
Full Answer
What countries do you need a visa?
You may require a visa if you have been in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen ...
Which countries require visa for Americans?
Countries that U.S. passport holders need visas to enter include Russia, India, China, Vietnam, Turkey, and more, and others require e-visas to visit. If you want to see where you can travel ...
Why are immigration visa wait times so long?
We’ve established that visa wait times grow because there is a statutory limit on the number of green cards the government may issue each year. But there’s more. In addition to that, U.S. immigration law says no more than seven percent of all immigrant visas can be given to people of one country in a given year.
What to do when you have overstayed your visa?
What to Keep in Mind About Overstaying a Visa
- The consequences for overstaying a visa vary depending on how long you overstayed
- You’ll most likely have to apply for a new visa in your home country if you overstayed your U.S. visa
- In some serious cases, you may be banned from the U.S. ...
- If your visa has already expired and you’re still in the States, you should seek legal counsel immediately

Is a visa necessary?
(Note: U.S. citizens don't need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit.
What country require a visa?
A number of other countries do require that you get a tourist visa before you leave the U.S, such as China, India, Russia, and Vietnam. Previously Americans who wanted to spend time in the country of Brazil needed to apply for a visa, but as of June 2019, a valid passport is enough to enter the country as a tourist.
Why and when do you need a visa?
A travel visa is often a mandatory document for international passengers to be granted access into their destination. If a visa is part of a state's travel requirements, visitors without one will not be allowed to cross their borders.
Do I need a visa and a passport?
Many people assume a visa and a passport are the same, but these are two separate documents that are both required when people travel internationally. Some countries have a visa agreement that allows their citizens to travel visa-free, but anyone travelling to another country must have a passport in most cases.
Where can I travel without visa?
Where Can Americans Travel Without a Visa?AlbaniaGermanyNamibiaFalkland IslandsMexicoTurkish Republic of Northern CyprusFaroe IslandsMicronesiaTurks and Caicos IslandsFijiMoldovaUkraineFinlandMonacoUnited Kingdom42 more rows
Who can enter US without visa?
As of 2021, nationals of 40 countries and territories are eligible for visa-free entry into the United States under the VWP:Andorra.Australia.Austria.Belgium.Brunei.Chile.Croatia.Czech Republic.More items...
What are the 4 types of visas?
Which type of visa do you need? Probably one of the four main types: tourist, immigration, student, or work.
How long does a visa last?
Usually 6 months. In addition, you can apply for extension of stay for another 6 months. Reason for extension must be consistent with the terms and conditions of your original status. Such type of visa is normally issued up from a period of 1 month to 10 years.
Why do you need a visa for some countries?
Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country.
Is a passport the same as a visa?
A passport is an identification document issued by a government that gives a citizen official permission to travel in and out of their home country. A visa is a document issued by a government to foreign visitors, providing them with legal entry into a foreign country. A passport comes from the country you live in.
What does visa stand for?
The truth is, while some people might say it stands for Verified International Stay Approval or Virtual Important Stamp Authorization, the term “visa” is a simple noun rather than an acronym.
Is Dubai visa free?
UAE visa on arrival Simply disembark your flight at Dubai International and proceed to immigration, where your passport will be stamped with a 30‑day visit visa free of charge.
Is Singapore visa free?
The majority of countries can travel to Singapore visa-free. For the remainder, the Singapore visa application has been simplified through the e-visa.
Is South Korea visa free?
According to the South Korean visa policy, visa-free travel is now only possible with a K-ETA (see above). The K-ETA can be obtained in minutes through a simple online application and is valid for 2 years from approval. It allows multiple entries to South Korea during its validity.
Does Japan require a visa?
You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket for tourist/business "visa free" stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the entire time you are staying in Japan. You cannot work on a 90-day "visa free" entry.
What is a project visa?
Project visa is very useful when it comes to information related to visa, embassies and consulates. You can find the addresses and contact details of the embassies and consulates of a country as well as those of other countries in that country.
What is a consulate?
Website of the Consulate or Embassy of a Country. An embassy or a consulate is a diplomatic mission of a country in another country . Depending on the country you are in, another country might or might not have a consulate/ embassy in your country. For example, the embassy of Peru in India is accredited to Nepal, Sri Lanka, ...
What happens if you don't have a passport?
The truth is that if you don’t hold a fancy, powerful passport, you would be scratching your head while rummaging through tourist visa requirements. There is a lot of information on the internet, but scrubbing through all that could be a lot to take and often, you need to make decisions fast.
Which countries allow visa free travel?
Three additional countries – Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands – also have a unique agreement with the United States allowing visa-free travel. Citizens of Canada and Bermuda can freely travel (temporarily) to the United States without requiring a non-immigrant visa or ESTA.
Can Canadians travel to the US without a passport?
Canadian Citizens: Canadians can enter and stay in the United States visa-free. Some Canadians do not even require a passport. If you’re part of the NEXUS program or have an Enhanced Driver’s License, then you may be able to enter America without a passport. SENTRI enrollment cards and FAST cards can also be used in lieu of a passport (if entering by land or sea). Canadians can remain in the United States for up to six months.
Can you get an ESTA if you have a criminal record?
If you have a criminal record or if there is any other reason to deny your entry to the United States, then your ESTA may be rejected. In other cases, your ESTA may be approved today, only for you to get rejected at the port of entry into America. Getting an ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States.
Do you need a visa to visit Bermuda?
Citizens of Canada, Bermuda, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau Do Not Need a Visa or ESTA. There are two countries in the world that do not require a visa or ESTA to visit the United States: Canada and Bermuda.
What is a U.S. Visa?
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.
Find out what visa type is appropriate for you
The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
Visa Appointment Wait Time
A wait time listed as "999 calendar days" indicates that the Consular Section is only providing that service to emergency cases. Please check the Embassy or Consulate website for further information.
What is a visa for a foreigner?
A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. If you are allowed to enter the United States, the CBP official will provide an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Learn more about admissions and entry requirements, restrictions about bringing food, agricultural products, and other restricted/prohibited goods, and more by reviewing the CBP website.
How long does a passport need to be valid for a visa interview?
Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview: Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements ).
How often do you update your biographical information on a Chinese passport?
In accordance with the agreement signed between the United States and China to extend visa validity, beginning on November 29, 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports will be required to update their biographical and other information from their visa application via a website every two years, or upon getting a new passport or B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, whichever occurs first. This mechanism is called EVUS - Electronic Visa Update System.
What happens after a visa interview?
After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing. The consular officer will inform you if this required.
What happens if you fail to leave the US on time?
Failure to depart the United States on time will result in being out of status. Under U.S. law, visas of individuals who are out of status are automatically voided ( Section 222 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ). Any multiple entry visa that was voided due to being out of status will not be valid for future entries into the United States.
Where to schedule a visa interview?
You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live.
What evidence is needed to show the purpose of a trip?
Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.
How long is a visa not required for?
Visa not required for 15 days for traveling as part of a tourist group (2 or more people)
Which countries require a passport?
Other countries, such as Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom, require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.
How many pages are needed for a passport?
Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages . Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being available.
How long is a Bermuda passport valid?
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry .
Which country has the most diplomatic missions?
The United States has the most diplomatic missions of any country in the world. See also List of diplomatic missions of the United States and List of diplomatic missions in the United States . The Department of State regularly publishes travel warnings or travel alerts.
Do all foreigners have to be fingerprinted?
Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to quickly change planes rather than go landside.
Do you need a photo to enter a country?
Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by domestic legislation), intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.
Who doesn't need a short stay visa?
Who Doesn’t Need a Short-Stay Germany Visa? Germany, as a member state of the Schengen Area, permits the nationals of 62 countries part of the visa-waiver program to enter its territory without the need to obtain a visa first. According to Germany short-stay entry rules, the residents of 62 countries are permitted to enter Germany visa-free ...
How long is an ETIAS valid for?
ETIAS will cost 7 euros, and will be valid for three to ten years, or until the expiration of its holder’s passport. The procedures to obtain one will be very simple, and the application process is estimated to last around 10 to 20 minutes.
Which country has strict immigration laws?
The Federal Republic of Germany , one of world’s top destinations for tourism and education, known for its low unemployment rate and job shortage in specific fields, has established strict rules and immigration laws, some of which have been adopted in the Schengen policies, common for all Schengen member states, for those wishing to enter its territory.
Do I need a short stay visa to visit Germany?
If you are planning to go there for a short-stay, for tourism / visiting or business, then the chances that you do not need a Germany short-stay visa are higher.
Is a citizen of the EU a citizen of the EEA?
You are also a citizen of the EU/EEA/EFTA countries
Do I need a visa to go to Germany from US?
Some of the US residents, depending on their status in the US and the purpose of their entry in Germany, as well as some other factors, may be obliged to obtain a visa first before entering the country. These categories are as following:
Who Needs a France Short-Stay Visa?
France Schengen visas allow their holder to enter France or any other Schengen country and remain there for up to 90 days (expect for the cases when the visa holder has a Limited Territorial Validity visa).
Who needs a visa for other French overseas collectivities and territories (CTOM)?
The French overseas collectivities and territories (CTOM) consist of the countries listed below:
How long can you stay in France without a visa?
Only the following categories are exempt from obtaining a visa in order to be eligible to enter the a France DROM without a visa, and remain for up to three months.
