Tourist Visa Information
The tourist visa is issued to travelers who plan to enter a foreign
country for the exclusive purpose of tourism.
According to the US Department of State, activities that qualify as tourism include:
- Vacations
- Sight-seeing
- Visiting family or friends
- Travel for medical treatments
- Attending a social event hosted by non-business and non-governmental organizations
- Amateur (unpaid) participation in athletics or the arts
- Auditing a course or another form of non-credit study
Those who need to
obtain a tourist visa should apply through the consular services of the
country or countries they wish to visit. Any individual who is unable to
visit the appropriate consulate or who needs to expedite their visa application process can
submit the visa application forms through a visa expediting service.
Tourist Visa Requirements
A tourist visa is usually much easier to get than
other types of visas. It requires less documentation than business,
student, work or resident visas.
In most cases, applying for a tourist visa means you will need to complete a
short visa application form. Some countries have a special form for
tourism while other countries have one form for all types of visas.
Along with the completed application, you will need to submit your valid
passport.
Some countries require your passport to have 6 months
validity beyond your planned period of stay in the country and at least
one blank visa page.
A passport-style photo is another common requirement. Each individual seeking a tourism visa must meet these requirements -
regardless of his or her age.
Tourist Visa Fees
Tourist visa fees vary greatly from country to country. Some countries chasrge visa application fees as low as $30 while others charge hundreds of dollars. Some
countries offer several different fee options depending on how quickly
you want your visa application processed, the number of entries, and the
length of validity.
On average, the tourist visa application processing fee for most
countries is approximately $130.
Applying for a Tourist Visa
The first step is to complete the application form. Usually, you
can download the form to your computer and then print it out. That said, some
countries (such as
Brazil) have moved to an electronic application process that
you complete online. Likewise, some countries will no longer even accept
printed applications.
Most visa applications are quite short and take only a few
minutes to complete. However, It is vitally important that you enter all your
data correctly. Mistakes on the application can cause delays or even an outright rejection of
your visa request.
If you are required to send a photo, verify the dimensions and
specific qualifications that are required. For example, some countries accept black and
white photos while others will only accept color photographs.
You will also need to verify the delivery method accepted by the
consular section of the country you plan to visit. Some nations accept visa
applications by mail while others require them to be hand-delivered. In
cases where an applicant cannot personally appear, someone else can do
it for them. This can be a friend, family member, travel agent or
visa
expediter.
What to Do Once Your Visa is Issued
Once your tourist visa has been issued, you need to verify the
information on it. Check for errors so that they can be
corrected promptly and well before your departure date.
Many countries are now using a visa
stamp that is printed on special paper and adhered to a visa page in
your passport. The stamp usually includes information such as the applicant's
full name, type of visa, validity, date of expiration, and other data.
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