Frequently Asked Questions: Visas
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What is a visa?
A visa is a stamp or notation made on a visa page of a travel document (usually a passport). The visa allows the holder of the passport to enter the country that has issued the visa for a specified period of time. Most visas are signed by the issuing official and contain the official seal of the country. Many countries do not require US Citizens to obtain a visa before entry. In certain countries a visa may be issued upon arrival and in other cases it must be obtained prior to departure. The purpose of your visit will also determine if you will need a visa. Some countries require visas for business visits and not for tourism. Russia, China, India and Vietnam, require visas for all US Citizens prior to enty. Be sure to arrange your visa in advance if you are traveling to one of these countries.
Who issues visas?
Visas are processed by the embassy or consulate of the country that you wish to visit. If you are a US Citizen or a permanent resident you may contact the embassy or consulate directly or hire a passport/visa service company to submit your documents. Visas are usually issued by visa officers or consular officials assigned by the goverment of his/her country to work in the United States or in an embassy abroad.
How long is a visa valid?
Each visa will specify a category or type, number of entries, period of validity and duration of stay.
Do I have to send my actual passport?
Yes. In most cases, the original passport must be submitted to the embassy or consulate in order to have a visa page in the passport stamped .
Are the pages in back of my passport valid for visas?
Some pages in the passport may only be valid for endorsements and not visas. Usually these pages are marked "Ammendments and Endorsements". In a US Passport, The word "visas" will be written on the top of all valid visa pages.
Visa
Type |
Business, tourism and student exchange are examples of visa categories. |
Period
of Validity |
Period of time during which you must make an entry to the country |
Duration
of Stay |
Number of days you may remain in the country during a single given stay |
Number
of Entries |
Number of times you may enter the country during the period of validity |
Example: Indian Tourist Visa |
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Type of Visa: |
Duration of Stay: |
"T" = Tourist |
180 days |
Number of Entries:
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Period of Validity:
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M = Multiple Entries |
October 25th 2007 until
October 24th 2017 |
Passport/Visa Services are private companies that can help obtain passports or visas in 24 hours by submitting your documents in person at a US Passport Agency, embassy or consulate. |
Embassy Addresses |
Embassy Listings & Entry Requirements |
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