What Is a Visa?

Exactly what is a visa? Basically a visa is a stamp in your passport granting you admission to a foreign country. Certain countries require a valid visa, in addition to a U.S. passport for entry to their country. These are usually countries that the United States requires the same in return. In other words, the U.S. requires citizens of certain countries to obtain a US Visa before entering the United States. The U.S. Department of State has a list of countries that require a visa for entry at their website at: US Department of State . This list is applicable for U.S. Citizens who are traveling on tourism or business for a period of less than 90 days.

It is the responsibility of the traveler to obtain visas, where required, from the appropriate embassy or nearest consulate of the country you are planning to visit. As soon as you receive your visa, check it to make sure no mistakes were made. Processing and visa fees vary, and most fees may not be refundable. For specific details, consult the Embassy or Consulate of the country you plan to visit. Typically you will mail, by Fedex, your passport to the foreign embassy in the U.S. and request a visa for travel to their country. Visa's aren't free so be ready to send a payment with your passport. I would not recommend booking a non-refundable airline ticket until you had your visa in hand.