What is 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.

Steps to Apply for a US Visa

You should apply for a US visa at a US Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence following these simple steps:

  1. Check if you need a visa.
  2. Choose the type of US visa you will apply for.
  3. Fill in the Non-immigrant visa Application Form DS-160.
  4. Pay your application fee.
  5. Schedule visa interview.
  6. Compile the document file.
  7. Attend the visa interview.
  8. Wait for processing.

Required Documents:

Here are the required documents for a US visa:

  • An online nonimmigrant DS-160 application form. You can file the form DS-160 here.
  • Your valid passport. It must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in the United States. However, there are some countries that are exempt from this requirement only needing a passport that is valid during their period of stay in the United States. Your passport must have at least one blank page to be able to affix visa.
  • One photograph. The US visa photo requirement is one of the main requirements for every visa you apply for. Upload the photo while you apply online through the DS-160 form. If the upload fails, you can submit the photo on the appointment day. However, we advise you that, even if you upload the photo online, to still bring it with you in case you need it during the interview.
  • Receipt proving payment of $160 for a nonimmigrant US visa application. Differently from the European visa policy where you pay the fee at on the appointment day, for a US visa you need to pay the fee in order to be able to schedule an interview. Keep in mind that the US visa fee is non-refundable if you decide to cancel your appointment or if your visa application is rejected.
  • Social media details. A list of the social media that you use, and the name
    of your account in each, phone number, email and social media history of the five previous years.

Every document not written in either English or the official language of the country in which the interview will take place must be translated. Translations must be certified by a competent translator.

A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport which allows you to enter the country of Canada.

It is a permission for you to travel to the country and legally be able to stay either temporarily or permanently. Getting a visa to Canada means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you are eligible and fulfill the requirements for entry. However, once you are at the Canadian border and customs, it is up to the officers at the border to evaluate whether you are fit to enter.

If you answer the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) questions honestly and correctly, they will allow you to enter. Otherwise, if they suspect that you are not eligible to enter, they can deny you and ask you to go back to your home country even if you have a Canada visa.

Required Documents:

Here are the documents required for a Canada visa:

  • Your passport.
  • Appropriate Canada visa application form.
  • Proof of paid Canada visa fees.
  • Proof of clean criminal record.
  • Proof of being in good health through a medical exam.
  • Photographs in accordance with the photo requirements for Canada visa.
  • Proof of financial means.
  • Proof you will return to your home country once the Canadian visa expires.
  • Identity and Civil Status Documents.
  • A cover letter that explains the purpose of your travel to Canada.
  • Letter of support/invitation to Canada.

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.

Required Documents:

In order to apply for a visa, you need:

  • a passport with at least two empty pages. The passport should have been issued within the last 10 years. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date on which you intend to leave the Schengen territory, or, in the case of multiple journeys, the date on which you intend to leave after the last stay.
  • a visa application form completed and signed.Any person appearing in your travel document must complete a separate application form. The visa application form for a child under 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian.
  • a recent identity photograph conform to ICAO
  • in the countries where the Visa Information System is operational your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants).
  • a visa fee Search for available translations of the preceding link to be paid when you submit your application
  • a service fee to be paid if you are requested to submit your application at the offices of a service provider.
  • a travel medical insurance covering emergency medical, hospitalization and repatriation (including in case of death). The minimum cover should be of 30.000 EUR. This insurance must be valid for the entire Schengen area and throughout the duration of the stay.
  • various documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of means of support during your stay and your accommodation.

The complete list of documents can be consulted on the website of the consulate. During the processing time the consulate may, in individual cases, ask you to submit additional information or documents or you may be contacted for an interview.

USA

Steps to Apply for a US Visa

You should apply for a US visa at a US Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence following these simple steps:

  1. Check if you need a visa.
  2. Choose the type of US visa you will apply for.
  3. Fill in the Non-immigrant visa Application Form DS-160.
  4. Pay your application fee.
  5. Schedule visa interview.
  6. Compile the document file.
  7. Attend the visa interview.
  8. Wait for processing.

Required Documents:

Here are the required documents for a US visa:

  • An online nonimmigrant DS-160 application form. You can file the form DS-160 here.
  • Your valid passport. It must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in the United States. However, there are some countries that are exempt from this requirement only needing a passport that is valid during their period of stay in the United States. Your passport must have at least one blank page to be able to affix visa.
  • One photograph. The US visa photo requirement is one of the main requirements for every visa you apply for. Upload the photo while you apply online through the DS-160 form. If the upload fails, you can submit the photo on the appointment day. However, we advise you that, even if you upload the photo online, to still bring it with you in case you need it during the interview.
  • Receipt proving payment of $160 for a nonimmigrant US visa application. Differently from the European visa policy where you pay the fee at on the appointment day, for a US visa you need to pay the fee in order to be able to schedule an interview. Keep in mind that the US visa fee is non-refundable if you decide to cancel your appointment or if your visa application is rejected.
  • Social media details. A list of the social media that you use, and the name
    of your account in each, phone number, email and social media history of the five previous years.

Every document not written in either English or the official language of the country in which the interview will take place must be translated. Translations must be certified by a competent translator.

Canada

A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport which allows you to enter the country of Canada.

It is a permission for you to travel to the country and legally be able to stay either temporarily or permanently. Getting a visa to Canada means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you are eligible and fulfill the requirements for entry. However, once you are at the Canadian border and customs, it is up to the officers at the border to evaluate whether you are fit to enter.

If you answer the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) questions honestly and correctly, they will allow you to enter. Otherwise, if they suspect that you are not eligible to enter, they can deny you and ask you to go back to your home country even if you have a Canada visa.

Required Documents:

Here are the documents required for a Canada visa:

  • Your passport.
  • Appropriate Canada visa application form.
  • Proof of paid Canada visa fees.
  • Proof of clean criminal record.
  • Proof of being in good health through a medical exam.
  • Photographs in accordance with the photo requirements for Canada visa.
  • Proof of financial means.
  • Proof you will return to your home country once the Canadian visa expires.
  • Identity and Civil Status Documents.
  • A cover letter that explains the purpose of your travel to Canada.
  • Letter of support/invitation to Canada.
European Union

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.

Required Documents:

In order to apply for a visa, you need:

  • a passport with at least two empty pages. The passport should have been issued within the last 10 years. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date on which you intend to leave the Schengen territory, or, in the case of multiple journeys, the date on which you intend to leave after the last stay.
  • a visa application form completed and signed.Any person appearing in your travel document must complete a separate application form. The visa application form for a child under 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian.
  • a recent identity photograph conform to ICAO
  • in the countries where the Visa Information System is operational your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants).
  • a visa fee Search for available translations of the preceding link to be paid when you submit your application
  • a service fee to be paid if you are requested to submit your application at the offices of a service provider.
  • a travel medical insurance covering emergency medical, hospitalization and repatriation (including in case of death). The minimum cover should be of 30.000 EUR. This insurance must be valid for the entire Schengen area and throughout the duration of the stay.
  • various documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of means of support during your stay and your accommodation.

The complete list of documents can be consulted on the website of the consulate. During the processing time the consulate may, in individual cases, ask you to submit additional information or documents or you may be contacted for an interview.

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