A visa (from the Latin charta visa, lit. “paper that has been seen”) is an indication that a person is authorized to enter the country which “issued” the visa, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant’s passport. Some countries do not require a visa in some situations, such as a result of reciprocal treaty arrangements. The country issuing the visa typically attaches various conditions to the visa, such as the time that the visa is valid, the period that the person may stay in the country, whether the visa is valid for more than one visit, etc.
Many countries require possession of a valid passport and visa as a condition of entry for foreigners, though there are exemptions.
The possession of a visa is not in itself a guarantee of entry into the country that issued it, and a visa can be revoked at any time. The visa process merely enables the host country to verify the identity of the visa applicant before the entry of the applicant. Special permits may also be required, such as a residency permit or work permit. A visitor may also be required to undergo and pass security and/or health checks upon arrival at the border.
Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter (or exit) a country, and are thus, for some countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country.
Each country has a multitude of categories of visas and with various names. The most common types and names of visas include:
§ transit visa, usually valid for 5 days or less, for passing through the country to a third destination.
§ tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business activities allowed. Some countries do not issue tourist visas.
§ business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas generally preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa would be required.
§ temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the United States’ H-1B, H-2A, and L-1 visas.
§ spousal visa or partner visa, granted to the spouse or de facto partner of a resident or citizen of a given country, in order to enable the couple to settle in that country.
§ student visa, which allows its holder to study at an institution of higher learning in the issuing country
§ Marriage visa, granted for a limited period prior to intended marriage based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country. For example, a German woman who wishes to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancee Visa (also known as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States. “A K1 Fiancee Visa is valid for four months from the date of its approval.”
§ immigrant visa, granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing country. They usually are issued for a single journey as the holder will, depending on the country, later be issued a permanent resident identification card which will allow the traveler to enter to the issuing country an unlimited number of times. (for example, the United States Permanent Resident Card).
