If you’re a first time reader, a quick, 50-word preface:

I’m an American married to an Canadian.  We moved to Halifax, Canada this summer from our last home in Prague, Czech Republic.  So, we come here as new residents: one citizen and one on “visitor status.”

So, Here I Am, an American in Canada

Against common myth, Americans are not freely welcome in Canada.  Sure, we can come to visit, -but not to stay.  Americans: Canada is not your 51st state. (That’s worth repeating, but I won’t).

So, Here I Am, on Visitor Status

Visitor status -that’s what you get when you come to Canada and have no legal grounds to stay.  For Americans, visitor status lasts 6 months.  That 6 months puts me as valid until December 24th.  Then I’m free to leave.  In fact, I’m told to leave.  All but escort my ass over the border – thanks.  Have a nice day, eh?

If I seem gruff, it’s a tinge of bitterness.  I’m married to a native-born Canadian and we have two kids, foreign born with Canadian citizenship.  (By the way, yes, there is a difference between native and foreign born Canadians.)  So, in my family, I’m feeling as much Canadian as American.

So, Here I Am, in Front of Immigration

When we arrived at Halifax airport late last June, we were sweating bullets.  Over the flight (and often prior) we went over our “stories,” our angle, planning and rehearsing answers to any question.

We expected to be questioned on our intentions and we expected a little grilling.  I had no reason to demand “I’m living here now” and it’s unreasonable to believe “Sure, my Canadian family is moving here, but I’m soon returning to Prague.”

One thing for sure we knew: Immigration is not our friend.

And we were right. Immigration can be that nosey but otherwise harmless neighbour.  Immigration can be the crotchety bureaucrat that can’t seem to do their job twice the same way.  And they can be the power-tripping, asshole cop who’s wife is cheating on them while they pull a double-shift and they just caught you doing 110 in a 50.  But they are not your friend.

I Filed my Residency Paperwork

First, we saw an immigration lawyer.  Well worth the $275 – he answered questions we didn’t know we had.

Second, we decided on the path to take – as a spouse.

Next we filled in documents and gathered our supporting evidence: certificates, criminal background checks and financial statements.  I got the photos.  I did my medical examination.

It’s all footwork that we expected.  We went through the same drill in the US for my wife who successfully got her US citizenship.  Still, experience doesn’t make immigration paperwork any fun, nor prepare you for the idiocy that comes at every turn (or counter).

And, Here I Am. …Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock.

So we file my application.  I just checked on the status last week.  Thankfully they received it.  Of course I know the application package arrived; I sent it by FedEx.  But arrived doesn’t immediately mean “received” in the system.  The nice lady confirmed “Probably be another 7-8 months before the reviewers get to yours.”  Great.

Meanwhile, tick, tock, tick, tock.  My visitor status expiry looms and I was told to extend it as soon as possible.  But how?

We look online -there’s an immigration office downtown Halifax.  Great!

I arrange babysitting and go downtown to the CIC office: “Sorry, can’t help you – by appointment only. Call this number.”

I step outside the office & call the number: “Sorry, but all agents are busy right now…please try your call again on our less busy days, Thursday and Friday.”  Great.

I call on Thursday.  An agent answers.  After my “elevator speech explanation” to immigration officers, she offers “Sorry, but can’t help you.”

For the love of god, how is it a freakin’ Czech post office can have better customer service than any country’s immigration office?

Well, considerable investigation later – I find out I can extend my stay online.  Most unbelievable to me is no one was able to say that.

Who knew their website has so much processing available all online?  Certainly not Canadian immigration officers.

So, Here I Am, on Extended Visitor Status

All’s well that ends well.  And we patiently wait the 7-8 months for my permanency residence application to be reviewed.  Since 7 is more than 6, I guess I’ll be extending my visitor status again next summer.  At least I’ll know what to do.

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In a prior post, I mentioned how most countries do not require a visa just to visit. But some do. Some examples include Bolivia, India, Russia (& most of the former Soviet Republics), Cambodia, Vietnam. This post will set your expectations about getting a tourist visa for those countries.
[quote]
Filling out Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork
Needing a visa doesn’t mean someone does it for you. You’ll need to fill out a visa application.

Yes, every country has its own visa application form. The form could be available online or you must visit the nearest embassy. Nothing is standard across all forms. And you’d better fill it out as it’s expected.

What Does The Visa Application Ask?
Just “name, rank & serial number” would be nice, but don’t count on it.

Generalizing here, but as a minimum, you will provide:
Name, nationality, birthday, passport number, address (both yours and where you’ll stay) and contact information like phone number/fax/e-mail (both yours and where you’ll stay), why and for how long you expect to stay

You may also be asked your marital status, your occupation and employment history. Some countries even ask you to write a short, personal essay explaining why you want to see their country!

After finishing the form, it is also common to provide:
Bank statement or proof of financial support, a copy of HIV vaccinations, confirmation or invitation from a local hotel or friend (both cases sometimes called your “sponsor” and copies of your hotel confirmation & return flight.
Tack on 1 or 2 passport photos and you’re all set!

Why so personal? They want to ensure you not only intend to visit, but you intend to leave, too.

Click for bigger picture

Paying for Permission to Visit
Well, of course we have to pay. And of course, payments are always “non-refundable and subject to change without notice.” {shrug}
Now, you may be thinking about the poor desk clerk who has to handle all this. You’re paying for his time, right? No, actually in modern countries, visa processing is outsourced. Those 3rd party services are the most expensive portion of your fees.

On top of that, expect to pay for consular fees and postage to send it back to you, typically performed by some private courier like FedEx or DHL.
How much you ask? Could be anything from $15 (Australia) to $130+ (Bolivia, Chile, Brazil). Typical is $30-$50. Is it fair? Well, unlike the price, that answer is negotiable.

Recall that visas and their respective fees are typically reciprocity for the same requirement placed on their citizens. Visas are commonly required because it’s tit-for-tat for them. That helps explain why a country has different visa fees for different visitors.

Take the USA for example. Their site clearly has the attitude “Well, they do to us, so we do it to them” (“however, when a foreign government imposes such fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a “reciprocal” fee to nationals of that country…“)

What Does It Matter Why I Am Going?
If you’re entering a foreign country and you need permission to enter that foreign country, then it’s reasonable to expect them to be curious why you are entering that foreign country. Yes?

If you are visiting their zoo and miniature toy museum, then you’re a tourist. Prepare for the easiest visa process.
If you are going to sell or for negotiations, then you are on a business trip. Expect questions such as “Are you bringing any goods? Will they stay?”
If anything else, e.g. work, study, adoption, immigration, then you can expect much more paperwork.

Mark your answers wisely.

Click for bigger picture

How Long Does it Take?!?
Time to approve a tourist visas differs. (no surprise, right?)
First, the fastest… to visit Australia, we Americans do need a visa. And Americans need just 30 seconds.
Wow, the necessary tourist visa takes 30 seconds to approve! That is, if you use their Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). For Americans who typically demand fast gratification, that’s a welcome visa process!

Unfortunately, the vast majority of countries take far longer.

I made pictures of my tourist visas to India and Russia. India took about 2 weeks and Russia took 1 week.
Keep in mind, here in Prague, I live only a 5 minute walk away from the Russian embassy, so I knew of the morning lines. I was prepared for waiting a couple hours per visit. I was prepared for the the paperwork that reminded me of the Soviet Union. But after all was filed properly, I got it after 1 week.

A sharp contrast from my buddy, Bill, who after 3 weeks, still didn’t get his visa & passport mailed to him. I felt bad, but I left for Moscow without him.

My tribute video to Bill.

How to shorten the time?
Call into the embassy and check the visa’s approval status. These people are human. They surf the web, too. They forget things. Call after 3 or 4 days to check its status. Call again if its been 2 weeks.
If you don’t live near the embassy, factor in the time for the courier to deliver your passport back.
And, as my friend Bill above can testify to, do not depend on their “expedited service!”

Anything else?
Speaking of time, be sure your passport is good for long enough after the visa should expire.
I’ll use Chile as the example again. Your passport must be good for minimum 90 days after expected departure, else no visa granted.
Most countries have a US embassy which offers “expedited passport services” if you get in a jam while visiting. But think about that … do you really want to surrender your passport and fate to government processing while you’re traveling?
Also – be sure to have two blank pages left in your passport. A very standard request, but often overlooked if a tourist travels enough.
I can’t stress enough to do your own homework for a specific country. Prime example is Russia. They have special demands on sponsorship and things like migration cards that make even a well-seasoned traveler cringe.

I want to repeat two big points I said in the beginning:

• This post talks about the short-term visa. Another post to come for extended stay or long-term visa (like to work or stay over 90 days).
• It’s very important to do your own homework.

As Americans, you can feel (somewhat) secure that your own Department of State has the latest info. Check this site to get the latest on your specific destination.

Sure hope this was helpful to somebody. Let me know

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Rather than dive into filling out forms, let’s be sure we’re all starting on the same page.
Read the below Q&A. Once you know & understand them, you’re ahead of most.

What’s a Visa?

Not the credit card. Here, we’re talking about permission to visit a country. Consider it like your personal “green light” to go.

When I traveled around Europe, I got lots of stamps in my passport – are they visas?

No. A passport stamp just acknowledges you’re “in” or “out.” You get those when crossing a border. A visa is something you must apply for ahead of time.

How do I tell if I need a visa?

Two things determine if you need a visa: your citizenship and where you’re going.
If you intend to stay a while, that might affect things, too, but more on that later.
US citizens can check on this page to see if your destination country wants you to get a visa first.

If I’m American, do I need a visa to visit ABC country?

For most countries, no. US citizens need visas for only about 20% of the world’s countries. Bottom line reason why you need a visa is reciprocity. It’s a tit-for-tat thing. If the US requires a visa for that country’s citizens, then often that country will enforce the same on Americans. What breaks the “visa mini-cold-war” is a strong desire between countries to be friends. Example: To visit Mongolia, Americans don’t need a visa, but citizens from all European and most Asian countries do. Interesting, huh?
Combine those two facts and you’ll see Americans travel very freely. In fact, only folks from Denmark and Germany travel more freely than Americans:
(see graph)

Does it matter why I’m going to that country?

Yes, sort of. When filling out the visa application, it matters whether you’re a tourist or someone visiting on business. However, in general, the requirements -and more importantly- the wait for your visa to get approved is the same.
A business person visiting a country is very different from someone needing a work visa.

[quote]

Do I pay for it? How much?

Yes, visas cost. My rough experience and sample research says this: you’re going to pay between $20 and $100 for the permission to fly to that country.
Sure, it’s not much when compared to the flight or accommodations, but paying for permission to come over (plus the added paperwork) isn’t exactly welcoming either.

How long does it take to get a visa?

See the next part: Visa Process – Timelines

Related posts:

1. Visa Process – Intro This is a Big Topic: the visa process. By the...
2. Visa Process – Timelines In a prior post, I mentioned how most countries do...
3. The Visa Book- a Review Christine Gilbert of Almostfearless.com published a guide book and I...

This is a Big Topic: the visa process.

By the way, when expats talk about visas, we ain’t talking credit cards!

Whenever I hear the question How do I get a visa?, I cringe. I cringe because I know it’s the most common question to ask and the most difficult one to answer.

Some people may stop at “Well, it just depends on the country.” Instead I will write a series of posts, hopefully answering some of the first and tougher questions about the visa process.

Any questions on your mind? Put them in the comments and I’ll reply.

I got my ears open. Stay tuned…

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