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Everything You Should Know About Visitor Visas
Planning to Travel? Here’s Your Visitor Visa Guide
Best Countries To Visit
A visitor visa for any country is a kind of nonimmigrant visa permitting you to stay in a specific country for a certain period of time.
Generally, as a temporary visitor in a country, you can either attend short-term business activities, visit family/friends, or go as a tourist. A visitor visa also allows you to visit overseas for medical treatment.
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
Work or study (unless a short recreational course of study as a hobby etc.) is not allowed while in a country on a temporary visitor visa. If you enter as a tourist/visitor, you will have to apply to get your status changed or switch to another visa category before you can work or study in a foreign country.
Things to know about the visitor visa -
- Usually hassle-free
- Obtained easily
- Must have a genuine reason for specific travel purpose
- Proof of funds needed
- A visa interview might be held
- Biometrics usually required
- Might be granted for - three to six months
What are the types of visitor visas?
Different kinds of visitor visas are available, depending on the reason behind traveling to a particular country. Each of the countries have their own eligibility criteria and application process.
Visitor visas can be classified based on the reason for travel - tourism, visiting family/friends, business, or transit.
Additionally, the different types of visas available can be as per the number of entries allowed. A visit visa can be - single entry, double entry, or multiple entry.
This type of visa is required by the host country purely for visiting and tourism purposes. Rules and regulations for this type of visa are normally found on the host country’s embassy or consulate website.
This visa is required by those planning to conduct business in the host country. It is useful for businessmen travelling for meetings in regard to negotiations, sales, and/or research purposes.
Issued by the host country to allow the visitor to work legally in the country. The process of issuing this visa also differs from one country to another. Processing time for this visa can take anywhere from 10 days to 3 months.
It is required by some countries emphasizing political security. Transit Visas are required when you land in a country but want to move further within a short period. These visas are generally only good for 3 days at most.
These types of visas fall into all of the above categories. Single-entry means that you can only enter the country once. Double-entry means twice, and the multiple-entry visas allow you to enter as many times as you like during the valid period.
This type of visa is issued to family members living outside the host country. It is recommended to avail this for visiting a citizen or permanent resident of the country you are visiting.
What is the eligibility criteria for a visit visa?
The specific eligibility criteria that you must fulfill will vary from country to country.
Visa to apply for: Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
Australia subclass 600 visa lets you visit Australia as a tourist, see family and friends in Australia, or go on a cruise.
Applicants satisfying the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Australia Visitor Visa -
- Genuine intention to temporarily stay in Australia.
- Visiting for purposes other than business or medical treatment.
- Sponsored or able to support themselves during the visit.
- Satisfy the relevant public interest criteria, including that of character and health.
You will need a Canada visitor visa if you plan to travel, do business, visit family and friends, or transit through Canada. Most travelers will require a visitor visa to travel to Canada.
Transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to a final destination might also require a Canada visitor visa.
A Canada visitor visa, an official document showing that the requirements for entering the country have been duly met, is affixed in the passport of the traveler.
The Canada visitor visa can be applied for online or on paper.
The Canada Visitor Visa requires you to meet the following -
- Proof of sufficient funds as financial support during the visit.
- Be in good health.
- Not be seeking or undertaking a job during the visit.
- No criminal or immigration-related convictions.
- Visitors staying with relatives or friends need to provide invitation letters from sponsors.
- Applicants from certain countries will require a temporary residence permit.
- Be able to convince immigration officers of ties with the home country.
- Be a genuine visitor who will leave Canada at the end of their visit.
- Other requirements based on the profile may be required.
Visitor visas for the United States of America come under the ‘B’ visa category. US visitor visas available are - B-1 visa for business, B-2 visa for tourism, and B-1/B-2 visa that combines B-1 and B-2 in a single visa.
You must fulfill these general eligibility criteria for a Visitor Visa of the USA.
- Genuine intention regarding your purpose of visit which can be temporary, such as - business, tourism, or medical treatment.
- Visit to be only for a specific time.
- Demonstrate a sufficient amount of funds to cover your US stay.
- Establish ties with your home country proving that you will go back after your visit.
Visa to apply for: Standard Visitor visa
US Standard Visitor visa allows you to visit the United Kingdom for business, tourism, study courses (up to six months in duration), and other activities.
Kinds of UK Standard Visitor visas available -
- Standard Visitor visa, for six months
- Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons, for 11 months
- Standard Visitor visa for academics, for 12 months
- Two-year long-term Standard Visitor visa, six months per visit
- Five-year long-term Standard Visitor visa, six months per visit
- Ten-year long-term Standard Visitor visa, six months per visit
If you wish to visit the UK, you must fulfill these eligibility criteria to receive the UK Visitor Visa -
- Intent to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit or trip.
- Funds to cover your stay in the UK.
- Demonstrate the proof of activities or business that you intend to do in the UK that comply with the visitor rules.
You will have to meet the following criteria to qualify for the New Zealand Visitor Visa -
- Proof of your identity.
- Good health.
- Good character and certificate of conduct.
- Proof of funds while you stay in New Zealand, or you must be sponsored by someone who is residing in the country.
- Lastly, you must show proof of your return ticket back to your home country after the end of your visit.
As they have all signed the Schengen Agreement, 26 countries in Europe are known as the Schengen countries.
These are - France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Malta, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Greece, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal, Finland, Latvia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, and Norway.
With a Uniform Schengen Visa (USV), you can visit any country in the Schengen Area and stay up to 90 days in every six-month period starting from the date of entry.
Eligibility criteria to be met for being granted a Schengen Visa -
- Visa application form
- Proof of having paid the visa fees, €80 for adults and €45 for children from 6 to 12 years old.
- Proof of financial means to cover duration of stay
- Proof of accommodation
- Travel health insurance for the entire Schengen Area, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.
- Round trip reservation
How to apply for a visitor visa for business purposes?
A visitor visa for business purposes, often called simply a business visa, has different eligibility criteria depending on the country. However, there are some documents that will generally be required.
These include -
- A valid passport.
- Travel itinerary that includes flight details and accommodation.
- Academic credentials.
- Business and professional credentials.
- Evidence of your plan to return to the home country.
- Proof of adequate financial resources.
- Evidence of adequate insurance and medical examination.
- Requisite application form duly filled and signed.
- Copy of the fee paid for the visa application.
What is the processing time for a visitor visa?
The tourist/visitor visa processing times vary depending upon the nation which is offering you the visa. It also depends on the applicant’s nationality.
What Documents are Required for a Tourist/Visitor Visa?
The basic requirements of the Tourist Visa are as follows:
- Health check-up
- Financial documents
- Certificates of your character
- Insurance
- Proof of accommodation
Other documents include:
Completed and filled form of the visa application
Upload photographs digitally per the specifications
Your valid passport must have a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of intended departure from India
Valid passport bio page photocopy
Copy of your two-way tickets that you have to submit at the time of your application
Latest bank statements as proof of sufficient funds
An invitation letter from the sponsor, family member, or friend residing overseas
Financial statement of the sponsor, family member, or friend
Passport photocopy of the sponsor
Marriage certificate, if you are married to a foreign national
In the case of minors, the marriage certificate and birth certificate of the parents
Proof of enough funds
Invitation letter: If visiting relatives or friends, a letter of invitation from the relative or friend in Australia
Hotel booking confirmation
What is the standard procedure to get a visitor visa?
There is a simple standard procedure to get a visitor visa for most of the countries.
To get the tourist visa, you will have to:
- Fill in the visa application form of the electronic tourist visa.
- Complete the payment of the fees for your visa application.
- Schedule your appointment at the embassy for the visa interview.
- Attend your visa interview at the embassy on the assigned date and time.
How much does a visitor visa cost?
The visitor visa fee varies based on the country. For example,
- Australian Visitor Visa - AUD 145
- Canada Visitor Visa - CAD 100
- US Tourist Visa - USD 160
- UK Standard Visitor Visa - £95
- New Zealand Tourist Visa - USD 57
Processing time for tourist visas
The visitor visa application processing time normally varies from one country to another.
- Australia - Typical processing time for a 6-month-visitor-visa application to Australia is about 2 - 4 weeks from the date of submitting the visa application.
- Canada - Ideal processing time for the Canada visitor visa application is a maximum of 15 days from the date of submitting the application.
- USA - It can take anywhere from 3 - 5 weeks' time for processing the USA Visitor Visa.The visa application processing time for the US generally depends on the type of visa and the workload.
- United Kingdom - Expect a decision within 3 weeks of attending the appointment at the visa application center when you are applying for a UK Standard Visitor Visa.
- New Zealand - Again, the processing time for visitor visa applications depends on the workload. A majority of visa applications are cleared within three months.
Frequently Asked Questions?
1. How many times can a visit visa be extended?
Depends upon the country you are visiting. Generally, a visitor visa can only be extended for a limited period, and only for inevitable reasons.
2. What is the difference between a tourist visa and a visit visa?
Generally, a tourist visa is given for sightseeing. A visit visa, however, refers to a visa that is given for many purposes, including short-term business meetings, medical treatments, and others.
3. How to apply for a visitor visa?
Most countries nowadays allow you to apply online. You may however have to attend a visa interview in the case of some countries.
4. What factors affect the processing time of visit visas?
Visit visas are dependent on several factors including the ones mentioned below.
- You must have submitted all the required supporting documents along with the application
- Your response time to requests for additional information
- Time taken by the authorities to complete the required checks
- Time taken to receive additional information pertaining to your health, character and national security
Decisions to accept or refuse your visa application are based on the information you provide. Make your visa application well in advance of your travel date.
Don’t make any travel arrangements until your visa is granted.
5. What are the key points to note about visitor visas?
- You cannot work on this visa in the host country
- This visa only allows you to travel and stay
The visitor visa is typically issued for a period between three months to one year.
6. Am I eligible for a Business Visa?
Business visas are issued for the following reasons -
- Government or general business enquiries.
- Government visits.
- Business negotiations.
- Attending seminars & conferences.
- Job interview.
- Professional examinations.
However, check out with the country you plan to visit.
