Acquiring a Visa and Citizenship for Your Dream Country E-Book

Dr. Smith Kiiza

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

It can be painless or a nightmare, but it’s usually just a slight inconvenience for travelers. Tons of us go through it, and so can you! Still, you need to be sure you check off every one of the requirements when you apply for an international travel visa. Does that sound overwhelming?

Leseprobe

ACQUIRING INTERNATIONAL VISA AND CITIZENSHIP IN YOUR DREAM COUNTRY.

Kiiza smith

Uganda's Top young lawyer and International young lawyer (practicing in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, S.Sudan, India, China, South Korea and others) I am an optimistic and empowering advocate and international lawyer with a strong belief in making a positive impact on the lives of others. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to excellence and have actively contributed to various professional endeavors.

I have pursued Masters (LLM) and PhD (Law). This educational opportunity has allowed me to deepen my knowledge and expertise in the legal field, furthering my ambitions in multiple areas of interest.

As a writer and author, I have published over 20 books covering a wide range of topics, including law, spirituality, business, relationships, and Christianity. These books are available on popular platforms like Amazon and other online bookshops. Additionally, my academic pursuits have led to the publication of several dissertations and thesis in esteemed international journals, My research has focused on important legal issues, including the rights of the accused and the rights of children with disabilities. I have also had the privilege of presenting various papers at international conferences, notably the International Conference on Human Rights and Constitution Law.

In Uganda, I have been actively involved in the research, drafting, and guidance of several bills and Acts of Parliament. Notable contributions include the Local Governments Act, NSSF Act, Parliamentary Elections Act, and Presidential Election Act. I have also independently drafted and introduced the Tree Planning Bill to the parliamentary legal committee.

Overall, I am a proactive and competitive legal professional with strong analytical skills and demonstrated leadership abilities. I am trustworthy, highly self-motivated, and possess a strong sense of duty. Through my work, I aim to create meaningful change and contribute to the betterment of society.

Before You Go Passports and Visas

Oh, the visa process. It can be painless or a nightmare, but it’s usually just a slight inconvenience for travelers. Tons of us go through it, and so can you! Still, you need to be sure you check off every one of the requirements when you apply for an international travel visa. Does that sound overwhelming?

american passport sitting on a plain wooden surface

There are two kinds of stamp collectors...

To clarify, we’re talking to Americans in this particular piece because of our largely American audience, but if you’re…

British—check out this resource

Australian—here’s one for you

Canadian—a resource for our northern neighbors

Irish—and one for you too!

Feel free to keep reading, non-Americans, because the points below can still apply to just about any visa process. But this article is keeping our American audience in mind! Read on for nine points to keep you on the right track as you apply and attempt to fulfill travel visa requirements.

Why all this international travel visa talk is important

Well, if you don’t have a visa when you need one that’s a problem. You’ll be turned away at the border. You’ll miss all the wonderful sights. The trip will be ruined. A plague of locust will descend upon the earth. Ok not that last one, but that was for emphasis—you need a visa!

Don’t travel illegally and don’t end up stranded in an airport a la The Terminal. Yes, you might consider yourself a “citizen of the world” but explaining that to the border agents probably won’t work in your favor. Do your homework and get a visa.

What you need to know

Here are 10 points necessary for anyone considering traveling and in need of an international travel visa.

1. International Visas 101: You need a passport

This seems obvious but we all have blind spots sometimes. Go get your passport. Open it. Tell me—when does it expire? If the answer is “less than six months” than go get it renewed now. You can’t get a visa with an expiring passport! Having a valid passport is your first step to getting an international travel visa.

Don’t have a passport? Start at the Department of State website. It can take a while, so make sure to get started early (that’s a theme you’ll notice with anything international visa related). Fill out your form, gather your documents, take photos (professionally is sometimes better), figure out how your fees (it can be a little pricey) and send all that in! You’ll feel really cool with a brand new shiny passport. Think of all the stamps and memories that will fill it soon!

airplane passengers filing down the airplane aisle while boarding

Before you hop that plane...

2. It all depends on the country

The travel visa requirements completely depends on the country. The American passport is pretty powerful—Americans can travel as tourists to 174 countries visa free!

But that leaves roughly 21 countries that Americans need visas to visit (and there are territories and regions where you might need special permission...it gets complicated.) While the visas often need similar items (such as your passport), you still have to be careful to follow their specific rules.

Go to the website of that specific country, and check out blogs of American travelers who have been before. Make sure the information is recent though, as visa laws can, and often do, change.

While you’re at it, check out the State Department travel warnings, just in case there is unrest in the country you will be visiting. Don’t play the hero (unless you are actually a humanitarian worker or something). Heed the warnings and stay safe.

3. There are different types of visas

Are you a tourist? A student? Coming for work? You’ll need different visas for different activities and length of stay. Be sure to figure out what is best for your trip! The different visas can impact what you are and are not allowed to do in-country.

Tourist Visa. Americans don’t need tourist visas for many countries, and for some of the places where you do need it you can buy them at the border or the airport. They are usually good for anywhere between 30 days to 3 months and you are not allowed to work when on a tourist visa. The requirements vary, but are more lax than if you were going for a longer stay.

Student Visa. The travel visa requirements for a student are more stringent. You will need some sort of documentation from the study program or university where you are studying, and usually proof of financial means, maybe a background check, and more. Your program or university should have tips for international students. If not, ask!

Work/Working Holiday Visa. For working visas you often have to be sponsored by a company. For the working holiday visas there is usually an age restriction (under 30 is common). Again, the application process is more extensive for these visas and usually includes background checks and proof of insurance. Without a working visa, you’re probably not allowed to do anything that would earn you money, although a student visa can allow you to work a certain amount of hours. And some countries don’t mind if you are earning a “living stipend” and not on a working visa. If you’re going with a program they can help direct you to the right visa! (If they can’t, maybe rethink that program, honestly).

4. Your health matters

For many countries, you have to have proof of health insurance and proof of vaccinations. For some visas you could also need some sort of note or documentation showing you are in overall good health.

Don’t skimp on this—even if you hear they don’t check these proofs, not only do you want to follow the law, you want to protect your health! It would be horrible to find yourself without access to healthcare, or sick because you didn’t make sure to get the right vaccinations.

Buy some travel insurance and make sure it covers the different sort of activities you plan to do - there is usually separate insurance for adventure travel. And visit your doctor or a travel clinic for vaccines and a check up! While you’re at it, go for a jog and eat some vegetables. Can’t hurt.

5. Your history also matters—both travel and criminal

Did you visit Israel? Then sorry, you can’t come into Saudi Arabia. Where your passport has been stamped matters for where you want to go next. Make sure to plan you trip accordingly if you are hitting a number of countries.

Even if there isn’t a law barring certain passport stamps from entering the country, border agents are allowed to turn away anyone suspicious, and that can include anyone traveling to countries their homeland doesn’t particularly like.

It can also matter if you have any prior criminal convictions. If you made mistakes and turned your life around and want to volunteer abroad now—whelp, it might be hard in some countries to get a visa with any criminal record.

walking to border control

You’ve gotta sort out your visa info with the Embassy/Border Control.

6. You often need proof of finances

Show that cash money! Or a bank statement, let’s not get wild. For some visas you have to prove you can support yourself while in their country, or prove that you have enough funds to leave the country. Some need you to already have booked a ticket home.

While backpacking on a dime can be an exciting and idealized challenge, the border agents might not think so. Rather than showing them how far you can stretch a dollar, show them that you have access to dollars and can feed and house yourself for the duration of your stay, at least.

7. Processing times vary

Do NOT do not do NOT procrastinate on that visa. You don’t want an entire trip derailed because it shows up the day after you were supposed to go to the airport. Yes, some visas can be bought at the airport, but certainly not all.

Get started early researching what you’ll need and gathering your documents, making appointments for vaccinations, and so forth. International travel visas aren’t your final school projects - no amount of all nighters will help you when you’re desperately waiting for your paperwork to be returned.

8. It'll cost you

Depending on the visa, it could be $50 or hundreds of dollars (especially to apply for a student visa). Make sure you budget for that! For student and work visas there’s often an application fee which you do not get back if your application is rejected.

Not to mention the cost of getting photos done or applying to or renewing your passport if you need that. Just another reason to give yourself the time to have all your ducks and documents in a row. And another cost is….

Plane taking off in an orange sky

Then it’s all clear skies and smooth sailing.

9. You have to show up

At the consulate that is. Sometimes you have to physically go to a consulate or an embassy to get an international travel visa, especially if it’s a work or student visa. Your consulate might not be right down the road, so keep in mind the cost of flying to another city or state to get your international visa! You can find embassy/consulate resources you need here. Yes, it’s inconvenient. But hey, you wanted to travel right? Now you get a bit of domestic travel in there with your international travel.

10. Have a home base address handy

Where will you be staying while abroad? This information is often a travel visa requirement—it could be your hostel, your new dorm, your cousin’s friend’s uncle’s house where they are kindly hosting you.

Either way, you need an address to prove you have a place to go, one that can be verified. No, “wherever the wind takes me” is not an address, that’s an instagram profile quote. You need a real address.

11. There are resources to make your life a LOT easier

Sure, (hopefully) all of this is good and fine and makes total sense. However, there's still the matter of figuring out which visa you need (if at all) and just how you're going to get it. Don't worry—we have good news! There's now a tool that will save you hours of research online. iVisa.com makes figuring out which visa you need as easy as filling out where you're from and where you're going. You can even apply at the same time! Can we get a slow clap?

Worldwide Travel Visa Guide

Planning a trip? This is your worldwide visa guide: Learn the requirements and how to apply for a visa to any country in the world.

What Is a Visa?

A visa is a travel document that allows you to enter a foreign country for a specific period of time. In most cases, you have to apply for a visa before travelling, either at an embassy, consulate, or online. Sometimes you can also obtain a visa on arrival. Visas are usually affixed onto your passport and state how long you can stay.

Most countries impose visa requirements for foreign nationals as a security measure: to keep track of who enters and to stop illegal immigration. Visas are also used as a defensive effort, stopping security risks from entering a country.

What Does a Visa Look Like?

example of a visa

A visa is a sticker on your passport, containing your name, picture, and the number of days you are allowed to stay in a specific country.

In some cases, visas are also issued as separate documents and are not attached to your passport – such as electronic visas, which you must print out.

A Brief History of Travel Visas

The word visa originates from Modern Latin “charta visa,” which means verified paper or translated into “paper that has to be seen.” Previously, visas were separate documents that went hand in hand with the passport during international travel, but nowadays, most visas are stamps or stickers attached to your passport.

Here is a brief history of how travel documents began:

Period      Event      Description

420 BC.      First travel documents      The first mention of traveling documents (passport and a visa) in the Hebrew Bible when Nehemiah, who was under the service of the Persian King Artaxerxes I, asked for a travel passage to Judea (region in Jerusalem).

1386-1442      The first passport      The reign of King Henry the V— who is credited with creating the first passport.

1643-1715      The “Passe port”      The reign of King Louis XIV of France (the Sun King), who liked to issue personally signed travel documents he called “passe port”— although there is still much debate where the name “passport” originates from.

1918 –      Obligatory passport      At the end of the First World War, passports became obligatory documents for international travels and were often accompanied by visas.

1922 – 1938      Nansen passport      The League of Nations in Paris established the Nansen passport to combat the loss of nationality that many refugees experienced after WWI.

1945 –      Visas      At the end of the Second World War, there was a heavy surge of migration worldwide, requiring stricter border patrol. Both travel documents, visas, and passports were mandatory in most cases for international travel.

Nowadays, as an identification document, you must have a valid passport issued by your home country when you travel internationally. Travelling visas, issued by your destination country, are considered an essential tool in migration control.

Visa Types by Purpose

Some of the common visa types by purpose of travel include:

Tourist visas. Tourist visas are entry permits issued for recreational purposes. Tourist types of visas are short-term, usually valid for three months, and you cannot work while on a tourist visa. There is usually no limit to how many times you can apply for a tourist visa for the same country— as long as the embassy/consulate grants the visa; you can freely travel.

Transit visas. A transit visa allows you to pass through a specific country while traveling to a third destination country. For example, if you have an Indian passport and you are travelling to Canada, but during your trip you have a layover in a Schengen country, you will need a Schengen transit visa. Usually, this type of visa is issued for 24 up to 96 hours, but it can also be issued for ten days up to two weeks—depending on which country you transit through. You have to apply for a transit visa before traveling; transit visas are not issued at the airport.

Medical visa. You can apply for a medical visa to seek medical treatment in a foreign country. Medical visas are short-term issued for the duration of the medical procedure and the patient’s recovery time. To qualify for this type of visa, you need to provide evidence from your doctor regarding your condition and proof that you have found a hospital and a doctor in your destination country who will perform the required procedure.

Working holiday visas. Working holiday visas are short-term permits that can be considered a mix of the tourist and work visas. The purpose of this visa is to allow you to explore a foreign country like on a holiday while working to support your trip financially. Most countries have restrictions on what type of work you can do and how many hours you can work. Generally speaking, working holiday visas are issued for a year or two, and you can only apply for the visa once (except Australia’s working holiday visa). To be eligible for a work and holiday visa, in most cases, you must be between the ages of 18-30.

Student visas. Student visas are issued for educational purposes and are usually valid for the duration of your study program. As a result, your study visa can last between one to four years, or even more, depending on your course. You cannot work in another country with a student visa unless your host country permits you.

Work visas. If you find work in a foreign country, you must apply for a work visa. Work visas are usually issued for long-term purposes from one up to four years, but this changes depending on your work contract. Your working visa serves as a route to a permanent residence permit in most cases.

Family reunification visas. A visa for family reunification is issued when your spouse lives and works in another country. This visa allows you to become a temporary (or permanent) resident in the country where your partner is working. Usually, a family visa is also issued to any minor children you or your spouse have.

Investment visas. An investment visa allows you to become resident in another country if you make a significant financial investment. The required investment varies (in a startup, bonds, a government fund, etc.) but the result must be the same: a positive financial impact and/or employment opportunities. In some countries, you may also acquire a visa if you purchase real estate property.

Official visas. Official visas allow you to do diplomatic work as a representative of your country abroad. Some of the most commonly issued official permits are diplomatic visas, but some countries also provide service and courtesy visas.

Refuge or asylum visas. You can apply for a refugee or an asylum seeker visa if you are being persecuted in your home country due to religious, racial, or political reasons. Every country issues their own visa to accommodate persons who have refugee status.

Digital nomad visas. To qualify for a digital nomad visa, you must meet the definition of a digital nomad. This definition varies depending on the country, but it’s usually someone who can work remotely either for a company or individual clients. To apply for this type of visa, you must find a country with a digital nomad immigration program.

Retirement visas. A retirement visa is issued to foreigners who want to retire outside of their home country. It is issued only to those that have reached their retirement age and is given in form of a residence permit. Usually, authorities require proof of sufficient funds to support yourself.

Pilgrimage visas. Pilgrimage visas are issued to people who want to complete a religious journey in another country. An example of a pilgrimage visa is the Hajj visa issued by Saudi Arabia to Muslims who want to complete the sacred journey of Hajj in Mecca. These types of visas are usually issued for a group of people rather than an individual and are valid only for the time it takes to complete the pilgrimage.

Visa-Free Travel

Not everyone requires a visa to travel. Many countries have visa waiver agreements, which means they allow citizens of a select few countries to enter visa-free for short trips. Passport holders of Western countries (such as the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the EU States) can travel to most places without a visa.

The allowed time for visa-free stays is short; it ranges from a few days to a few months. Regardless of your nationality, you should check your visa requirements before traveling.

Remember

When you are visiting a country without a visa, you cannot work or sell any goods or services.

Ways to Get a Travel Visa

Most commonly, you apply for a visa through one of the following ways:

At an embassy or consulate of the country that you will visit.

Online (electronic visa).

At the point of entry (visa on arrival).

The method of application depends on the specific country and your nationality. You should never travel without checking your visa requirements.

Visa Application at an Embassy

In most cases, you can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. You will have to:

Make an appointment.

Collect a set of documents.

Pay a visa processing fee.

Enter a visa interview (sometimes).