A few weeks ago, I mentioned that it can be tricky to process your visa quickly if you are not doing enough research ahead of time. While there is nothing wrong with being less prepared, it may backfire on you.
Visas typically take several days to process at the very least. If yours is taking longer than expected, here are some tips for how to speed up the process! These strategies have worked for other immigrants in similar situations as yourself, so give them a try.
I will also include this important information in case these tips do not work. The next step in processing your visa could be canceled because of poor preparation or lack of confirmation emails. So make sure all of your documents are easily accessible!
Disclaimer
The content in this article should not be used as medical advice or considered as diagnosis or treatment recommendations for any condition. Individual cases of health issues and conditions will require professional consultation and/or therapy. Use this info to help you decide what is working for you and drop off in terms of medically recommended actions but never actually perform those acts or treatments without first discussing them with a qualified doctor.
Tips For Getting Your VISA PROCESSED QUICKLY
Now let’s get into the specifics! Read on for more helpful information.
The next thing you will want to do is make a list of all of your assets. This can include things like job offers, proof of income (pay stubs or W2 forms), proofs of residence (utility bills, phone bill with address confirmation, etc.), and any other documents that show you living at this location and/or proving ownership of property here.
It’s very common to find yourself in a bit of a panic when starting to prepare for the visa process because there are just so many things to look through and organize. Don’t worry! You’ve got this.
Take your time, but be sure to keep organized as possible.
Before you even begin the process of gathering all of your documents, you will need to make sure that everything is in order. This includes proof of residency, employment, vehicle registration, etc., as well as evidence of enough money to stay for the duration of your visit.
It’s also important to remember that most countries require at least two pieces of paper proving your identity. A passport is not sufficient!
While it may be tempting to use an expired or missing document as part of your cover, this can backfire quickly if there are records of it being used. Make sure to have copies of everything close by, both digitally and physically.
The next step in processing your visa is choosing where you want to apply. Obviously, you do not have an approved visa until this is done!
It’s important to know what kind of process you will go through at each embassy or consulate. Some take longer than others, so it’s good to be aware of that before deciding where to apply.
For example, some countries may take several weeks to get all of your documents together and then another few days for them to review everything. In these cases, applying close to home can help reduce waiting times as well as save money because you don’t have to travel internationally for a couple of weeks.
However, there are also some countries that may only give you limited time to stay while you are there – typically one month. If this is the case, you should pick a place with no more than a week left on their visas because you won’t have enough time to prepare and spend most of it traveling back and forth.
Also remember that even though the rules seem similar from country to country, they are never actually the same. What works for someone else might not work for you, so check out how things run in other places first.
As mentioned earlier, it is possible to help your visa process by contacting the United States Consulate in your country or the American Embassy in any of our top 10 international cities.
By linking yourself to the embassy via social media or otherwise, you are giving them direct access to you, and therefore helping them determine if you should receive an entry visa into the US.
This can also mean that they may be able to answer questions about whether you will have appropriate public health coverage upon entering the US, as well as confirm that you will not violate any US laws while here.
In fact, the Department of State even has a website where you can search for your local US consulate’s contact information. You can find this at https://visas.travel/USConsulates/.
Consistency is your best friend when it comes to visa processing. If you have made a certain effort to stay in contact with an embassy every day for a week, then that will matter more than if you only did it once a month.
Some days, life may get in the way and you may be able to devote less time to staying in touch, but don’t give up! You can still contribute by calling or texting their visa team to see what, if anything, they need from you.
And while they may not ask about it right away, sometimes things come up and people have to postpone working on your case so they remember to do it later. Keep checking back, even if it’s just to say hello and how are you doing!
If one week goes by and you haven’t heard back from anyone, call or email again and make sure you left a message as well. Sometimes, messages get lost or overlooked and there’s nothing wrong with re-posting your message.
At the very least, you’ll know that someone saw it.
The next step in processing your visa is creating a business profile or, as it’s more commonly known, an “E-I-S” (Employment Authorization Document) or “ESTA” document.
A business profile allows you to describe who will be working for your employer while visiting the United States, how long they will stay, and whether they are a dependent. All of these questions must be answered before final approval can occur!
Business profiles are also used when looking into student visas to study here. Some colleges require proof that there are appropriate jobs available to students after graduation, so this information is important to have.
There is no fee to create a business profile, but it does take some time depending on what kind of documents you need and where you upload them from. Yours will likely take around one week once everything is ready.
We recommend doing it yourself if possible since most employers don’t like having their personal details shared online. You can find all the info you need free online via Google and Stack Overflow.
There are several additional costs that you will need to know about when processing your visa in India. Some of these include application fees, document charges, exit screening fees, and more. Make sure to check with each embassy what their policies are for refunds or not!
Most major international airlines have offices in Mumbai where you can process your documents while paying an internal transfer fee. This way, you don’t have to worry about finding a good place to stay overnight after the airport.
Another common cost is the Immigration Check Post (ICP) at the border. These vary depending on which country you enter, but it is always expensive and takes a long time to get through.
We recommend talking to other travelers around the world to see if there are any helpful tips before applying. Most people who have processed visas say that AVI DOS is the most efficient way to do so.
The next step in process is applying for your VISA! This can be done through an embassy or consulate, by visiting their website directly or via one of our linkable websites we mentioned before. Some countries require you to prove you have enough money to return home after completing your mission so that they will issue the visa.
Most embassies and consulates now use the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system to confirm if you are allowed to enter their country. An ETA is similar to a tourist visa but it does not give you long term entry into the country. It simply confirms your authorization to travel within 90 days. If you need to visit beyond this time frame you would need to apply for a normal visa.
We recommend using Google to search “Visa application [country name]” to see which agencies offer the most efficient services. You want to make sure they are official government sites as some may be fraudulent schemes looking to steal your money.
Some things to look out for: Make sure the dates match your arrival and departure from the USA, and check the same goes for any extensions.
