General FAQs
What is a Visa?
A visa is an authorisation issued by the representative of the Government of a country permitting a person, not resident in that country, to enter its boundaries.
If granted a visa, a secure sticker is then put into your passport or travel document which gives you permission to enter that country for a specified period of time.
What are the different types of visas?
In general, there are 2 types of visas.
- Non-immigrant visas which are for travel on a temporary basis.
- Immigrant visas which are for travel to live permanently abroad.
What does my visa let me do?
Your non-immigrant visa grants you temporary access into the designated country and, in some cases, other countries too. The issuing authority will stipulate on your visa the amount of time that you may spend in the country and you must exit before the visa expires.
Once I have a visa, does this guarantee me entry into the country?
No. Although the purpose of applying for a visa is to allow authorities to check your background and assess your eligibility to enter a country, upon arrival the applicant is still subject to questioning and inspection by an immigration officer who has the legal right to grant the applicant entry or revoke their visa and send them home.
What if my visa is refused?
If your visa is refused, this does not necessarily mean that you will never be allowed to enter a country. You may just be banned from applying again for a few years or may apply again immediately if allowed. It all depends on your reasons for refusal and the decision made by the immigration/entry-clearance officer. Visa Box will assess previously refused cases and will advise whether you have a chance of successful reapplication.
How many times can I apply for a visa?
There is no limit to how many times you can apply for a visa nor is there a limit to the number of different types of visas you can apply for, unless otherwise stated by an immigration officer.
If I receive a visa from one country, does this guarantee the success of my visa application through another?
No. Each country has its own visa and immigration laws and regulations and each application is assessed according to those guidelines.
An applicant may meet the visa requirements for one country and not another. This is why it is important to ensure that all supporting documents submitted with ones application are according to that country’s immigration and visa laws at the time.
Visa laws change regularly so its also important to ensure that you are aware of the current information regarding your visa.