How to apply for a visa

A visa is a permit that allows people to visit foreign countries and stay there for a period of time.  In this article we will describe in detail what types of visas are currently available, who needs to apply for them, how the application process itself occurs, and also go through a number of reasons that are often reasons for refusing to issue a visa. 

Types of visas

Types of visas are divided depending on the purpose for which the document is purchased, and this can be:

• Study visa. It is issued, as the name suggests, for those who are studying in another country.
• Working. Gives the right to work in a specific country. Obtaining this visa is problematic, but it is valid for a long period.
• For family reunification. This visa is often obtained by the families of diplomats, such as embassy workers, so that they can transfer their family to the country.
• Business. Issued to business people who visit another country for the purpose of drawing up contracts, signing business papers and establishing business connections for business development.
• Tourist. As the name implies, this visa is purchased by those who plan to spend a vacation in another country.
• Transit. It is issued for a short period of time if, on the way to the final destination, a person is forced to end up in a third country for the purpose of a transfer. If you neglect such a visa, the tourist will get stuck at the airport of this country.
• Guest room. It is issued for a certain period of time so that a person has the opportunity to visit his relatives and friends. Often, in order to obtain a visitor visa, you must have an invitation from the person you are visiting.

Documents for visa

The exact list of documents for obtaining a visa depends on which country you are planning to travel to, as well as for what purpose.

For example, the American Consulate does not have any requirements for certain types of paperwork for obtaining a visa; everything is determined on an individual basis, based on the specific case. An approximate number of required papers for obtaining a visa to America may look something like this:

• Documents that will show the purpose of the visit to the country. A person must provide information about his goal, so simply “admiring the country” will not work. Depending on the specific purpose, this could be an invitation from relatives, partners or friends who live in America, a letter stating that the citizen has been accepted into an educational institution, etc. This is an important document that the Consulate will definitely require.
• International passport. It can be old or new, the main thing is that it is valid. It is important that the passport has a blank page so that you can affix the visa and a free area for stamping. The validity period of the foreign passport must be no less than the planned visit to the country.
• If the applicant has old passports with visas present there, they may also be required, which will serve as proof of existing experience of traveling abroad. It will be very good if this experience includes trips to two or three European countries over the past few years. If you have never been abroad before, the process of obtaining a visa can be seriously complicated.
• Certificate from the place of work. It must be issued on letterhead, which will indicate: full name, length of service, position, income level. This certificate does not have to indicate the vacation period, but it must be certified by the seal of the accounting department or manager. If the trip is not paid for by the applicant himself, then a certificate from the sponsoring person is required.
• Photocopy of marriage certificate. Necessary for those who are in an official union. Also, if the applicant has children, a photocopy of birth certificates will be required. Such documents will show the American Consulate the person’s connection with Russia, that he has a strong position and has some kind of life plan. If the children are adopted, the appropriate papers are needed. 
• Bank statement. It is necessary to show the Consulate that the applicant has enough money to travel and stay in the country. A period of 3-6 months will be sufficient, and it is important that the receipts be regular. If you don’t have a bank account, you don’t have to provide the document. In principle, it is not mandatory, although it significantly increases the chances of obtaining a visa.
• Property documents. These documents are also not mandatory, however, if there is property, then you can provide photocopies of certificates.

This is an approximate list of what the American Consulate may request, but as we have already said, the list of required documents is compiled on an individual basis, based on a specific case.

But the list of documents for a Schengen visa looks a little different:

• Completed form for obtaining a Schengen visa.
• Color photograph, in the amount of 1 piece, which will meet the following criteria: a clear, clean photo, printed on high-quality paper; size 4.5*3.5 cm; the photo must be taken no later than six months, so that the owner can be identified from it; the photo should clearly show the eyes and the entire face, from the top of the head to the shoulders; There should be no hats in the photo; The applicant's mouth in the photo must be closed and his face free of hair. If the visa recipient wears glasses, then the following is added to the above-mentioned requirements: the lenses on the glasses must be without darkening, the frames must not cover the face, and there must be no glare at all.
• A photocopy of the international passport from the page with the photo and personal data of the owner and the original document.  Passports can be accepted without covers. 
• A document that confirms that the visa recipient has enough money for travel and accommodation. Typically this is a bank statement.
• A document stating that you have health insurance that is valid throughout Europe and covers €30,000. This policy must cover the entire period for which the trip is planned.
• Original document from the place of employment. If the applicant is a student, a certificate is required stating that the educational institution has allowed the student to leave during school hours. For employees, a certificate from the place of work is required on the official company letterhead with a seal. There must be information about the employee, position, length of service and income level. Self-employed citizens need a photocopy  document, which confirms the registration of the enterprise and TIN.
• A photocopy of the pages of the international passport containing previously issued Schengen visas.
• If a minor goes on a trip alone, or he travels with one of the parents, permission documents from the parents/parent are required in writing. If the child has one of the parents missing, you need to attach a photocopy of a document that confirms this.

Depending on the purpose of the trip, the Consulate may request other documents. For example, if the trip is a tourist trip, you need to provide confirmation that in   the destination has a reservation for rooms, or a confirming document from the travel company through which the trip is planned. Photocopies of tickets, preferably round trip, or, if the trip is planned in your own car, a photocopy of your driver’s license. For

travel by   an invitation from relatives or friends, a copy and the original of the invitation itself are also attached to the above-mentioned documents. The latter should contain:  Full name, address details and telephone number of the person inviting you. Full name, address details, date of birth, passport details of the person you are inviting.

• Period and place of travel.
• Information about the degree of relationship. If there are no family ties, it is necessary to confirm that the persons met previously.
• Information about who bears the material costs of the trip and all other expenses associated with it.
• The document must be certified by a notary. You must also attach a photocopy of the passport of the first page of the person inviting you. If the inviting person is not a citizen of the European Union, a copy of the residence permit will be required.
• This, again, is a general list. A specific list of documents can be determined at each Consulate.
• Indian visa

There are two ways to apply for a visa:

Where to apply for a visa

by contacting specialized agencies.

• The second option, of course, significantly saves time, but not money. You will have to pay for the services, but you don’t have to think about the further process. The first option is more economical, but you will have to work a little.
• If you apply for a visa yourself, you need to contact the embassy of the country where you are planning to travel. The first visit is more of an informational nature; they will tell you what documents will be required for registration. Next, when the entire package is collected, you need to take them to the embassy, ​​and then act according to the circumstances. If there is no embassy of the destination country in your locality, then you will have to go to the nearest city where there is one.

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How long does it take to get a visa?

It is difficult to give a definite answer to such a question; it all depends on several factors. A Schengen visa takes at least five days to process, while an American visa takes about three. But you need to take into account the level of workload at the embassy. So, for example, it is quite logical that during the holiday period, due to the large influx of applicants, this time may increase and the processing may take several weeks. Another factor that affects the processing time is an individual approach. In some cases, the embassy may request additional documents, which naturally takes time.

Visa cost

The cost of a visa depends on the country and the type of visa itself. So, when receiving a Schengen visa you will have to pay €35 - this is the consular fee. However, disabled people and their accompanying persons, those who go to study or to a medical institution, as well as persons who are closely related to a person residing in a Schengen state are exempt from this fee.

In addition to the mentioned fee, you also need to pay a service fee, the amount of which depends on the country to which you plan to send it. So, for example, if we talk about Greece, then it is 880 rubles (children under 6 years old are not charged). In Spain it is about 1180 rubles, Italy - 1350 rubles, France - 1124 rubles. Other Schengen countries have approximately the same prices. An American visa will cost around 9,600 rubles. A visa to the UK costs approximately 6,160 rubles.

In addition, you need to remember that in addition to the visa, you also need to pay for medical insurance. To obtain a Schengen visa, it is €1 for each day of stay; if the trip is organized to visit a ski resort, for example, then one day will cost €2. If you plan to travel frequently abroad, it would be more advisable to purchase a semi-annual or annual policy, the prices of which are €65 and €115, respectively.

Does a child need a visa?

Yes, children need a full-fledged visa. You can find out more information about how to properly apply for a visa for a child at the specific embassy where the paperwork will be processed.

Visa validity period

The validity period for a Schengen visa is determined by the type of the latter. For C1 it is 30 days, for C2 it is six months, for C3 it is a year, C4 is valid for up to five years. Of course, the easiest way is to get a visa for a month, but if a person really confirms the need for frequent travel, for example, it is related to business, then you can get a longer-term visa without any problems.

But you need to take into account the fact that regardless of the period for which the visa is given, you still cannot stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 days. Those. If you applied for a visa for a year, but spent 85 days on one trip, then despite the fact that there are 280 days left before the end of the year, the next time you will be able to travel to Europe for no more than five days before the visa expires. That is why in some cases it is better to apply for a six-year visa rather than a five-year one.

Reasons for visa refusal

If a visa is denied, they never do so without giving a reason. The latter must be justified and stated in writing. Moreover, if the application is rejected once, this does not in any way affect the likelihood of a subsequent application being rejected. But in cases where a visa quarantine is imposed or the reasons for the previous refusal have not been eliminated, a second refusal is guaranteed. It is worth considering that if one country refuses to issue a Schengen visa, then others cannot give permission. Considering this, there is no point in contacting the Consulates of other European Union countries.

As for the same Schengen, for all the practical experience of Russian citizens obtaining visas, some statistics have emerged, according to which it turned out that the most loyal country is Finland, here the refusal rate is around 1%, then comes France - about 2%, in Germany the refusal rate is at the level of 3%, but Spain is no longer so loyal, when applying for a visa they are refused in 8% of cases.

To reduce the likelihood of refusal to a minimum, we advise you to complete the registration and submission of documents yourself. This way you can independently control the accuracy of the data provided and do everything correctly. Do not be afraid or intimidated by a large list of documents and the unknown; if something is not clear, contact the Consulate for help, they are always ready to advise. Or, if the registration still goes through a third-party company, then you need to check the reputation of the company and not contact the first ones you come across simply because they are cheap.

There are several reasons why a visa may be refused. For example, if the Schengen information system contains information about outstanding fines, data about once-violated visa regimes, and violations of public order in the countries of the European Union.

Often, a visa is denied due to incorrectly filled out documents, provision of false data, or forged documents. A low-quality and outdated photo, no documents that would explain the purpose of the visit, a suspicious invitation provided - all this can also serve as a reason for refusal. From this it is clear that whatever the reason for the refusal of a visa, it will always be specific and significant. Therefore, be responsible in the data collection process and never try to deceive the Consulate by providing false documents. This will not work, but your reputation will be tarnished and this may complicate the process of obtaining a visa in the future.

If you have received a refusal to issue a visa, immediately clarify the reasons, as well as the deadlines for appealing and resubmitting your application.