Visa Application Process Archives - Visa Consulate - Visa Information For Any Country

How to apply a Hong Kong visa?

Visa Consulate — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 17:18:02 +0000

The process of obtaining a visa for Hong Kong depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Here are the general steps for obtaining a Hong Kong visa:

Determine the type of visa you need: There are several types of visas for Hong Kong, including tourist visas, business visas, student visas, and work visas. You will need to determine which type of visa you need based on the purpose of your visit.
Check if you are eligible: Before applying for a Hong Kong visa, make sure you are eligible. The eligibility criteria vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for.
Gather the required documents: The documents you need to provide will depend on the type of visa you are applying for. Generally, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months, a completed visa application form, a recent passport-sized photo, and supporting documents such as proof of accommodation, itinerary, and financial capability. You will need to get all the documents translated if they are not written in English or Traditional Chinese, and certified with a registered certified translation company in Hong Kong.
Submit your application: You can apply for a Hong Kong visa either online or in person at the nearest Hong Kong immigration office or consulate. Some nationalities may be required to apply through a travel agency or visa processing center.
Wait for the visa to be processed: The processing time for a Hong Kong visa can vary depending on the type of visa and your nationality. Generally, it takes around four to six weeks to process a visa.
Receive your visa: Once your visa is approved, you will receive it by mail or in person if you applied in person.

It is important to note that the visa requirements and procedures may change over time, so it’s best to check with the Hong Kong immigration department or consulate for the latest information.

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Documents for Visa Application

Visa Consulate — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 06:53:34 +0000

The specific document requirements for a visa application can vary depending on the country you are applying to and the type of visa you need. However, some common documents that may be required for a visa application include:

Passport: A valid passport is usually required for visa applications. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in the country.
Visa application form: You will typically need to complete a visa application form, which may be available online or at the embassy or consulate of the country you are applying to.
Photographs: You may be required to provide recent passport-size photographs as part of your visa application.
Proof of travel arrangements: You may need to provide documentation such as flight tickets or hotel reservations to prove your travel plans.
Financial documents: You may need to provide proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the country.
Invitation letter: If you are visiting someone or attending an event, you may need to provide an invitation letter from the person or organization hosting you.

It’s important to note that visa requirements can change, so it’s always best to hire a visa agency to work that out for you.

Check out more news about visa application.

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Mexico Visa Requirements

Visa Consulate — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 11:04:13 +0000

When you apply for a Mexico visa, you must have several documents to support your application. The Mexico visa requirements depend on the purpose as well as the duration of your stay.

Documents Required for a Mexico Visa

The documents you need to submit when applying for a Mexico visa include:

A Mexico Visa Application Form.
A valid passport or other travel documents.
Photocopy of your passport.
Passport-size pictures according to Mexico photo guidelines.
Booked return travel ticket.
Proof of sufficient financial means.
Proof of accommodation.
Employment status documents.
Cover letter.
Mexico visa fee.
Any additional documents related to your purpose of travel.

A Mexico Visa Application Form

The first document you have to collect when you apply for a Mexico visa is a Visa Application Form. Some Mexican embassies offer it at their offices when you submit your application, while for others you have to download it from their website.

Then, depending on where you are applying from, you can either complete the form by typing it on your computer then printing it or by writing with legible typed letters after you have printed it. However, the first option may not always be available, so follow the instructions on the form or of the embassy.

You have to answer questions such as:

Your name, birthday, sex, and birthplace
Passport information
Marital status
Country of residence and address
Information about your job/profession
Questions regarding your purpose of travel to Mexico

After completing the Mexico visa application form, you must sign it. If the applicant is a minor, his/her parents have to sign the form.

A valid passport or other travel documents

Other than the Application Form, the other main document you need for a Mexico visa is a valid passport or other travel document. The passport must have been issued in the last ten years and have at least another six months’ validity from the time you enter Mexico.

Additionally, it must also have blank pages so the Mexican embassy staff can affix your visa.

Photocopy of your passport

You must also include a photocopy of your passport’s relevant pages, such as the first and last page as well as any amendments and previous visas and stamps.

Pictures: Mexico visa photo size

Along with your application, one of the visa requirements for Mexico is submitting a passport size picture. The Mexican visa photo requirements are as follows:

Dimensions: 35 mm x 45 mm
Colored
White background without any patterns
Your position: You must be staring straight into the camera, with a neutral facial expression
Accessories: No headgear or glasses are allowed
Recent: No older than six months

Booked return travel ticket

Another important Mexico visa requirement is submitting proof you intend to depart Mexico after your trip is over. Mexico embassies could ask you to show you have booked a return flight ticket or a travel itinerary.

Proof of sufficient financial means

You must be able to prove you have enough financial means to cover the duration of your stay in Mexico. You can do this by submitting one of the following:

Bank statements from the last three months
Your last three payslips along with a letter from your employer stating your full name, nationality, passport number, the time you have been employed, your position and your salary.

If someone is sponsoring your trip to Mexico, you must submit:

An original invitation or sponsorship letter, which states you full name, the company’s name and registration, what activity you will be doing in Mexico, and an estimated period of your stay
Photocopy of the ID of the person signing the letter
Bank statements from the last 12 months of the company sponsoring you

Proof of accommodation

You must be able to prove that you have accommodation in Mexico for the duration of your stay. You can submit proof of hotel reservation or another type of tourist accommodation. If you are staying with a friend, include proof of their Mexican ID or residence permit.

Employment status documents

As part of the visa requirements to Mexico is also submitting proof of your employment status, such as:

If you are employed: A letter from your employer stating your position in the company, the time you will be absent, and that they do not object to your absence.
If you are a student: A letter from your educational institution, confirming your enrollment and providing details of your course.
If you are self-employed: Depending on your situation, you may submit investment certificates, property deeds, commercial registration etc.

Cover letter

Some Mexican embassies may require that you submit a Cover Letter, addressed to the embassy. You must explain the reason you want to travel to Mexico and give details of your trip (enter and exit dates, where you will stay etc).

Proof of paid Mexico visa fee

When you apply for a Mexico visa, you must also pay a non-refundable visa fee, which is about US$36. The payment method depends on the specific embassy, as some ask you to pay beforehand via a bank, while others only accept cash at the time of application.

The exact Mexico visa fee amount may also change depending on the specific embassy.

Any additional documents related to your purpose of travel

Depending on what the reason you are travelling to Mexico is, you will have to submit any additional documents that support your purpose of travel. That could be an invitation letter from an organization/company, proof you will attend a conference/event etc.

Mexico Visa Document Guidelines

All the documents you submit have to be in Spanish or in English. If they are not, they must be translated to Spanish by an authorized translator and both the original and the translation has to be included.

All the official documents have to be legalized. You can legalize documents via an Apostille Stamp or (if your country is not included in the Apostille Convention) at the Mexican embassy.

The Mexican embassy requests the right to request any additional documents as they see fit.

What is the difference between a Mexico Tourist Visa and a Mexico Tourist Card?

The difference between a Mexico Tourist Visa and a Mexico Tourist Card is:

The Mexico Tourist Visa is an authorization which only visa-required foreigners have to obtain to be allowed to travel to Mexico. You have to apply for a Tourist visa at a Mexican embassy abroad.
The Mexico Tourist Card, (Forma Migratoria Múltiple, FMM) is a permit which everyone, regardless of their nationality, must get before they can enter Mexico. You can get the Tourist Card at a Mexican point of entry upon arrival or obtain it online up to 7 days before you intend to travel.

Learn more about the Mexico Tourist Visa and Tourist Card here.

Mexico Resident Visa Requirements

A Mexico Temporary Resident Visa is the type of visa you apply for when you want to stay in Mexico for longer than six months, but less than four years. As such, you must present proof of the reason of your travel to Mexico, such as:

Enrollment in a Mexican educational institution; or
Work permit and work contract; or
Proof of family relations to a Mexican resident or citizen

For the specific Mexico visa requirements for long stays, see:

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Canada Visa – Application and Guidelines

Visa Consulate — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:18:26 +0000

Canada is a country in the North American continent located right above the United States and is known as a highly developed country. The demand for people to travel to Canada has been steadily increasing in the last few years, but most people wonder how they can get to Canada.

What is a Canada Visa?

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.

Who Needs a Canadian Visa?

People from countries that do not have a visa exemption or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) agreement with Canada will need a visa to enter the country. More specifically, people from around 148 countries need a visa to visit, work, or immigrate to Canada.

If you are one of these applicants and you need a visa for Canada, you must apply for one. Depending on the type of visa you want, you will have a method of applying, but there are a few general steps you must take.

What are the Canada Visa Types?

Before you apply for a Canadian visa, you must first know which visa you want to apply for. Here are the types of Canada visas:

Visitor visas.
Student visas.
Work visas.
Permanent Residence visas.
Business Immigrant visas.
Express Entry Program visas.

You must pick the one that fits the motive of why you want to go to Canada.

Temporary Canada Visas

The temporary Canada visas allow the person to stay in Canada for a specific period of time which is determined by the Canadian Consulate or the Border Services Officers (BSO). This time is usually up to 6 months. However, the temporary visa can be single entry or multiple entry visa.

Single entry visa allows the person to only enter Canada once, stay for 6 months and then return to their home country. A multiple entry visa allows the person to enter Canada multiple times until their visa expires and stay temporarily.

Here are the types of Canadian Temporary Visas:

Canada Tourist Visa. The Visitor Visa or the Tourist visa allows the holder to enter Canada for the purposes of tourism in the country.
Canada Super Visa. The Canadian Super Visa allows parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents to visit their children or grandchildren for an extended stay.
Diplomatic and Official Visa. The Diplomatic and Official visa gives permission to officials and diplomats from foreign countries to enter Canada for official duties and purposes.
Courtesy Visa. The Courtesy visa is given to all those people who do not qualify for a Diplomatic and Official Visa but are considered of importance due to their ranks and positions. This includes for example, members of trade missions or diplomats with touristic intent.
Canada Business Visa. The Business Visa is given to those who are travelling to Canada with business purposes as individuals or as a group of business people.
Visa to Give Birth in Canada. This visa is given to people who fulfill all the criteria to stay temporarily in Canada and who are pregnant and want to give birth in the country. Giving birth in Canada makes the baby automatically a Canadian citizen.
Intending Organ Donors Visa. This visa is given to a person who is traveling to Canada with the purpose of donating an organ to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
Canada Facilitation Visa. Facilitation Visas are given to Canadian citizens with dual nationalities who do not have a Canadian passport but have a passport of another nationality. The facilitation visa is stamped on the person’s other nationality visa due to extreme hardships of the person getting a Canadian passport.
Canada Student Visa. A Canadian student visa is given to those who have an admission from a Canadian university to complete their studies. If you are going to Canada to study for less than 6 months, then you can only get a TRV visa, but for more than 6 months of studies, you will need a Student Visa.
Canada Temporary Work Visa. Canada temporary work visas are given to those people who have a job offer in Canada and will work for up to 6 months. To get this visa, the person must present a valid job offer letter from an employer and qualify for a temporary visa.
Temporary Residence Permit. This permit is for people who need to go to Canada for different purposes but are otherwise not admissible for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This permit is issued only for the length of time that the person needs to be in Canada, for example 2 weeks for a workshop.
Working Holiday Visa. The Canada Working Holiday Visa is given to young people from 30 countries, so they can work in Canada and travel. It is a random selection visa which means that applicants will submit their applications and wait to be randomly selected to apply for the work permit.

Permanent Canada Visas

The permanent Canada visas are visas which allow the holder to permanently settle in the country. These are otherwise known as immigrant visas and can be of different types, as follows:

Immigrant Investor Program. The Immigrant Investor Program is for people who will make investments in the Canadian economy and have a net worth of at least CAD$800,000. They must invest at least CAD$400,000 and the government will return this investment to them in 5 years without any interest.
Startup Visa Program. The Canada Startup Visa is for people who will be individually involved in contributing to the economy. They must have a net worth of at least CAD$300,000 and must commit to owning and managing at least one third of a Canadian business as well as create and maintain employment within 3 years of being in the country.
Self-employed Persons Visa. The Self-employed Persons visa is for people who have skills in business, athletics, culture, or farming and can start their own businesses. These people must demonstrate how they will finance the business as well as their skills in those particular areas
Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). If you have one of the occupations which are required in the Canadian province of Quebec and you are fluent in French, then you can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program which will allow you to move and work permanently there.
Family-Sponsorship Program. The Family Sponsorship Visa allows the spouses and dependent children of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents to immigrate to Canada permanently.
Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). This visa is given to caregivers who are qualified to take care for elderly, disabled people, or children and live in a private home in Canada.

Express Entry Visas

The Canada Express Entry Program is an electronic immigration program designed by the Government of Canada. It allows people from all over the world to apply for immigration to Canada based on their specific skills.

The following are part of this program:

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) visa is given to people who are qualified tradespeople in occupations such as:

Carpenters
Aircraft Mechanics
Crane Operators
Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics
Electricians
Machinists
Ironworkers
Welders
Plumbers, etc.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The visa under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is given to people who have professions which are required in Canada. You must check what kind of occupations Canada needs at the point you are planning to apply and obtain the necessary points.

Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

This visa under the Provincial Nominee Program is given to semi or low-skilled workers who can contribute to the Canadian economy though their work. The workers are placed in different provinces of Canada where the demand for their work is higher.

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class permanent visa is given to those who have a temporary student visa or a temporary workers visa and want to switch to a permanent resident status. They either have a Canadian education or work experience and have settled into Canadian society.

Canada Visa Application

The Canada visa application process depends mostly on the visa type you need to apply for.

To apply for a Canada visa, you need to go through these simple steps:

Find out if you are eligible for a Canada visa.
Create your online account.
Compile the document file.
Pay the fees.
Wait for processing of your Canadian visa.
Submit your passport and processing fees.

Find out if you are eligible for a Canada visa

To find out how to get a Canadian visa, the Canadian government has made it quite easy. They have created different tests that evaluate the eligibility of applicants by asking them to fill out an online questionnaire. Depending on the type of visa you want, you will be asked to answer several questions, and the system will then let you know whether you can apply or not. Additionally, it will also send you the relevant instructions and steps you must take to fulfill all the requirements.

How to navigate through the Canadian government website?

To be able to access these questionnaires and find out if you are eligible for the Canada visa, you must go to their website here. The website will show you different information and different tabs that you can select, but you must go to the Immigration tab.

When you hover or click on the Immigration tab, it will show you a drop-down list of options. The first one will be My Application, and then there will be tabs for Visit, Immigrate, Work, Study, and others. You must select the one that corresponds with the visa you want to apply for. As a continuation of the example we showed above, if you want to get a tourist visa, you must click on the Visit tab.

After you click on the tab that matches the reason you want to visit Canada and the visa you want to apply for, you will see more information there. Whichever tab you have clicked, one of the links will say “Find out if you can apply” or “Find out if you are eligible”. You must click on this link.

The link will take you to the questionnaire where you will have to answer several questions. They will range from your personal information to reasons why you want to visit Canada, and previous travel history. At the end of the questionnaire, the system will show you the results.

Receiving the results

You will be able to see three different types of results which say one of the following:

You are eligible for the visa you have selected.
You are eligible for a different type of visa that the system will match you with.
You are not eligible for the visa.

If you are eligible for the visa you have selected or a different type of visa, the system will ask you to input your contact information (usually your email), and they will send you a set of documents.

The documents will contain a description of the visa, as well as instructions and details about how to apply. Additionally, they will send you a reference code.

The reference code is one of the most important information on that set of documents because you will have to use it to start your application. Without a reference code, you will not be able to apply. The reference code tells the system the information you have given it during your questionnaire and it will have the type of visa you are applying for.

Because of this, you must save the email and those documents. You can either write the reference code in different ways, such as send it to yourself, write it on your computer, or on a piece of paper, but you must not lose it. If you do, you will have to start the questionnaire process all over again.

Create your online account

Within the instructions sent to you by email, it will show you whether you must apply for a Canada visa online or in person. Since the Canadian government is digitalizing its records, most people will have to apply online. To do that, you must create an account.

There are two ways to create an account for the application:

Using your online banking login since the Canadian Government has partnered with many banks;
Creating a Government of Canada login (GCKey);

You can use whichever one fits you better, since either way you will have to use your banking details to pay the visa fees.

Compile the document file

Once you login to your account, you can start your Canada visa application. Use your reference code to start applying for the visa you have been deemed eligible for. Once you enter the reference code, the system will show you a list of documents for your Canadian visa application.

You must submit all of these forms online in the system and then proceed to submit the application.

Pay the fees

Once the system has verified that you have submitted all the necessary documents, it will take you to the payment page. You will have to pay the Canada visa fees depending on the type of visa you are applying for. When that is completed, your application will be submitted.

It will take around 5 workdays for you to see the application on your account, and if you apply in person, you will just have to take those documents to the Canadian Embassy in your home country.

Wait for processing of your Canadian Visa

The Canadian Embassy will then process your Canada visa application for two or more weeks depending on the type of visa. Additionally, they might ask for more documents, or for you to submit your biometrics and have an interview.

If they ask for your biometrics and an interview, this means you will have to visit the Embassy in person even if you applied online. You will have to make an appointment, or the Embassy will make one for you. At your appointment, you will have to submit your fingerprints and photographs, as well as answer questions from a Canadian Embassy official. See the photo requirements for Canada visa.

The official will determine whether you are fit to get a Canadian visa or not. They can let you know of their decision immediately after your appointment or send you a notification later.

All Embassy notifications regarding your visa will be posted on your account, so you must check it continuously, even if you did not have to submit biometrics or go through an interview.

Submit your passport and processing fees

If you receive a notification that your Canada visa application was successful, the next step is to submit your passport to the Canadian Embassy. This can be done by mailing it to the address of the Embassy in your country, together with processing fees. The processing fees depend on the type of visa you are applying for and will range from $20 to $50, which you must pay by check or money order. You must also pay for a return envelope for your passport.

The Embassy officials will receive your passport and fees, stamp the visa on your passport, and mail it back to you. If you get notified of their decision immediately after the visa interview, then you will have to pay the processing fees there and get the passport immediately.

After a Successful Canadian Visa Application

Once you have your visa, you can travel to Canada. At the point of entry, you will be asked to show your passport and documents. The officials will check them and ask a few questions about why you are going to Canada.

After you answer, they will make the decision whether to let you inside the country or not. The officials at the point of entry have the authority to not allow you inside Canada if they believe that you will commit crimes or not respect your visa restrictions. Having a Canadian visa does not guarantee that you will go to Canada, only the border officials are allowed to do that.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Visa to Canada?

The Canada visa processing time varies for each specific case. It can take anywhere between two to four weeks, or even longer.

Your Canadian visa begins to process only after the Canadian authorities have received your complete application.

If they need you to get them additional documents, the processing time will be delayed.

Can I Help Someone Get a Canada Visa?

If you have a family member or friend who is living abroad, and you want to bring them to visit Canada, you can write them a Letter of Invitation.

The Letter of Invitation must include the following information: About the person you are inviting:

Full name and date of birth
The reason they want to come to Canada
How long they intend to stay in Canada and when they will leave
Their contact information
The relationship you share
Where they will stay
How they will finance their trip

About you:

Your full name and date of birth
Your occupation
Your residential status in Canada (Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
Your family details – names and dates of birth of your immediate family members (spouse and dependents)
How many people live in your household

However, the Letter of Invitation does not guarantee that they will get a Canada visa. The visa will be processed on its own merit, but the letter may help.

If you want to sponsor a family member to join you in Canada permanently or long-term, you can do so through the Canada Family Sponsorship Program.

How Can I Extend my Stay in Canada?

If your Canada visitor visa is about to expire, and you want to stay longer, you have to apply for a visa extension. This is called a Canada Visitor Record.

You have to apply for a visa extension for Canada (visitor record) at least 30 days before your visitor visa expires.

Other than extending a tourist visa, you can change your study or work permit to a Visitor Record as well. However, a visitor record is only available while you are inside Canada.

If you want to leave Canada and enter again, you will not be allowed entry with a visitor record.

What Happens if I Overstayed my Canada Visa?

If you have stayed in Canada past the expiry of your visa, the next step depends on how long you have overstayed.

If you’ve overstayed for less than 90 days, you can restore your visitor status by applying for a Visitor Record and selecting “Restore my status as a visitor”.

If you’ve overstayed for longer than 90 days, you cannot apply to restore your status and have to leave Canada. You may not be able to get another Canada visa.

However, you should try not to overstay a Canada visa. If you think you may need to stay longer than the duration of your visa, apply for a visa extension before it expires.

How Much is a Canada Visa Fee?

The Canada visa fee depends on the type of visa you are applying for. There are also different types of fees you must pay, such as a processing fee and a biometrics fee.

A normal Visitor Visa fee, however, is $CAN100.

What if My Canada Visa is Rejected?

If your Canada visa application is rejected, you can re-apply again at anytime, provided that your rejection letter does not forbid you from re-applying.

However, you can re-apply only if your situation has changed or you have additional information that may help you get a Canada visa approval.

As for appeals, there is no formal process to appeal a Canada tourist visa decision. Appeals are only available for refugee and permanent residency applications. They are processed by the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD).

Will I Get a Refund if my Canada Visa Application is Rejected?

Canada visa fees are non-refundable, even if your application is rejected. That’s because you’re paying a fee for the visa application to be processed, not for the visa itself.

However, in some cases, you may get a refund if your withdraw your application before it starts to process. After it has started to process, you will not get a refund.

Additionally, if your application is you may receive a refund for the following:

The fee for Right of Permanent Residence
The fee for Right of Citizenship
The fee for an Open Work Permit
The fee for International Experience Canada (IEC)
The fee for Employer Compliance

However, you can still request a refund for any of your fees through the Government of Canada: Immigration and citizenship website.

Can I Apply for a Canada Visa From Another Country?

In some cases, there is no Canadian embassy or Visa Application Center in your country of residence. In this case, you may have to travel to another country to apply for a Canada visa.

However, you must only apply for a visa at the Canadian embassy or VAC responsible for your jurisdiction (ie. for the country you are a legal resident of).

Additionally, if you are from Country A and have a residence permit for Country B, you can apply for a Canadian visa from Country B.

However, if you are simply visiting Country B and do not have legal residency there, you have to apply at the Canadian embassy or Visa Application Center responsible for your jurisdiction, in your own country or otherwise.

You can give your biometrics at a Canadian Visa Application center. The Canadian embassy will send you a letter informing you of when you have to give your biometrics. To receive the letter, you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your Canada visa application.

There are Visa Application Centers worldwide where you can submit your biometrics. Visit the website of the one nearest to you to find out about the fees and services they offer.

Do I Need to Submit Biometrics For my Canada Visa Application?

Yes, most visa applicants have to give their biometrics (fingerprints and picture) when applying for a Canada visa, regardless of the type of visa being applied for.

What Does a Canadian Visa look like?

A Canadian visa is a stamp on the passport and has a distinct look. It usually does not include a picture, but includes the following information:

The place the visa was issued;
Date of issuance and expiration;
Number of entries allowed;
Document number;
Visa category;
Visa type;
The visa holder’s last and first name;
Passport number.

How Can I Travel to The US as a Canada Visa Holder?

To travel to the US from Canada, you might be required to apply for a US visa in Canada. However, if you are a citizen of a country in the Visa Waiver Program, you are not required to apply for a US visa from Canada, but you will have to apply for ESTA instead.

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Canada Visa – Application and Guidelines

Visa Consulate — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 11:00:12 +0000

What is a Canada Visa?

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

Who Needs a Canadian Visa?

What are the Canada Visa Types?

Before you apply for a Canadian visa, you must first know which visa you want to apply for. Here are the types of Canada visas:

Visitor visas.
Student visas.
Work visas.
Permanent Residence visas.
Business Immigrant visas.
Express Entry Program visas.

You must pick the one that fits the motive of why you want to go to Canada.

Temporary Canada Visas

Here are the types of Canadian Temporary Visas:

Canada Tourist Visa. The Visitor Visa or the Tourist visa allows the holder to enter Canada for the purposes of tourism in the country.
Canada Super Visa. The Canadian Super Visa allows parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents to visit their children or grandchildren for an extended stay.
Diplomatic and Official Visa. The Diplomatic and Official visa gives permission to officials and diplomats from foreign countries to enter Canada for official duties and purposes.
Courtesy Visa. The Courtesy visa is given to all those people who do not qualify for a Diplomatic and Official Visa but are considered of importance due to their ranks and positions. This includes for example, members of trade missions or diplomats with touristic intent.
Canada Business Visa. The Business Visa is given to those who are travelling to Canada with business purposes as individuals or as a group of business people.
Visa to Give Birth in Canada. This visa is given to people who fulfill all the criteria to stay temporarily in Canada and who are pregnant and want to give birth in the country. Giving birth in Canada makes the baby automatically a Canadian citizen.
Intending Organ Donors Visa. This visa is given to a person who is traveling to Canada with the purpose of donating an organ to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
Canada Facilitation Visa. Facilitation Visas are given to Canadian citizens with dual nationalities who do not have a Canadian passport but have a passport of another nationality. The facilitation visa is stamped on the person’s other nationality visa due to extreme hardships of the person getting a Canadian passport.
Canada Student Visa. A Canadian student visa is given to those who have an admission from a Canadian university to complete their studies. If you are going to Canada to study for less than 6 months, then you can only get a TRV visa, but for more than 6 months of studies, you will need a Student Visa.
Canada Temporary Work Visa. Canada temporary work visas are given to those people who have a job offer in Canada and will work for up to 6 months. To get this visa, the person must present a valid job offer letter from an employer and qualify for a temporary visa.
Temporary Residence Permit. This permit is for people who need to go to Canada for different purposes but are otherwise not admissible for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This permit is issued only for the length of time that the person needs to be in Canada, for example 2 weeks for a workshop.
Working Holiday Visa. The Canada Working Holiday Visa is given to young people from 30 countries, so they can work in Canada and travel. It is a random selection visa which means that applicants will submit their applications and wait to be randomly selected to apply for the work permit.

Permanent Canada Visas

The permanent Canada visas are visas which allow the holder to permanently settle in the country. These are otherwise known as immigrant visas and can be of different types, as follows:

Immigrant Investor Program. The Immigrant Investor Program is for people who will make investments in the Canadian economy and have a net worth of at least CAD$800,000. They must invest at least CAD$400,000 and the government will return this investment to them in 5 years without any interest.
Startup Visa Program. The Canada Startup Visa is for people who will be individually involved in contributing to the economy. They must have a net worth of at least CAD$300,000 and must commit to owning and managing at least one third of a Canadian business as well as create and maintain employment within 3 years of being in the country.
Self-employed Persons Visa. The Self-employed Persons visa is for people who have skills in business, athletics, culture, or farming and can start their own businesses. These people must demonstrate how they will finance the business as well as their skills in those particular areas
Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). If you have one of the occupations which are required in the Canadian province of Quebec and you are fluent in French, then you can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program which will allow you to move and work permanently there.
Family-Sponsorship Program. The Family Sponsorship Visa allows the spouses and dependent children of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents to immigrate to Canada permanently.
Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). This visa is given to caregivers who are qualified to take care for elderly, disabled people, or children and live in a private home in Canada.

Express Entry Visas

The following are part of this program:

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) visa is given to people who are qualified tradespeople in occupations such as:

Carpenters
Aircraft Mechanics
Crane Operators
Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics
Electricians
Machinists
Ironworkers
Welders
Plumbers, etc.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

Canadian Experience Class

Canada Visa Application

The Canada visa application process depends mostly on the visa type you need to apply for.

To apply for a Canada visa, you need to go through these simple steps:

Find out if you are eligible for a Canada visa.
Create your online account.
Compile the document file.
Pay the fees.
Wait for processing of your Canadian visa.
Submit your passport and processing fees.

Find out if you are eligible for a Canada visa

How to navigate through the Canadian government website?

Receiving the results

You will be able to see three different types of results which say one of the following:

You are eligible for the visa you have selected.
You are eligible for a different type of visa that the system will match you with.
You are not eligible for the visa.

The documents will contain a description of the visa, as well as instructions and details about how to apply. Additionally, they will send you a reference code.

Create your online account

There are two ways to create an account for the application:

Using your online banking login since the Canadian Government has partnered with many banks;
Creating a Government of Canada login (GCKey);

You can use whichever one fits you better, since either way you will have to use your banking details to pay the visa fees.

Compile the document file

You must submit all of these forms online in the system and then proceed to submit the application.

Pay the fees

It will take around 5 workdays for you to see the application on your account, and if you apply in person, you will just have to take those documents to the Canadian Embassy in your home country.

Wait for processing of your Canadian Visa

The official will determine whether you are fit to get a Canadian visa or not. They can let you know of their decision immediately after your appointment or send you a notification later.

All Embassy notifications regarding your visa will be posted on your account, so you must check it continuously, even if you did not have to submit biometrics or go through an interview.

Submit your passport and processing fees

After a Successful Canadian Visa Application

How Long Does it Take to Get a Visa to Canada?

The Canada visa processing time varies for each specific case. It can take anywhere between two to four weeks, or even longer.

Your Canadian visa begins to process only after the Canadian authorities have received your complete application.

If they need you to get them additional documents, the processing time will be delayed.

Can I Help Someone Get a Canada Visa?

If you have a family member or friend who is living abroad, and you want to bring them to visit Canada, you can write them a Letter of Invitation.

The Letter of Invitation must include the following information: About the person you are inviting:

Full name and date of birth
The reason they want to come to Canada
How long they intend to stay in Canada and when they will leave
Their contact information
The relationship you share
Where they will stay
How they will finance their trip

About you:

Your full name and date of birth
Your occupation
Your residential status in Canada (Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
Your family details – names and dates of birth of your immediate family members (spouse and dependents)
How many people live in your household

However, the Letter of Invitation does not guarantee that they will get a Canada visa. The visa will be processed on its own merit, but the letter may help.

If you want to sponsor a family member to join you in Canada permanently or long-term, you can do so through the Canada Family Sponsorship Program.

How Can I Extend my Stay in Canada?

If your Canada visitor visa is about to expire, and you want to stay longer, you have to apply for a visa extension. This is called a Canada Visitor Record.

You have to apply for a visa extension for Canada (visitor record) at least 30 days before your visitor visa expires.

Other than extending a tourist visa, you can change your study or work permit to a Visitor Record as well. However, a visitor record is only available while you are inside Canada.

If you want to leave Canada and enter again, you will not be allowed entry with a visitor record.

What Happens if I Overstayed my Canada Visa?

If you have stayed in Canada past the expiry of your visa, the next step depends on how long you have overstayed.

If you’ve overstayed for less than 90 days, you can restore your visitor status by applying for a Visitor Record and selecting “Restore my status as a visitor”.

If you’ve overstayed for longer than 90 days, you cannot apply to restore your status and have to leave Canada. You may not be able to get another Canada visa.

However, you should try not to overstay a Canada visa. If you think you may need to stay longer than the duration of your visa, apply for a visa extension before it expires.

How Much is a Canada Visa Fee?

The Canada visa fee depends on the type of visa you are applying for. There are also different types of fees you must pay, such as a processing fee and a biometrics fee.

A normal Visitor Visa fee, however, is $CAN100.

What if My Canada Visa is Rejected?

If your Canada visa application is rejected, you can re-apply again at anytime, provided that your rejection letter does not forbid you from re-applying.

However, you can re-apply only if your situation has changed or you have additional information that may help you get a Canada visa approval.

Will I Get a Refund if my Canada Visa Application is Rejected?

Canada visa fees are non-refundable, even if your application is rejected. That’s because you’re paying a fee for the visa application to be processed, not for the visa itself.

However, in some cases, you may get a refund if your withdraw your application before it starts to process. After it has started to process, you will not get a refund.

Additionally, if your application is you may receive a refund for the following:

The fee for Right of Permanent Residence
The fee for Right of Citizenship
The fee for an Open Work Permit
The fee for International Experience Canada (IEC)
The fee for Employer Compliance

However, you can still request a refund for any of your fees through the Government of Canada: Immigration and citizenship website.

Can I Apply for a Canada Visa From Another Country?

In some cases, there is no Canadian embassy or Visa Application Center in your country of residence. In this case, you may have to travel to another country to apply for a Canada visa.

However, you must only apply for a visa at the Canadian embassy or VAC responsible for your jurisdiction (ie. for the country you are a legal resident of).

Additionally, if you are from Country A and have a residence permit for Country B, you can apply for a Canadian visa from Country B.

There are Visa Application Centers worldwide where you can submit your biometrics. Visit the website of the one nearest to you to find out about the fees and services they offer.

Do I Need to Submit Biometrics For my Canada Visa Application?

Yes, most visa applicants have to give their biometrics (fingerprints and picture) when applying for a Canada visa, regardless of the type of visa being applied for.

What Does a Canadian Visa look like?

A Canadian visa is a stamp on the passport and has a distinct look. It usually does not include a picture, but includes the following information:

The place the visa was issued;
Date of issuance and expiration;
Number of entries allowed;
Document number;
Visa category;
Visa type;
The visa holder’s last and first name;
Passport number.

The examples below show three types of how Canada visas look for visitors, workers, and immigrants.

Canada Immigrant Visa

Canada Employment Visa

Canada Visitor Visa

How Can I Travel to The US as a Canada Visa Holder?

The post Canada Visa – Application and Guidelines appeared first on Visa Consulate - Visa Information For Any Country.

Japan Work Visa Application and Requirements

Visa Consulate — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:00:47 +0000

Foreigners who enter Japan with the purpose of taking up paid employment need a Japan Work Visa. There are three types of Work Visas for Japan:

The regular Japan Work Visa, which is issued for a number of professions such as a professor or artist.
Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa, which is issued through a point-based system and offers a longer period of stay and more benefits than a regular Work Visa.
Japan Working Holiday Visa, which is issued to nationals of countries who have a Working Holiday agreement with Japan.

This article will detail the regular Japanese Work Visa, including the eligibility and application requirements, the application process, visa duration, etc.

Who Needs a Japan Work Visa?

Every foreign national who intends to live and work in Japan for any duration of time needs a Japan Work Visa.

Although there are citizens of several countries who are exempt from holding a Japan Visa , the exemption only applies to those entering as tourists, as short-term visitors and business people, or other recreational purposes.

For long-term stays (work, studying, family reunion), everyone needs to get the appropriate Japan Visa.

What Professions are Eligible for a Japan Work Visa?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan offers a list of occupations that are eligible for Japanese Work Visas:

Artists, such as photographers, composers, songwriters, sculptors, etc.
Business managers, such as a company president, director, etc.
Engineer or specialist in humanities or international services, such as a scientific or IT engineer, an interpreter or copywriter, a foreign language teacher, designer, etc.
Entertainer, such an actor, musician, singer, dancer, sportsperson, etc.
Instructor or teacher at elementary, intermediate schools, or high school.
Intra-company transferee (someone transferred to the Japanese branch of a company)
Journalists, such as newspaper or magazine journalists, editors, news cameramen, announcers, etc.
Legal or accounting workers, such as attorneys, judicial scriveners, public accountants, tax accountants, etc.
Medical services, such as physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, etc.
Nursing care
Professor, such as a university professor or an assistant professor, etc.
Religious activities, such as monks, bishops, missionaries, etc.
Researchers at research institutes
Skilled workers, such as foreign chefs, animal trainers, pilots, sports trainers, or foreigners who have expertise and skills in certain industrial fields, etc.
Technical interns

What Documents Do I Need for a Japan Work Visa Application?

When you apply for a Japan Work Visa, you have to submit the following supporting documents:

The Certificate of Eligibility
Japan Work Visa Application Form, completed and signed. You can download a copy of the application form from the website of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (here).
Your valid passport along with photocopies of it
Passport-size pictures with the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 4cm x 3cm
- Taken within the last three months
- Plain white background, without any patterns and shadows
- You must be starting straight ahead, with a neutral facial expression
- Your face has to be fully visible
- The picture must be good quality (focused, clear, and sharp)
Documents detailing your position in the company/organization, the salary you will receive, and the duration of the work.
Documents attesting to your previous academic and professional history
Documents related to the receiving company, such as company registration, statement of profit and loss, etc.
For artists: Any documents which show your artistic achievements.
For religious workers:
- Documents which show the details of the religious organization sending you to Japan
- Documents which show the details of the receiving Japanese organization
- Documents attesting to your religious position and career
For researchers:
- Documents related to the receiving organization
- Academic and professional qualifications
For instructors or teachers:
- Documents related to the receiving organization
- Academic qualifications or an educational license.
For intra-company transferees: Documents attesting to the relationship between the two offices/companies.
Any additional documents that the Japanese Embassy or Consulate requests, depending on your profession

Note:

Before you apply for the Japan Work Visa, you have to send most of the documents to your employer or sponsor on Japan so they can apply for the Certificate of Eligibility at the Immigration Services there.
This is not an exhaustive list of documents and the Immigration Service in Japan as well as the Japanese Embassy or Consulate reserve the right to request any documents as they see fit.

How to Apply for a Japan Work Visa?

The application process for applying for a Work Visa for Japan is divided into two parts:

Getting a Certificate of Eligibility
Applying for a Japan Work Visa

Obtaining the Certificate of Eligibility in Japan

Every foreigner who enters Japan for long-term purposes needs to get a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services in Japan . It is your sponsor (employer) that’s in charge of handling the COE application on your behalf (since it has to be submitted in Japan). You have to send them any relevant documents.

The Certificate of Eligibility for Japan does not replace the Work Visa: is merely a pre-requisite and you still have to apply for a Japan Work Visa from your home country.

The COE does serve to show, however, that you have the approval of the Japanese Immigration Services and that you meet the entry requirements set by the Japanese government for foreign workers. Once you have the Certificate of Eligibility the process for obtaining a visa is easier.

Applying for the Japan Work Visa

After you receive the Certificate of Eligibility, your employer must send it to you so you can use it to apply for the Work Visa from a Japanese Diplomatic Representative Office (Consulate or Embassy) in your country. You have to:

Contact the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate. You can find a list of the Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions here.
1. Some Representative Offices don’t accept direct visa applications, which means you have to apply through an accredited travel agency or a visa application agency.
Collect the required documents for a Japan Work Visa
Submit the Japan Work Visa application either directly at the Embassy/Consulate or at the travel agency or visa application agency. If the Consulate or Embassy considers it necessary, you may also have to bo back for an interview or to submit additional documents.
Collect the visa. Once your Japan Work Visa application has been processed, you have to go back to receive your passport. If the application was approved, you may enter Japan.

How Long Does it Take to Process a Japanese Work Visa Application?

The processing time for the actual Japan Work Visa is between 5 to 10 working days (although the actual time depends on the specific office in which you apply).

However, the process for getting the Certificate of Eligibility for the Work Visa can take up to three months.

What to Do After Entering Japan With a Work Visa?

Once you enter Japan with your Work Visa, you will receive a Landing Permit at the port of entry. The Landing Permit replaces the visa and works as “permission” allowing you to enter Japan.

In addition to the Landing Permit, you also need a Residence Card and a Re-Entry Permit (but only if you’re going to leave the country for more than one year).

Getting the Residence Card

If you enter Japan through the Narita, Haneda, Kansai or Chubu Airport you will get a Japanese Residence Card along with the Landing Permit. However, if you enter through any other port, you gave to go and get a Residence Card at the local municipal office where you will live in Japan.

After that, within 14 days after you set up residence in Japan, you have to register at the local municipal office (also known as Ward Office) of where you are living in Japan. Your address will be printed on the Residence Card.

When you need a Re-Entry Permit

You need a Re-Entry Permit only if your stay outside Japan exceeds one year. If you will leave and return within one year, you only need a Special Re-Entry Permit which you can get at the airport before you leave.

See how to get a Re-Entry Permit and Special Re-Entry Permit for Japan.

How Much is the Fee for a Japan Work Visa?

The fees for Japan Visas are as follows:

Single-entry visa: 3,000 Yen
Double-entry or multiple-entry visa: 6,000 Yen

Notes:

You only have to pay the fee if the application of approved
If you apply through an agency, they will ask for an additional service fee
Visa fees can change depending on the country in which you are applying, the local currency, as well as your nationality

What is the Duration of a Japan Work Visa?

Japan Work Visas can be issued for the following durations, based on several factors such as your profession and the duration of your work contract:

Three months
Four months
One year
Three years
Five years

However, regardless of the duration of your visa, if you meet the requirements, you can apply for an extension of your Work Visa before it expires.

How to Extend a Japan Work Visa?

You have to apply for Japan Visa Extension (also known as Extension of the Period of Stay) at the local Immigration Office where you live and work. You need the following documents:

Extension of the Period of Stay Application Form, completed and signed
Your passport and Residence Card
Passport-size picture of yourself, with the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 4cm x 3cm
- Taken within the last three months
- Plain and light-colored background, without any patterns and shadows
- You must be starting straight ahead, with a neutral facial expression
- Your face has to be fully visible
- The picture must be good quality (focused, clear, and sharp)
Proof you meet the financial requirements to continue living in Japan
Proof of continued employment which states the details of your employment, such as the salary, position, and duration
The company’s registration documents
Proof of the annual income and tax payment

Can My Family Members Come to Japan With Me if I Gave a Work Visa?

Yes, if you are working in Japan as a foreign worker, then you can sponsor your spouse and children to join you there through a Japan Spouse Visa .

Changing the Status from a Different Type of Visa to a Japan Work Visa

If you are living in Japan with a type of Japanese visa which does not authorize employment, such as a Student Visa or Spouse Visa, you can apply for a “Change of Status of Residence” at the local office of the Immigration Services in Japan. If you want to change your existing visa into a “Work Visa”, you need to submit documents similar as you would when you first apply for one (documents detailing your position in the company/organization, the salary you will receive, and the duration of the work.)

The application takes from two weeks to one month to process, and you have to submit the necessary documents along with your Residence Card.

The cost of changing your Residence Status is 4,000 Yen.

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How to Get a Temporary Passport?

Visa Consulate — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 13:40:57 +0000

A temporary passport or limited validity passport is a travel document issued by the relevant authorities of your country in urgent cases.

So for example, you are abroad, and for some reason, your regular passport is just gone – you misplaced it, or it was stolen, or damaged. Or, you have to travel abroad in an emergency, you don’t have a valid passport, and you don’t have time to wait a few weeks until a regular passport is issued.

This is when the temporary passport comes in.

When Am I Eligible for a Temporary Passport?

You can get a temporary passport in one of the following cases:

You are abroad and your passport is stolen, lost, or damaged
You are abroad and your passport has expired
You need to travel abroad for an emergency, such as for the illness or funeral of a family member, and do not have time to renew your passport.

How to Get a Temporary Passport?

The method of application for temporary passport changes depending on whether you are applying in your country of residence or abroad. If you apply abroad, you have to approach an Embassy. If you are in your country, approach the relevant passport-issuance authorities.

Temporary Passport Application Abroad

If you are abroad, in order to apply for a temporary passport, you have to approach an Embassy or Consulate of your country within the foreign country*. For example, if you are a US citizen, and you lost your passport in France, you have to go to the Embassy of the United States in Paris.

Call the Embassy ahead of time to learn whether you need to make an appointment, and to learn what documents you need to submit.

Before applying for the temporary passport, you have to file a police report for the lost/stolen passport. You need this report to submit to the Embassy along with your application.

Documents required:

A passport-size picture (white background)
Your ID or driver’s license
Proof of your citizenship, such as a photocopy of the missing passport (if available) or your birth certificate
Your travel ticket (airplane, train, bus, etc)
Police report
Application form for a temporary passport (you will likely be able to get it at the Embassy)
Fee payment

If applying for a temporary passport for a minor, proof of the following will be required:

Proof of parentage of the minor
Proof of legal guardianship over the minor
Proof of custody, in case the parents are divorced or separated

*If your country does not have a diplomatic representation office where you are, then you have to learn which other country’s Embassy/Consulate is responsible for your country and apply there.

Temporary Passport Application in Your Country

Within your country of residence, you can apply for a temporary passport at the responsible government authorities for passport issuance (i.e. wherever you would apply for a regular passport).

Documents required:

A passport-size picture (white background)
Your ID or driver’s license
Proof of your citizenship, such as a photocopy of the previous passport (if available) or your birth certificate
Documents which prove the urgent nature of your travel
Application form for a temporary passport
A travel itinerary, if applicable
Fee payment

If applying for a temporary passport for a minor, proof of the following will be required:

Proof of parentage of the minor
Proof of legal guardianship over the minor
Proof of custody, in case the parents are divorced or separated

How Long Does It Take to Get a Temporary Passport?

In certain situations (such as a life or death emergency), a temporary passport can be issued in as little as one working day. However, there is really no pre-determined time on how long it will take for such a passport to be issued, as it depends on the Embassy/Consulate or passport authorities in your country.

It is quicker than a regular passport, sure, but don’t always count you can get it in a matter of days. A week is the safest bet.

Where Can You Go With a Temporary Passport?

A temporary passport only allows you to travel to your destination country and any countries in between where you have to transit to reach your destination.

If you need a temporary passport to return home, once you arrive, the immigration officers will take your passport.
If you need a temporary passport for an urgent trip abroad, you can only use the passport on your onward and return journey. Once home, immigration will take your temporary passport.

Note: If travelling abroad, it is your responsibility to check whether they will allow you to enter with a temporary/emergency passport.

How Long Is the Temporary Passport Valid?

A temporary passport is usually only valid for the timeframe you need it to travel. You can only use it for that one time, hence the name. Once you are safely home, you’ll have to forfeit it and apply for a regular passport for any future trips abroad.

In some cases, temporary passports are issued for a longer duration, such as six to twelve months.

How Much Does a Temporary Passport Cost?

The cost of a temporary passport differs depending on the country issuing the passport. You will likely have to pay the price for a regular passport, as well as a fee for the expedited application processing. A temporary passport is more expensive than a regular one, sometimes by a lot.

Is a Temporary Passport Accepted When Travelling?

A temporary passport is issued by the relevant authorities in your country, and for all intents and purposes, it is just like a regular passport (for emergency cases). Even so, some countries may not accept a temporary passport as a valid travel document.

It is your responsibility to learn whether your country of destination will let you enter using your emergency/temporary passport.

Can You Get a Visa on a Temporary Passport?

This will depend on the country you are visiting and how long your temporary passport is valid. When you apply for a visa (any type) you need a passport which is valid for at least another six months and has at least 1-2 blank pages.

So, if your temporary passport is not valid for 6 months or more and does not have more than 2 blank pages, you are unlikely to receive a visa on it, be it a Visa on Arrival or an Embassy visa.

Your best bet is to contact the Embassy/Consulate of the country you want to visit and ask for information.

Expedited Passport vs. Temporary Passport

The difference between an expedited passport and a temporary one is:

An expedited passport is a regular passport. What makes it different is that you pay more so that it is issued quicker. So, if a regular application for a passport takes 3-4 weeks, through an expedited application process, you will receive it within 1 week.
A temporary passport is not a regular passport. It is only issued in emergency cases. Once used/expired, you cannot extend it – you will have to apply for a regular passport.

Please note: Although we tried to be as thorough as possible, there will be some small differences in eligibility, requirements, or duration of temporary passports between different countries.

The post How to Get a Temporary Passport? appeared first on Visa Consulate - Visa Information For Any Country.

UK Visa Application

Visa Consulate — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 05:32:44 +0000

Wide ranges of people visit the United Kingdom every year under different purposes as for sightseeing, studying, or even working. Despite that the nationals of many Western countries, in particular of the European countries, can enter the United Kingdom visa-free, the rest of world citizens are very likely to need a visa in order to be permitted to step in the United Kingdom.

The UK visa allows you to enter the country, whether it is through the sea, land or air. The possession of a visa means that you have fulfilled the requirements that the particular visa has.

This detailed article will help you understand the UK visa application process and procedures you need to go through in order to obtain a visa to the United Kingdom.

UK Visa Application Process

The UK visa application process and service you need to use in order to apply for a UK visa depends mostly on the visa type you need to apply for. If you are applying for a UK tourist or short stay visa you can start your application here.

For every other type of visa, you will have to use the online Visa4UK service, including study and work visas. If you are applying for the first time you will have to create an account. If you already have an account, just sign in and fill the areas with the required information.

To apply for UK visa you must go through these simple steps:

Find out if you need a UK visa.
Chose the right UK visa type.
Complete the online application form.
Collect the required documents for a UK visa application.
Schedule a UK visa appointment.
Attend the UK visa interview.

Find out if you need a UK visa

You may be exempt from the UK visa requirement, depending on your nationality. You will not have to apply for a UK visa prior to your trip to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, if you are:

An EEA citizen.
A Swiss citizen.
A Commonwealth citizen.

Check the list of nationals that need a UK visa for more information in this regard.

If you realize that you need a visa, then you can proceed with the other steps!

Choose the right UK visa type

Most of the application process for a British visa, including the visa requirements, depends on your purpose of visiting the UK. Your purpose of travel to the UK determines what type of visa you need, which can be one of the following:

UK Tourist Visa – for all those who wish to enter the UK to visit friends or family members, for holidays, business, private medical treatment, to get married, etc.
UK Transit Visa – for those who need to pass through the UK in transit to another country.
UK Work Visa – for all those who wish to engage in paid activity in the UK.
UK Study Visa – for all those who wish to travel to the UK to enroll at a study course/university. If your study is short-term you ought to apply for a UK short-term study visa. Whereas, if you need long-term permission to stay in the UK, you have to apply for a Tier 4 Visa.
Other visas – which include visas to set a business in the UK, visas to join a family member living in the UK

Complete the online application form

Usually, the UK visa online application form contains questions on personal information as:

your name & surname.
nationality.
country of residence.
marital status.
personal number.
passport number.
reason for wishing to enter the UK.
other information about your application.

If the information in the application form doesn’t comply with the information in the other required documents, your application will be rejected!.

Collect the required documents

As a part of your UK visa application, you should submit some mandatory required documents to support your case.

Schedule a UK visa appointment

After making the appointment online, print the email confirming the details of your appointment, and take it with you to the UK visa application center you have chosen to attend, together with the required documents.

The documents required in the original must be submitted in original. Make sure that the documents are as required because sometimes even a little mistake can cause a lot of trouble. Please note that the appointment must be made in your name, not in someone else’s.

Attend the UK visa interview

When you attend the UK visa application center, you will need to provide your biometric information, which includes a photograph and a digital scan of your fingerprints.

Every applicant who is submitting a visa application must attend the visa application center in person, including children. Applicants under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

UK Visa Application Denial

Pay attention to the whole application process, since even small mistakes can lead to the rejection of your application by the UK Home Office. Some of the main reasons for visa rejection are:

Missing Documents.
Applying for the wrong type of visa.
Failure to prove you have the financial means to support your stay in the UK.
Fraudulent documents.
You have overstayed on a previous trip.
Criminal history.

How to Appeal Against the UK Visa Denial?

If your UK visa application is rejected, when you receive the answer on your application you will also be notified on the reasons behind it. If you think that this decision has not been taken justly, then you can appeal it.

Fill in Form IAFT-2, which is an appeal form
Submit it to the UK Immigration and Asylum Chamber
This body will send the documents will be forwarded to the relevant authorities
A new decision will be taken and communicated to the applicant in writing

If the decision is not changed, you can file a new application by correcting the previous mistakes.

Can I Extend my UK Visa?

Extending your UK visa while in the UK is possible. However, the process differs depending on the visa
type you hold. If you are in the UK on a standard visitor visa, you will be eligible to apply for a visa
extension as long as the total time you spend in the UK is less than 6 months.

Applicants from the USA

To apply for a UK visa from USA there are some specific procedures that you must go through. Although US citizens do not need to apply for a UK visitor visa, they must apply for visas in the Points Based System.

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Dependant Visa application in Hong Kong

Visa Consulate — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 23:17:14 +0000

Generally speaking, spouse of Hong Kong permanent resident cannot acquire the right of abode in the HKSAR by virture of their marriage unless the spouse is eligible, on his / her own accord, for Hong Kong permanent resident status under any provision of Schedule 1 to the Immigration Ordinance.

Under the present immigration regulations, other than persons who have the right of abode (ROA) or right to land (RTL) in Hong Kong, any persons who want to take up employment, establish or join in a business, study or settle in Hong Kong, they will have to obtain an appropriate visa before arrival.

For a sponsor who has been admitted into the HKSAR to take up employment (as a professional, for investment to establish/join in business, or for training) or studies (in a full-time undergraduate or post-graduate local programme in a local degree-awarding institution), or who is permitted to remain in the HKSAR as an entrant under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme or the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, the following dependants may apply to join him/her for residence in the HKSAR:

(i) his/her spouse; or

(ii) the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union entered into by him/her in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration; and

his/her unmarried dependent child under the age of 18

For a sponsor who is a Hong Kong permanent resident or a resident who is not subject to a limit of stay (i.e. a resident with the right to land or on unconditional stay), the following dependants may apply to join him/her for residence in the HKSAR:

(i) his/her spouse; or

his/her unmarried dependent children under the age of 18; and
his/her parent aged 60 or above.

This entry arrangement does not apply to:

Chinese residents of the Mainland [except for those whose sponsors have been admitted to take up employment (as professionals, for investment to establish/join in business, or for training) or studies (in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in local degree-awarding institutions), or whose sponsors have been admitted as entrants under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme or the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme];
former Mainland Chinese residents residing in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) who have obtained Macao identity cards for less than seven years, unless they have acquired residence in the Macao SAR through the One-way Permit Scheme; and
nationals of Afghanistan and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of).

Application Forms

Applicant should complete Part A of application form ID997, while Part B of the form should be completed by the sponsor. The application form ID997 can be obtained free of charge from the following offices:

Immigration Department Headquarters.
Immigration Branch Offices.
Overseas Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions.
Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing.
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong.

The forms can also be downloaded from the Immigration Department’s website at https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/forms/hk-visas/residence-as-dependants.html

Note:

The existing entry application forms, i.e. Application for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong ID990A, Application for Entry for Training in Hong Kong ID992A, Application for Entry for Study in Hong Kong ID995A, and Application for Entry for Investment (to establish/join in business) in Hong Kong ID999A have built in the accompanying dependant’s application. The sponsor may include his/her accompanying dependant’s application for entry for residence when completing the aforesaid entry application forms, and the accompanying dependant will not be required to complete application form ID997 separately.

Supporting Documents

Please refer to the checklist at ID(E)998 – Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong :- https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/forms/forms/id-e-998.html

Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, translation company, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.

You may find a translation service in Hong Kong here.

Submission of Application

The application form must be duly completed and signed. For a child applicant under the age of 16, it must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of the child. Completed application form, i.e. ID997, and all supporting documents should be submitted by the applicant or the local sponsor in either one of the following ways:

By post directly or through the local sponsor in the HKSAR to:

Receipt and Despatch Unit
Hong Kong Immigration Department
2/F, Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Applicants residing in overseas countries or territories may submit their application forms together with the relevant supporting documents and their travel documents in person to the nearest Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in their place of domicile.
Holders of foreign passports who are living in the Mainland may submit the application forms together with all supporting documents to the Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing (Beijing Office) or the Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO). Applicants are required to produce their valid travel documents to the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO so that a visa/entry permit could be issued if the application is approved. The addresses of the two Mainland offices are:

The Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing
No. 71, Di’anmen Xidajie, Xicheng District
Beijing 100009
People’s Republic of China

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai
21/F, The Headquarters Building, 168 Xizang Road (M), Huangpu District
Shanghai 200001
People’s Republic of China

Travel Documentation Requirement

Visa/Entry permit label will be issued upon successful application. It should be collected by the sponsor from the Immigration Department for onward transmission to the successful applicant. For application submitted to the Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office, visa/entry permit will be issued through the relevant Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office as appropriate.

Payment of Fees

If the application is submitted to the Hong Kong Immigration Department direct, payment of fees HK$ 230 should be made upon collection of the visa/entry permit by the local sponsor either in cash, by EPS or by cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed.

If the application is submitted to an overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office, the visa/entry permit fee should be paid direct to the Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office as appropriate.

Processing Time

It will normally take six weeks to process a visa/entry permit application for residence as dependant upon receipt of all the required documents. The Immigration Department would not be able to start processing the application unless all the required documents and information are received.

For the address/tel/fax numbers of the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in overseas, you may visit the following website for more information.

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/default.htm

For more information on residence visa, please visit our website :-

https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/residence_as_dependant.html

If a person is aged 11 or over and has entered HKSAR on visa with stay granted for more than 180 days, he/she is required to register a non-permanent resident HK identity card within 30 days of arrival.

Dependants of the following persons are not prohibited from taking up employment in the HKSAR:

Hong Kong permanent residents;
persons who are not subject to a limit of stay (i.e. residents with the right to land or on unconditional stay);
persons who have been admitted for employment (as professionals, for investment to establish/join in business or for training); and
entrants under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme or the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents.

However, dependants of persons who have been admitted into the HKSAR to study are prohibited from taking up employment in the HKSAR unless they have obtained prior permission from the Director of Immigration.

All dependants do not require prior permission from the Director of Immigration to study in the HKSAR.

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Indonesia Visa Requirements

Visa Consulate — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:44:25 +0000

When you apply for an Indonesian visa, you have to submit several documents to the Embassy/Consulate so they can process your application. The Indonesia visa requirements change depending on the type of visa you need, how you are applying, and even what country you are from.

Indonesia Visa Requirements

The documents required for an Indonesian visa application include:

Passport.
Passport-size pictures, in line with Indonesia visa photo requirements.
Indonesia Visa Application Form.
Proof of Travel Arrangements.
Proof of Accommodation in Indonesia.
Proof of Sufficient Financial Means.
Invitation Letter to Indonesia.
Cover Letter (for Business Travellers).
Indonesia Visa Fee Payment.

Your Passport

You have to submit your passport to the Indonesia Embassy or Consulate when you apply for your visa. The passport must:

Be valid for at least another six months from the date of application.
Have at least one blank visa page (for some types of visas, such as the retirement visa, more blank pages are required)
Must be in good condition

You may also be required to submit a copy of the relevant pages of your passport, such as the personal information page and previous visas and entry stamps.

Indonesia Visa Photo Requirements

Another visa requirement for Indonesia is submitting 2 to 4 recent pictures of yourself which meet the following requirements:

Dimensions: 3cm x 4cm or 4cm x 6cm (depending on the Embassy/Consulate)
White or red background (depending on the Embassy/Consulate)
Taken within the last three month
Your face must be fully visible and you must be staring straight ahead
You must have a neutral facial expression
No headgear allows unless it is for religious purposes. Even them, the face must be fully visible.
If you have prescription eye-glasses, they must not have glare, thick rims, or be too big.
The picture must be attached to the designated spot on the Indonesia Visa Application Form using an adhesive/paper glue (not a stapler or scotch tape)

Indonesia Visa Application Form

Different Embassies/Consulates have their own requirements where to download or fill in the visa application form. Some offer it at their premises, whereas others allow you to print it out yourself or complete it online before applying.

In all cases, you must hand in at least one copy of the Indonesia visa application form along with the rest of the required documents. The visa application form must:

Be fully completed
Include all correct information
Be signed (for minors, a parent or legal guardian must sign the form)
Include a picture of yourself, as described above

Proof of Travel Arrangements

Another requirement for Indonesian visas is proof of travel arrangements, such as a flight itinerary. You must submit an itinerary or electronic ticket reservation, which shows dates of entry and exit into Indonesia as well as your full name.

Proof of Accommodation in Indonesia

Proof of accommodation as part of the Indonesia visa requirements can be:

Hotel booking/reservation,
Invitation Letter from a host, if you are planning to stay with friends or family members/relatives,
Confirmation by an organized tour operator or holiday tours, or
Rental agreement / contract.

Proof of Sufficient Financial Means

When you apply for an Indonesian visa, you have to be able to prove that you can sustain yourself financially during your stay. Proof of sufficient funds can be bank statements showing transactions from the last three months, officially issued from your bank. You need about $2,000 for a stay of one month.

If you have a sponsor who will be covering your expenses, such as a host company for business travelers, they must show

Invitation Letter

If you are traveling to Indonesia to visit friends or relatives, they may have to write you an invitation letter, which you have to include with the other Indonesia visa requirements.

If you are traveling for business, then the company in Indonesia which you will visit has to write you a letter of invitation. This type of letter must:

Be written on the company’s letterhead
Show the full address and phone number of the inviting company
State the number of days and entries you are requesting the visa for

In both cases, the inviter has to explain whether they share responsibility for your accommodation and maintenance costs.

Cover Letter (for Business Travellers)

Business travellers will also need a Business Visa Cover Letter from the company, organization or institution for which they work. The letter has to be written on the company’s letterhead and include the full address and phone number of the company/organization/institution as well as number of days and entries that the applicant needs the visa.

Indonesia Visa Requirements for Mail Application

If you apply by mail, one of the Indonesia visa requirements is a pre-paid, stamped and self-addressed envelope which can be mailed using a safe courier or postal service. The Embassy/Consulate will use the envelope to mail you back your documents as well as your passport (which, if the application was successful, will contain your Indonesian visa).

Indonesia Visa Fee

When you apply for an Indonesian visa, you will have to pay a non-refundable fee as follows:

Single-entry Tourist Visa: USD 50
Multiple-entry Tourist/Visit/Business Visa: USD 100
Limited Stay Visa:
- Six months: USD 50
- One year: USD 90
- Two years: USD 160
Visa on Arrival: USD 35

What is proof of payment of the Indonesia visa fee?

Since there is no single acceptable way to pay the Indonesia visa fee, the proof of payment will depend on the Embassy/Consulate and whether you are by mail or in person. You can usually find instructions about the payment method on their websites. Sometimes you have to purchase a Money Order, and other times you can pay via your Credit or Debit Card.

Note: The visa fees are subject to change, based on new immigration rules as well as the country in which you apply.

Indonesia Visa Requirements by Visa Types

Depending on what type of Indonesian visa you apply for, there are going to be additional documents required for the application. If you’re applying for a long-stay visa, such as a work or study visa, you will need a sponsor in Indonesia to help you get authorization from the Immigration Department there. You will have to send your sponsor all the necessary documents for the application. See the Indonesia visa requirements by the purpose of travel below:

Indonesian visas for long-term purposes are usually applied for in Indonesia, and you only have to pick up the visa or submit additional documents to the Indonesian Embassy in your country. This is why you need a sponsor.

Indonesia Visa Requirements by Country

When it comes to Indonesia visas, citizens of a large list of countries do not need a visa at all – at least not for short-term, tourism purposes. If you are from one of the countries in this list, then you can travel to Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days. You only have to present your passport and ticket to the immigration officers at the entry-point.

If you are eligible for an Indonesia Visa on Arrival, then, as the name suggests, you can simply get the visa at the airport in Indonesia with fewer requirements:

Your passport.
An onward or return flight ticket.
The Visa on Arrival fee.

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