Visa after obtaining your visa · After obtaining your visa
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After obtaining your visa
After obtaining your visa
Keep careful note of the information on your visa, namely expiration dates and entries. Also, ensure that you obtained the correct classification of visa for your trip, whether it be a student or tourist visa. If not, you could get into serious legal troubles and possibly even face deportation and a lifetime ban from getting a new visa.
In some cases, your passport may expire before your visa does. You should apply for a new passport, and retain the previous one containing the visa. (Expired passports are automatically returned when applying for a renewal.) You will have to show both when entering and departing the host country.
A visa does not guarantee entry into the country or allow for the full validity period to be used. Some countries have a law which presumes aliens have immigrant intent unless they can demonstrate otherwise. You may still be denied entry at the port of entry, have your visa cancelled there and be subject to immediate deportation. So upon arrival, you must demonstrate to the passport control officer's satisfaction that you are eligible for the visa which you applied for (i.e. that you will not overstay or seek employment or permanent residence under a visitor or student visa). Don't bring stuff that an average traveler with the same type of visa wouldn't bring. This includes items such as non-travel related documents, household possessions, or commerical samples indicating you plan to reside or do business there. Keep this important caveat in mind as you commence your travel.
The dates given on most visas are entry dates (i.e. you must enter the country before the date listed on the visa). Don't overstay your visa or entry status (unless hospitalized). Furthermore, note that the number of days given to you by the consulate doesn't necessarily match the date stamped into your passport by passport control officers. This means that if you are issued a 5-year visa at the embassy, it does NOT mean you can stay continuously in that country for the 5-year period. A date range is often stamped in your passport on arrival.
Make sure to exit before your status expires. Should you need to stay in that country for an extended period of time, you should legally apply at the nearest immigration service centre. However, it's possible that foreigners may be ineligible to apply for any type of extension.
Some travelers take a gamble by overstaying a few days, then paying a small fine at departure. This carries several risks. What used to be a small fine (perhaps even less than a visa extension) may have suddenly increased to be a whole lot more expensive. Worse yet, while still staying at your hotel, the local police may detain you for not having a valid visa. In other words, what might be acceptable to immigration officials at the airport (with your prepaid departure just hours away), is totally unacceptable to the local police. Bring your itinerary and receipt to prove you are not planning to overstay.
For more information about a country's entry requirements, visit that country's respective page or contact their embassy.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Visa
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Visa Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.