Visa

A visa or visado (from the Latin charta visa, paper that has been seen) is an authorization granted by a country, typically to a foreign citizen, to temporarily enter the territory, or to leave it. The visa is a document issued by the receiving country to indicate that the traveler is admissible. Generally, the physical permit is stamped in the applicant's passport.

Visas indicate—but do not guarantee—the admission of foreigners to a recipient country. Most countries exempt certain nationalities from the visa requirement, typically through bilateral agreements between the country of the person's nationality and the country of destination. In Hispanic America, in 2022, the Chilean passport was the one that allowed you to visit the most countries without having to obtain a visa (174); Contrast this with the Ecuadorian, to which only 92 countries granted the right to arrive without a visa.

Types of visa

There are different types of visa or visa:

• Transit visa: It is used so that a person who should scale in one country and then go to another, can stay on this scale usually in a maximum of 3 days.
• Tourist Visa: It is used for people who wish to visit a country for the purpose of knowing it, as a tourist, and it is not allowed for the person to do business within the country to which he or she is visited or to work on it, just spend money. Unlike other visas, this is usually free. It usually lasts from 1 to 3 months.
• Work visa: Used only for purposes of working, as long as a destination country company hires it for such purposes. It's longer in time and renewable.
• Student visa: It is used for the effects of a person who is enrolled in an educational centre in the country of destination. As your name says, it is a visa to study in that country.
• Diplomatic visa: It is used for persons holding a diplomatic office to visit such a country for diplomatic purposes such as official visits of presidents or embassy effects.
• Journalist visa: Used by those journalism professionals can exercise for a period of time to cover certain events that are taking place in that country, of a relevant nature or research.
• Marriage visa: It is used for those who marry a person who possesses nationality from the country of destination.
• Entry visa: It is an authorization to be able to present itself to a country of destination, and apply for formal entry there (it is important to note that the sole possession of this visa does not guarantee entry to the country, this can only be decided by the migration officer). This is a way that governments have to control the transit of foreigners. These visas are of two types: passports, which allow access to a country for a defined duration visit, and immigration visas, which represent an authorization to reside in the country permanently. The seconds require many more requirements and it is usually difficult to obtain.
• Exit visa: It is the one that some countries require their citizens when they want to travel abroad. These are visas that are required for the abandonment of a country that is in unfavourable political, social or economic conditions.

Visa photo

To obtain a visa, a biometric photo is required to identify a person.

Photo requirements:

Did you mean: - la cara mirando enfrente de la cámara

- without headdress

- a clear and uniform background

The size of the photo depends on the foreign country:

Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Comoros, India, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Rwanda, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, Djibouti: 51 x 51 mm

Albania: 36 x 47 mm

Angola, Botswana, Colombia, Guinea-Bissau, Mongolia, Palestinian Territories, Ukraine: 30 x 40 mm

Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Benin, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Canada, South Korea, Malfir Coast, Gabon, Georgia, Equatorial Guinea, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Moldova, Mozambique, Nigeria, New Zealand, Samoa, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Switzerland, Suriname, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe: 35 x 45 mm

Argentina: 40 x 40 mm

Bahrain, Libya, Oman, Syria, Yemen: 40 x 60 mm

Qatar: 38 x 44 mm

United Arab Emirates: 43 x 55 mm

United States: 50 x 50 mm

Hong Kong, Sudan: 40 x 50 mm

Iran: 34 x 51 mm

Macao: 33 x 48 mm

Malaysia: 35 x 50 mm

Russia: 38.25 x 51 mm

Turkmenistan, Türkiye: 50 x 60 mm

Colombia

Visitor Visa (V)

Intended for foreigners who want to visit Colombia once or several times or stay temporarily in the country without settling permanently.

This visa allows the holder to carry out, among other activities: airport transit, tourism, business dealings, academic exchange and studies in art or trades and postgraduate degrees, medical treatment, administrative and/or judicial procedures, ship crew or in coastal platform, participation in events, internship or internship, volunteering, audiovisual and/or digital production, journalistic coverage, temporary service provider, transfer of intracorporate personnel within the framework of current international instruments, official or commercial representative of a foreign government, vacation program -work and courtesy. A type “V” visa may be granted with a validity of up to 2 years, taking into account the activity that the foreigner intends to do in Colombia.

Migrant Visa (M)

Intended for foreigners who wish to enter or remain in the national territory with the intention of establishing themselves, and do not meet the conditions to apply for a type “R” visa.

People who meet the following conditions may apply for this visa: Spouse or permanent partner of a Colombian national; father or son of a Colombian national by adoption; migrant under the Mercosur Agreement; refugee; job; businessman; exercise a profession or independent activity; religious; primary, secondary, middle and undergraduate students; real estate investor; retired or rentier. The “M” type visa will be valid for 3 years.

Resident Visa (R)

Intended for those who aspire to establish themselves or establish their permanent domicile in Colombia due to: having renounced Colombian nationality; be the father of a Colombian national by birth; accumulated length of stay; foreign direct investment. The “R” type visa will be valid indefinitely. The authorized stay time in the national territory for the holder of the “R” type visa will be equal to the duration of the visa. The type “R” visa has an open work permit and allows its holder to carry out any legal activity in the national territory.

Preferential Visa

According to decree 2107 of 2001, the Protocol Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants preferential visas in the Diplomatic, Official and Service categories. For online applications in Bogotá the following applies:

Diplomatic

It will be issued to the holder of a diplomatic passport who has entered the national territory and is accredited before the Protocol Directorate to hold a position in a Diplomatic Mission, Consular Office or International Organization duly accredited before the Government of Colombia. Without prejudice to the provisions of the agreements concluded regarding visa exemption, the diplomatic preferential visa will be granted, in the national territory, by the Protocol Directorate for up to a term of four (4) years, renewable if necessary, upon request. of the respective diplomatic representation. Once the Mission is completed, the visa holder may remain in the country covered by the visa for up to a maximum period of 60 days.

Official

It will be issued to a foreign official who comes to the country on an official mission and is duly accredited before the Protocol Directorate. The official preferential visa will be granted, in the national territory, by the Protocol Directorate for up to four (4) years, and may be renewed for periods of up to two (2) years, upon request from the respective diplomatic representation. Once the Mission is completed, the visa holder may remain in the country covered by the visa for up to a maximum period of 30 days.

Of Service

It will be issued to the foreigner accredited before the Protocol Directorate who has entered the country in the following cases:

a) As an international official or expert, within the Framework of International Treaties that are in force;

b) As a member of the administrative and technical staff of a Diplomatic Mission, Consular Office or of an International or Cooperation Organization;

c) As a member of the service staff of a Diplomatic Mission, Consular Office or of an International Organization or Cooperation, or as a private employee of a member of the mission staff, as long as the employee does not have permanent residence in the country;

The preferential service visa will be granted, in the national territory, by the Protocol Directorate and its duration will be established according to the term of mission, the employment contract or the provision of services valid for up to two (2) years, renewable. for equal periods. Once the mission, contract or activity is completed, the holder may remain for up to 30 calendar days.

United States

Business Visa & Tourism (B1/B2)

The B1 Visa is designed for temporary business trips, including trips for contract negotiation, attending exhibitions and conferences, short training, consultations with suppliers and clients, etc. The B2 visa is designed for tourism activities, such as shopping and sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, obtaining medical treatments, etc. The B1 and B2 visa is not valid to obtain employment in the United States of America.

The validity period of B1 and B2 visas is 10 years, but the maximum stay; That is, the time you can stay in the US once you enter the country should not exceed 6 months. However, this could vary depending on the nationality of the traveler.

B1 and B2 visa applicants must demonstrate their intention to enter the US for a temporary period, solely for the purpose of attending short business trips and tourism. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have the necessary financial funds to cover their travel expenses during their stay in the US; as well as social, economic, and other ties in their country of origin to guarantee that the applicant returns after their legal and temporary visit.

Immigrant visa

There are five employment-based visa preference categories for the United States

Visa EB-1

It is intended for "priority workers". They are foreigners who either have "extraordinary skills" or are "professors or outstanding researchers" and also include "some executives and managers of foreign companies that are transferred to the US." This visa allows them to remain permanently in the US. U.S.

Visa EB-2

Destined for foreigners who have exceptional skills in science, arts or business, are advanced-grade professionals, or qualified foreign doctors who practice medicine in marginalized areas of the USA. U.S.

Visa EB-3

It is intended for "qualified workers", "professionals", and "other workers". Those are future immigrants who do not qualify for EB-1 or EB-2.

Visa EB-4

For special immigrants: religious workers, foreigners who have worked for the U.S. government. U.S. abroad and U.S. widows/ widowers are among those who qualify for work-related residence cards as special immigrants.

Visa EB-5

It is intended for immigrant investors. This visa provides a method for obtaining a residence card for foreigners who invest money in the United States. In order to obtain the visa, individuals must invest between $500,000 and $1,000.000 in a "employment area" that promotes the creation or preservation of at least 10 jobs for American workers by excluding the investor and his family. Once you have this type of visa you can aspire to a permanent residence (Green Card).

In addition to the visa categories mentioned above, there are other visas that allow individuals of different nationalities to enter and work in the United States. These visas are essential to meet various immigration and employment needs in the United States:

H-1B Visa

The H-1B Visa is intended for highly skilled foreign workers who want to work in the United States in specialized jobs, such as information technology, engineering, science, medicine, and more. US employers sponsor H-1B applicants and must demonstrate that they cannot find suitable local candidates to fill these positions.

L-1 Visa

The L-1 Visa allows the transfer of intra-corporate employees from a foreign branch of a company to a branch in the United States. There are two main categories: L-1A for managers and executives and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge. This visa is useful for companies that want to bring foreign employees to work on projects or expand their operations in the United States.

O-1 Visa

The O-1 Visa is intended for individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields such as arts, sports, business, science and education. O-1 Visa applicants must demonstrate an exceptional level of skill and recognition in their respective fields and be supported by a petition from a U.S. employer or sponsoring entity.

J-1 Visa

The J-1 Visa is granted to people who participate in cultural and educational exchange programs in the United States. This includes exchange students, researchers, visiting professors, and participants in training programs. The J-1 Visa is designed to foster cultural understanding and academic exchange between the United States and other countries.

TN Visa

The TN Visa is for professionals who are citizens of Canada and Mexico who wish to work in the United States under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Applicants must be employed in a specific occupation that qualifies under NAFTA and meet education and experience requirements.

Fees

Starting with the presidency of Bill Clinton, the US government recovers the cost of its bureaucracy necessary to administer the issuance of visas, charging it to applicants. Depending on the type of visa requested, in 2023 the fees were between $185 and $305.

Venezuela

Tourist

It is the foreigner who enters the country for recreation or leisure purposes.

Simple Passerby

It is the foreigner who wishes to enter the country for purposes other than tourism and is classified as:

• Transeunte Familiar Venezolano
• Business Transfer
• Transeúnte Inversionist
• Transeúnte Empresario Industrial
• Religious Transeunte
• Return
• Transeúnte Laboral
• Transeunte Student

Transit Traveler

It is the foreigner who crosses the national territory to go to another country.

Vietnam

Immigrant visa

As of July 1, 2015 and until June 30, 2017, Spanish citizens did not need a visa to enter Vietnam, whatever the purpose of the trip, as long as their stay did not exceed 15 days and they made a single entry into Vietnamese territory.

To enter Vietnam for the second time without a visa, 30 days must have passed from the date of the last departure.

In the case of planning more than one entry within that period or a stay of more than 15 days, a visa must be obtained.

Tourist visa

Visa for more than 15 days and less than three months.

Where different types of visa are included, there are visas with single entry and multiple entry.

This type of visa requires an invitation letter for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.