A Quick Summary on Visas
As someone who has never travelled out of the country, I find the whole process to be very daunting. Coming from Stockton, California where many people are born and raised, I would like to visit other parts of the world. There are many different countries in this world, and people want to visit them. People visit other countries for many reasons including business, pleasure, and education. I order to go to different countries for extended periods of time, you must have the proper documentation. Travel documents have existed since ancient times. Their purpose is to help document the comings and goings of people into different territories in order to make sure that the countries are safe and to allow them to know who is in their country and why.
In many countries a person must acquire a visa. A visa (in Latin means “paper which has been seen”) according to Wikipedia is “a conditional authorization granted by a country to a foreigner, allowing them to enter and temporarily remain within, or to leave that country.” Many countries require visas for people who are not citizens of their country in order to keep an organized accounting of people leaving and entering their territory. Although there are hundreds of types of visas, the United States can break theirs down into two categories: Nonimmigrant and Immigrant.
A Nonimmigrant Visa is for temporary visits. This includes such things as tourism, business, work, or educational study. These people do not intend on staying in the country permanently. Each Visa specifically states the purpose of the visit and the duration. There are over 70 different subcategories of Nonimmigrant Visas that can be obtained ranging from “Temporary Visitor for Pleasure” to “Alien Accompanying and Assisting in (an) Artistic or Athletic Performance”.
An Immigrant Visa is for those who are planning on taking up permanent residency in the country. Once the person arrives in the country, their visa is processed for a permanent resident card (green card) which is temporary and only valid for one year. During that year you are required to follow other steps to achieve citizenship and permanent residency. There are four major categories for Immigration Visas including Immediate relatives, special immigrants, family-sponsored and employer-sponsored. It is important for the United States to know what types of people want to live in the country, and also how you plan on achieving your citizenship.
Within the two general categories of visas in the United States, there are many subcategories. It is important to choose the right visa when you are applying, whether you are trying to get an immigrant or non-immigrant US visa. Many immigration resources can help you with figuring out which one you qualify for, and it is good to use these resources because if you apply for the wrong visa that can add delays to your application being approved. It is also important because if you do not have the proper type of visa for what you are planning to do in the country, it can keep you from fulfilling your plans. For example, if you wish to go to school in the United States but did not apply for a US visa that allows you to study, you may not qualify for school admission.
It can be very complicated to know if you need a visa or not. The first thing you want to do is visit the U.S. State Department website to see if the country you want to visit requires visas. (Keep in mind that a passport and a visa are not the same thing. Whether a country needs a visa or not, you will still need to have a passport.) Some countries do not require a visa if you are not planning on staying in the country more than 90 days. After figuring out if a visa is required to enter/stay in that particular country, visit the embassy or consulate website for that nation in order to find the visa application. This application needs to be filled out and mailed or hand delivered to that nation’s local consulate along with any fees that are required. These fees can range from $50-$200. Plan ahead because it can then take from two weeks to two months to have your documents processed. Also, make sure you know if you need a single or a multiple entry visa. If you have a single entry visa, once you leave the country you have to get a new visa to enter again. A multiple entry visa can allow a visitor to come and go from the country multiple times without needing a new visa. These can be valid for the entire term of your visa, which can be up to ten years (depending on the country), or one month before your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Most of the time when people are referring to visas, they are speaking of Entrance Visas. Some countries also require Exit Visas. It is very important to make sure that you know if the country you are planning on visiting, or the one that you currently live in, require exit visas. Without them, those countries will not allow you to leave.
Visas are in place to help people to enter and exit different territories and countries legally. They help the countries to know your purpose for entering and also your intentions while you are there. If someone is travelling or planning on moving to another country, they need to make sure that they obtain the proper visa. Travelling can be confusing, but the reasons behind having visas are for our safety. If you are going to be travelling, plan ahead and do not be afraid to ask for help in making sure you have the proper documentation for your travels. Someday I will be able to visit other countries, and I cannot wait to show off my passport and visas as badges of where I have been. Not only will the documentation help serve the countries in keeping track of who enters, but they will be lovely souvenirs for me after my travels are over.
