Travel Visas And Permits
What is a 'visa'?
When do I need a visa?
A visa is required by certain countries. Some countries require that you obtain a visa before you travel, some countries allow you to obtain a visa when you arrive in the country. The best thing to do is go to the State Department's website: www.state.gov, and find out which countries require a visa before you travel, and which ones you can obtain when you arrive in their country.
What are the different kinds of visas?
How long does it take to get a visa?
The length of time to get a visa depends on the country that you're travelling to. For instance, if you're travelling to Brazil it can take up to two weeks before you get a visa. If you're travelling to Russia you can usually get one within 48 to 72 hours. And, in some countries, visas are issued as you're entering the country.
How do I get a visa?
What is a visa service?
A visa service is someone that will help you obtain your visa. Very often what they do is they'll have a service that will turn around the time for your visa very quickly. For instance , if you're travelling to Russia, there are a lot of visa services that will get you your visa within 48 hours.
Do I have to have a 'permit' to travel to certain areas of the world?
There are certain countries that U.S. citizens are not allowed to travel to. For instance, Cuba is one of them. However, you can get a permit to travel to Cuba if it's for educational purposes. If a journalist is traveling, and there's other countries such as Iraq which are difficult to travel to, which may require special permits. What you need to do is to check with the State Department and find out what countries are on the restricted list and which countries you are allowed to travel and find out what countries require additional documentation.
How do I know if my trip requires an additional permit?
One of the best tools to use when you're travelling internationally is the website at the State Department: www.state.gov. Also what you can do, is you can also check with your airline. Your airline will have the most up to date information with respect to entry requirements. So if you're in doubt, call your airline, let them know where you're travelling, and ask them what type of documentation and what type of visas are required for that country.
