“My boss is traveling to South Korea on business for the first time.  We are operating on very short notice.  Will he need a visa?”

Answer: Thanks Maggie, here’s the details on travel to Korea.  If you’re heading to Korea as a tourist, you can stay for up to 90-days with no visa.  If, on the other hand, you’re going to Korea for any other reason, such as business, to teach, to volunteer at non-profit, etc. you will need to obtain a visa before you enter the country.  To obtain a visa you should contact the Korean Embassy – or if you’re in a hurry, or don’t want to deal with the complicated process – feel free to get in touch with us on our Korea Visa Page.

Anyone else have a question about their passport or visa applications?  Let us know!  We respond to all questions as soon as possible!

Do you have any passport or visa questions or your own?  Just ask here and our team of experts will get back to you a.s.a.p!

Do I need a visa to travel to Russia? The answer for Russia is a resounding yes!  The Russian government maintains a strict (and often complicated) visa regime for any foreigners that visit.  Take note:  an Any US citizen that doesn’t carry a Russian visa can be subject to arrest, fines, or deportation… so it’s important that you get your paperwork right.

What kind of visa do I need? If you are planning to visit Russian on route to another country you’ll need to apply for a transit visa.  Technically, transit visas are only required for ground travel, but the US Department of State warns of potential complications even for travelers who arrive by air.  Do yourself a favor and grab a transit visa even if you never plan to leave the airport.

For travelers who plan to actually visit the country, you’ll most likely to need to apply for a single entry tourist visa; however, as we’ve said, the Russian visa system is complicated and every situation is different.  Make sure you consult an authority (like us) to confirm the requirements of your unique situation.

Can I get a visa on arrival or do I need to obtain my Russian travel visa in advance? You cannot obtain a visa on arrival.  All Russian travel documents must be obtained before entering the country.

How long can I stay? In general, most foreigners are only allowed a 90-day stay in Russia during a 180-day period; however, generally your visa will only be good for the term of the visit specified in the invitation letter provided by your sponsor.

Are there any special restrictions I should be aware of? Yes!  Here are a few of the biggies.

• Every foreign traveler that enters Russia must have a Russia-based sponsor.  According to the US Department of State, this could be anything from a “hotel, tour company, relative, employer, etc.”  It’s important to remember to ensure that the sponsor named on your visa is actually the person or place you intend to visit.  If not, you could run into serious trouble with Russian authorities.
• If you overstay your Russian visa you will not be permitted to leave the country.  Please make sure you do not overstay your visa.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the requested visit dates.

Are there any shortcuts to make the process easier? Absolutely!  If you want to avoid the headaches and complications that go along with your Russian visa application, just let us know.  We’ll take care of the entire process, all you do is send us your documents – and as an added bonus, we can get your visa much faster than you’ll be able to on your own.

And if you do choose to apply for your Russian visa on your own, and you have any questions, let us know!  We’re happy to help!

The J-1 Visa is also known as an “exchange visitor visa… the non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs.”

On the site you’ll find information for both participants, program sponsors, as well as for host families.  You’ll also find great answers to FAQ’s as well as complete information for applying for your own J-1 visa.

If you have questions or need further information about J-1 or any other visa applications, don’t hesitate to ask us!

What is a visa? A travel visa is a travel document required by many countries in addition to your passport.   The visa shows that “a person is authorized to enter the territory for which [the visa] was issued, subject to the permission of an immigration officialat the time of actual entry.”  It’s basically your permission to travel to that country.

Do I need a visa for travel? The short answer here is: It depends.  As a US citizen you benefit from many favorable travel arrangements with countries around the world.  In fact, US citizens are among the world’s freest travelers – we’re currently allowed visa free access to 159 other countries.   For many countries though, you will need a valid travel visa in order to enter.

What does a travel visa look like? It varies depending on the country.  Most will be a stamp in your passport, while others might be a separate piece of paper that needs to be carried in addition to your passport.  Others will be a large sticker inserted directly inside your passport book.

Common countries requiring a visa include China, Brazil, Russia, India, Australia, Egypt, Vietnam and South Korea, but there are many others.  Not sure if you need a travel visa?  Ask us below, we’ll let you know if you need a visa and how you go about acquiring it.

How much does a visa cost? Expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $200, plus processing fees, depending on your destination country and your desired length of stay.

What kinds of visas are available? There are many different kinds of visas available for different kinds of travelers.  For most, a tourist visa will serve their purpose.  Additional visas include business, journalist, and diplomatic visas.

Do I need to obtain my travel visa before leaving home? Some countries, like Malaysia or Thailand for example, will issue visas to travelers upon arriving in country.  Other countries, like India or China require that you apply-for and receive your approved travel visa before you embark on your trip.  Side note:  If your destination requires you have a visa issued before arriving in country, make sure you get the visa.  Many travelers each year are turned back from destinations because they arrive without the appropriate travel documents.

How long will the process take?

This depends on the country you’re visiting.  Some visas will be issued the same day; others can take weeks (or even months) to process, especially if you’re applying by mail.  In a hurry?  Let us know.  We can turn most visa applications around within 24 hours.

How do I get a travel visa?

Common requirements include:

• Valid passport
• Completed visa application
• Two passport size photos
• Payment of required fees
• In some cases, additional identification such as a drivers license, birth certificate, or bank statement showing that you the necessary funds to complete your journey.
• Some countries require a copy of your travel ticket.
• On rare occasions you’ll be asked to provide a letter or statement of purpose discussing the details of your trip.  The country may also require the contact information of your contact in-country may be required.

Need help getting your travel visa?  Let us know.  We’ll take out the guess work and guide your step-by-step through the entire application process.  And best of all, we can turn most visa applications around within 24 hours!

During the 1995 and 1996 shutdowns, “nearly 30,000 visa applications were unprocessed, while 200,000 applications for passports were ignored.”

If you’re planning on applying for a visa or passport anytime in the next few weeks, we strongly advise you get started right away. If you don’t want to take any chances, give us a call – we can usually get your travel documents turned around within 24 hours!

What will change?

If ratified, the new legislation will allow travelers to apply for passports online, rather than being forced to apply for the travel visas in person at Azerbaijani embassies.  The visas would then be issued electronically, and would need to be carried by travelers in addition to their passports (though the visas would not be attached inside).  Additionally, visas would have to be “ruled on within 15 days of the applications being received… and tourist visas would be valid for 30 days.”  Exact document, photograph and application forms have yet to be announced, but we’ll keep you informed as information becomes available.  And of course, if you want to avoid the hassle of applying for the visa yourself, we’re always here to help!

How will this affect you if you’re currently visiting England?

The visa overhaul is meant to create more effective controls over long term visitors to Britain, primarily looking to curtail visitors “from switching on to visas that pave the way for them to earn a British passport as well as abusing the student visa system.”  Short term visitors shouldn’t be affected.

Why implement these changes now?

The reform comes as the “the number of migrants granted settlement in the UK last year hit a record 238,950 in just 12 months.”  The minister also sited widespread abuses of the country’s student visa system.  Last year over 91,000 foreign students attended over 610 private colleges, many of which were not trusted.  Students were found to be working well over their permitted hours (some in excess of 60 while the limit is 20).  These student visa scams are at the forefront of his concern.

If you have any questions about a British visa or how this may affect your visit, feel free to contact us with questions.

The Visa Office of the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. and various consulates will be closed on February 3-4, 2011 to observe the traditional Chinese Spring Festival.

This will halt processing of all Chinese visa applications during those two days.  Please plan accordingly.