa and workload.
- UK: If you’re applying for a UK Standard Visit Visa, you can expect a decision within 3 weeks of attending the appointment at the visa application center.
- New Zealand: Processing times for visit visa applications in New Zealand can take up to three months, depending on the workload. However, a majority of visa applications are cleared within this time frame.