This word comes from the Latin visus - viewed, seen. In the broadest sense of the word, a visa means the inscription of an official on a document or act, which certifies its authenticity or gives force. Now this concept is often used more narrowly - a visa is a mark in a foreign passport that means permission to enter, exit or travel through the territory of a state for citizens of another country.
Visas come in the form of a stamp, stamp or sticker with degrees of protection against counterfeiting, sometimes even with a photograph of the owner. The visa displays data such as its duration, number of visits, type of visa, personal data and the name of the country allowing entry. In order to obtain this document, it is necessary to submit a number of documents to the embassy of the required country. Usually this is a questionnaire, passport, medical insurance, confirmation of hotel booking and air tickets.
Visas are classified according to the purpose of entry and stay into immigration and non-immigration visas. The first grant the owner the right to live, work or study in the country that issued the visa. Nonimmigrant visas are divided into diplomatic, visitor (this includes tourist, guest, business), business, work, student, retirement, marriage, dependent, temporary protection visas and forced stay visas. Such permits are issued to persons who do not intend to move to this country for permanent residence.
According to the conditions of entry, visas are entry, exit and transit, which give the right to pass through the territory of the country. Visas differ in the territory of its validity for national, which allow entry into a specific country and international, which give the right to enter the Schengen countries. In addition, there are individual and group visas, single and multiple entry visas, short-term and long-term visas.
For the issuance of visas, embassies almost always charge a certain amount. The amounts vary depending on the type of visa and the embassy itself. The visa fee is a fee for processing the application and documents, therefore, even if the visa is refused, the money will not be refunded.
The visa regime is valid in most states, but in some cases a simplified procedure for the entry of foreigners is possible. For example, for the crews of merchant ships - according to nautical books, for tourists - according to the lists. Visa-free entry, exit and transit are established by agreements between states. Such a regime for Russians has been established with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Costa Rica, Cuba, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, Moldova, Namibia, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan, Peru, Thailand, Ukraine, Philippines, Croatia, Montenegro and some other countries.
The visa is affixed at the airport in Egypt, Tunisia, Laos, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Seychelles, Maldives, Ethiopia, Haiti, Jamaica, UAE, Oman, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen.
If the trip covers several countries, you need to apply for a visa at the embassy of the country that is the first on the route. The visa processing time is about 15 working days, but this time may vary depending on the workload of the embassy.
The visa regime is an effective tool for migration policy. However, globalization and a sharp increase in the number of overseas travel do not allow full screening of all travelers. Such functions are assumed by immigration control, which can deny entry to the holder of a valid visa if it suspects him of inconsistency with the declared purpose of the trip.
