Visas

There are different types of Visas that are available based on your requirement and purpose of travel overseas such as Student Visa, Work Visa, Investor Visa, Business Visa, Dependent Visa, and Visitor Visa, etc. 

Let us look at each visa in detail:

Visitor visa

Visitor visas are non-immigrant visas that an individual must apply for if they wish to enter a country temporarily for business, tourism or for transiting through a country while on journey by air or ship.

Student visa

A student visa is issued to students enrolled at qualified educational institutions in foreign countries. Student visas are non-immigrant visas. Students who wish to pursue higher education in another country must obtain a student visa to study in that country.

Most countries issue student visas for foreign students to attend school within their borders. To obtain a visa, the student must first be enrolled at a college or university in that country.

Work visa

Work visa allows you to enter a foreign country and work there for a fixed period of time.  Different countries may have different procedures and eligibility requirements for work permit visas. These visas are issued either on temporary or permanent basis. A temporary work visa is valid only for a fixed period of time after which it has to be renewed if the visa holder has to extend his visa. Generally, the employer applies for a work permit visa.  the employer will apply to the immigration authority of a particular country for approval of the visa.

Dependent visa

A Dependent visa is a type of Visa that permits the spouses and kids to travel to an overseas nation for the purpose of accompanying/joining the family member with a corresponding Visa.

With a dependent visa, the dependents of a lawful migrant to a country such as spouse, dependent children or parents can enter and stay in the country. Such dependents can apply for a visa to join the migrant in the country.

Investor visa

Investor visa is offered by countries to encourage people with a proven business track record and a genuine intent in developing a business overseas to invest in their country. This can be either a new business venture or buying an existing overseas business.

Australia and Canada have an Immigrant Investor Programs. The USP of such programs in these countries are that they offer the option of having an alternate residency status while continuing to manage already existing business.

The Immigrant Investor Programs seek to attract potential immigrant investors who have enough personal net worth and managerial experience. A qualifying business under this program is any business except for those that operate with the purpose of gaining interest or capital gains.

Every country that offers an investor visa has its own set of requirements and eligibility criteria.

Business visa

Government authorities in countries issue business visas to travelers who wish to conduct business activities and meetings that are not related to employment in that country. A business visa allows the holder to:

• Attend meetings
• Business events/conferences
• Investigate business opportunities and ventures

The documents required for a Visa interview will depend on the nation and type of Visa that you are applying to. The documents that are most commonly required are:

• Original Passport with a minimum of 6 months of validity after arrival to the overseas nation
• All expired Passports
• 1 photograph both hard and digital copy as per the specification
• The Visa application confirmation page stamped at the VAC
• A valid receipt of Visa fee payment
• Printout of appointment letter for the Visa interview

Supporting documents required for a Visa interview

The idea of supporting documents is to verify –

• Legality
• Validity
• Illegal history, if any
• Monetary affordability;
• Intention to return to home country

Let us look at the documents required for visa interviews for important countries:

United States

• Application Form DS-160 Confirmation Page
• Valid passport;
• Previous passport(s), if any
• Color photo less than six months old that meet specific requirements
• Fee payment in cash
• Proof of finances (bank statements)
• Additional documents as required by your visa category or personal circumstances

United Kingdom

• Interview appointment confirmation
• Receipt to prove payment of visa fees
• Self-attested copy of the online application form
• Other relevant documents based on the type of visa

Canada

• Valid passport
• Documents verifying your identity
• Other documents relevant to your visa application

The Visa processing times are variable depending on the category of Visa and your location. It can take around a few weeks to some months.

For the U.S, depending on your individual visa, the processing times differ widely. A temporary, non-immigrant visa can usually be processed much quicker than a permanent visa for immigrants. Your visa should be approved within a few days whether you’re visiting the United States for business or travel. Visas for immigrants, meanwhile, will take 3 to 5 weeks. In this period, you will know if your visa application is accepted or rejected.

 For Canada, the application processing time is the period between the receipt of your visa application by IRCC and the final decision to grant your PR visa. The processing time varies for the different immigration programs that the country offers. So, how soon you will get your PR visa depends on the immigration program you have selected to apply for your PR visa. 

The most popular immigration program is the Express Entry system which also has the fastest processing time. The average processing time for the PR visa in 2020 right from the filing of the application to getting the invitation to apply (ITA) from Canadian authorities is 6 months.

In the other popular immigration program – the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the process is almost like the Express Entry program. The only difference being the verification process takes a little longer, this can extend the processing time to about 12 months.

For the Quebec skilled Workers Program (QSWP), a provincial immigration program run by the Quebec province, the processing time is between 12-16 months.

The processing time of the Canadian work permit is solely dependent on the completion of your application and the office at which you have applied. We have found that processing a Canadian Work Permit can take between 1-27 weeks. 

Like work permits, Canadian study permit processing time relies largely on the country of residence of the applicant. A Canadian research permit can usually be processed for between 1-16 weeks.

For Australia, the PR visa takes about 12 to 18 months on average to be processed.

To ensure that your Australian PR visa application is processed on time do not submit an incomplete application. For the smooth processing of your application, make sure you meet the key requirements of the visa application process.

The processing time for other major visa categories are as under:

Visa subclass	Description	75% of applications processed in	90% of applications processed in
417	Working Holiday visa	14 days	34 days
457	Temporary Work (Skilled) visa	86 days	6 months
189	Skilled Independent visa	4 months	6 months
190	Skilled Nominated visa	4 months	7 months
489	Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa (State/Territory Nominated visa classes)	5 months	7 months
186	Employer Nomination Scheme visa	8 months	9 months

For the UK, you will hear the decision on your visa application within 3 weeks. This applies to most of the visa categories such as tourist, student or work visa.

The cost of the Visa is variable depending on the category of Visa and your location. It can cost around a few hundreds of dollars to some thousands of dollars.

Let us look at the cost of visas for certain popular overseas destinations.

USA

The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types such as tourist, business, student visas is USD160.  The cost of work and religious visas is USD190. K visas cost USD 265 and the fee amount for E visas is USD 205. The tables below are a more comprehensive list of visa types and fee amounts.

Schengen visa

The cost of the Schengen visa will vary based on the type of visa and the age of the applicant. The visa application costs include the visa fees you should pay at the respective embassy or consulate.

Visa category		Cost in USD
Adult		90$
Child between 6-12 years of age		45$
Child younger than 6 years of age		Free
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports traveling for official purposes		Free
Family member of a EU/EEA national		Free
Pupils, students and accompanying teachers during a school trip		Free
Researchers traveling to perform scientific research		Free
Nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.		39$

United Kingdom

• Visit visa < 6 months, 95 pounds
• Visit visa < 2 years 61 pounds
• Visit visa < 5 years, 655 pounds
• Visit visa <10 years, 822 pounds
• Visiting academic – more than 6 months but no more than 12 months, 190 pounds
• Private medical treatment visa – more than 6 months but not more than 11 months, 190 pounds
• Short term student visa (up to 6 months), 97 pounds

Canada

Costs in CAD

• Study Permit, $150
• Work Permit, $155
• Visitor Visa, $100
• Visitor Visa (Family), $500
• Working Holiday Visa, $153

Australia

Visa subclass	Base application charge	Additional Applicant charge 18 and over	Additional applicant charges under 18
Subclass 189 Visa	AUD 4,045	AUD 2,020	AUD 1,015
Subclass 190 Visa	AUD 4,045	AUD 2,020	AUD 1,015
Subclass 491 Visa	From AUD 4,045	AUD 2,020	AUD 1,015

Below are the general guidelines for a Visa application:

• Identify the type of Visa that you require
• Identify the authorized place for Visa application (Embassy/Consulate)
• Find out the most appropriate time for filing the application
• Book an appointment for the Visa interview
• Fill the Visa application form
• Collate the necessary documents
• Attend the interview for the Visa
• Pay the required Visa fee
• Wait for the decision on your Visa application

Here is the process for certain popular countries

USA

Check if you need a visa

Choose the type of US visa that you’re going to apply for.

Fill in the application form DS-160 for a non-immigrant visa.

Pay the fee for visa application.

Fix the date and time for your visa interview.

Compile the document file

Participate in the visa interview.

Wait for the processing time

UK

Find out if there’s a UK visa you need.

Choose the correct form of UK visa.

Complete the application form online.

For a UK visa application, collect the necessary documents.

Schedule an appointment for a UK visa.

Depending on availability, the visa application process includes obtaining an appointment from the consulate. On the day of the appointment, all the original documents for submission and for biometrics have to be submitted to the applicant.

Canada

Find out if you’re eligible for a visa from Canada.

Create your online account.

Compile the document file.

Pay the required fees.

Wait for your Canadian visa to be approved.

Send your passport and your fees for processing.

Australia

Choose a visa subclass that is ideal for your purpose and download the appropriate visa application form.

Submit the supporting documents that may be needed for your visa application.

Organize the visa fee payment

A mandatory prerequisite is the prior online appointment for submission of application

Visa Category	Sub Category
Australia
Tourist Visa	Subclass – 600
Business Visa	Subclass – 600
Student Visa	Subclass -500
Permanent Resident Skilled Visas	Subclass – 189, 190, 887, etc.
Student Dependent visa	Subclass -500
Temporary Graduate Post Study Work Visa (Dependent)	Subclass – 485
Patner Provisonal Visa Subclass (PR Dep visa)	Subclass – 309
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Dependent)	Subclass – 482
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)	Subclass – 400
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Dependent)	Subclass -491
Child Visa	Subclass – 101
Canada
Temperary Resident visa	Tourist visa
PRTD	Permanent Resident Travel Document
Student Visa	Student Visa
Work Visa	Work Visa with LMIA exemption
Student Dependent Visa	Open Work Permit
Work Dependent visa	Open work permiit
Permanent Reisdent visa	Spouse Visa/ PR dependent
The UK
Standard Visitor Visa	Tourist Visa
Standard Visitor Visa	Business Visa
Student Visa	Tier 4 General Student
Student Dependent Visa	Tier 4 Student Dependent visa
Work Visa	Tier 2 – General
Work Visa Depepndent	Tier 2 – General – Dependent
Dependent Visa	Sole Representative Dependent
Replacement Card	Biometrics Repalcement Crad
Citizen Dependent	Citizen dependent
The USA
Tourist	B2
Business	B1
Transit	C-1
Crew	D
Student	F1
Student Dependent	F2
Student(Vocatioanl Course)	M1
Student Dependent(Vocational)	M2
Internship	J1
Internship Dependent	J2
Work	H1B
Work Dependent	H4
Intra Transfer	L1A
Intra Transfer Dependent	L2
Regional Worker	R1
Regional Worker Dependent	R2
Germany
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Long stay – Employement	Employement Visa
Dependent Visa – Employement	family Reunion – Spouse/Child
Austria
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay –	Residence Permit
Belgium
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Dependent Visa	Dependent Visa
Czech Republic
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Denmark
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Finland
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Greece
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Hungary
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Ireland
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Italy
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Luxembourg
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Netherlands
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Norway
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Dependent Visa	Student Dependent visa
Poland
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Portugal
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Switzerland
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Spain
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
Sweden
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Short Stay	Business Visa
Long Stay – Student	Student Visa
China
Short Stay	Tourist Visa
Long Stay – Work	Work Visa
Brazil	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Bangladesh	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Latvia	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Lithuania	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Malta	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Colombia	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Cyrus	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Dubai	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Egypt	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Georgia	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Hong Kong	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Indonesia	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Japan	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Malaysia	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Morocco	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Nigeria	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Peru	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Philippines	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Russia	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Singapore	Short Stay Tourist Visa
South Africa	Short Stay Tourist Visa
South Korea	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Srilanka	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Taiwan	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Thailand	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Turkey	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Ukraine	Short Stay Tourist Visa
Vietnam	Short Stay Tourist Visa

By the term ‘visa’ is meant an entry permit for a short and temporary visit that must not be more than 90 days in duration.