Visa application (e-visa)
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What is a travel visa?
A travel visa is the document you need if you want to visit a foreign country that doesn’t have a visa waiver program or any other visa-free agreement with the United States. This document is typically attached to your passport, but it can also be issued electronically (e-visa).
What’s important is that a travel visa only entitles US travelers to stay in a given country for tourist/leisure purposes. If you want to study, work, or live in the country you’re interested in, you need to apply for a different type of visa or go through the immigration process.
What is an e-visa?
Nowadays, the vast majority of countries use e-visas – electronic visas that don’t have to be printed or attached to the traveler’s passport. An e-visa only has a digital form and is stored in the travel/immigration IT system of a given country.
Once the e-visa is issued, you are free to travel to the country that issued it. At the airport, immigration or border officers can access your visa directly from their devices, so most likely, you won’t need to present any printout or any other document. However, usually, it’s good to have the number of such a document in your cell phone, just in case.
Lastly, you need to know that all e-visas are valid only with a given passport. So if your passport expires and you have to get a new one, you’ll also need to apply for a new travel visa, whether it’s electronic or not.
US tourist visa requirements
If you are an American citizen and you want to go to a country that requires a travel visa, you need to go through this process just like all other travelers. Nowadays, travel visa requirements are not so strict, and you should be able to obtain your document with no major complications.
However, it’s always recommended to find out ahead of time what visa-related laws are in the country you wish to visit and to start the process as quickly as possible. Be prepared for the fact that obtaining a travel visa can take up to five months, especially during high season (summer vacation).
When do you need a travel visa?
When you want to travel to a country that doesn’t have the United States on the list of visa-exempt countries. If you already know what country you wish to visit, you can check whether you need a visa or not using our search engine. Such information should also be available on the given country’s embassy or immigration website.
American citizens need a travel visa, especially when traveling to Asian or African countries. If you intend to visit China, Vietnam, Kenya, Zimbabwe, or Rwanda, you will need to get a travel visa first.
How to get a travel visa
Today, the process usually starts (and sometimes can even be completed) online. Later on, you may be requested to have a meeting with an immigration officer or embassy worker, but this is not always the case. The process differs between the countries, so each country should be considered separately.
If you’re traveling with a travel agency, you can ask whether they can help you get a travel visa. And in many situations, you can apply for a visa with eSky.
How long does it take to get a travel visa?
If all you need is an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), the process should be completed within 72 hours, and it happens 100% online. However, if you need to apply for a standard travel visa, be prepared to wait at least three months. Of course, it is possible to finish the process faster, but there are many factors at play, with the backlog of applications being a major one. Typically, it’s safe to assume that the process will take between three and five months. If you want to be absolutely sure you will get your travel visa before your trip, apply for it at least five months ahead.
The necessary documents and costs
In most cases, all you need is a passport valid throughout your entire trip (some countries may require your passport to be valid for at least half a year). Everything else depends on your particular situation. For instance, a border officer may ask you to provide proof you have enough funds to support yourself (and your family) during your stay.
When it comes to the cost of a travel visa, it depends on the country; you must be prepared to pay between $20 and $200 per person.
Where can US citizens travel without a visa?
The US passport gives you the right to travel visa-free to 185 countries. This includes almost all countries in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and many more countries. You can find the whole list of these countries in the latest Henley Passport Index.
Your journey in one place with eSky.com! For almost two decades, we’ve been collaborating with the world’s largest providers of travel services. With the help of our partners, we implement solutions that allow you to plan your trip from A to Z, and keep the details of your reservation and travel documents always at hand. In cooperation with sherpa°, we offer the possibility of buying visas online!