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Visas to Japan

Visas to Japan

During World War II, Japanese forces allied with the Axis Powers headed by Adolf Hitler’s Nazis, were directly responsible for the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It was the first air-attack on American soil and a date in American history that will forever be remembered as the day that will live in infamy. Years later, at the end of World War II, the Americans’ work on the atomic bomb would come to fruition with the devastation of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, whose total destruction forced the unconditional surrender of Japan.
Thankfully, the relationship between the United States of America and the empire of Japan has come a long way since then. Not only is there a close relationship between the United States of America and Japan, in both the political and economic senses, but the doors have since been opened increasingly wider and wider for the travel of all kinds of foreign nationals to and from Japan.
1. In terms of following the rules and regulations of travel to Japan, visa documentation is not needed for periods as long as 90 days, as long as the purpose of tourism or business.
2. Special restrictions on transit visas – As stated, for American residents temporarily relocating to Japan, travel visa certification, so to speak, is not necessary for pleasurable visits for three months (90 days) or less. Still, a visa may come into play if you are planning to get to China through Japan. Visa review officials will frequently detain the traveler looking to secure entry to China without a Chinese visa.
3. Working holiday programs – While the working holiday program may be more immediately synonymous with countries like Canada and Australia, this option is, in addition, open to certain visitors to Japan. Travel visas for study and work in Japan are available to the denizens of a number of countries, including  France, Germany and Hong Kong. 

Visas to Brazil

Visas to Brazil

Contrary to some assertions made by people whose only window into the workings of Brazilian society may be seeing it represented on television or in the movies, concerned Brazilian respondents would be keen to point out, Brazil is a developed nation that has much to offer the world, especially in the arena of tourism.
Millions of people each year flock to Brazil. Visa application numbers, in accord with this notion, are bound to be fairly lofty as well. For the American seeking to follow in other travelers’ footsteps and vacation in Brazil, visa documentation is something about which to be concerned. In getting to Brazil, visa application considerations to be aware of include:
1. Limits of visa validity – Going back to representations of Brazil in popular media, the condensed series of events during travel sequences may make it seem as if it is an easy thing to process through a port of entry of Brazil. Visa applicants, meanwhile, would be apt to suggest the opposite. For entry by an American citizen into Brazil, visa application forms must be filled out for all forms of travel.
What may be yet more significant, though, is the narrow time frame allotted for travel into Brazil. Visa policy states that all visas awarded for travel to Brazil must be used within 90 days of their issuance. Granted, this gives the holder three months, but in cases of reentry, these dates can elude the traveler. Be sure to address any problems with the terms of your visa prior to crossing the border into Brazil; visa application is not an option at a port of entry.
2. Limits on visa eligibility for dual citizens – In Brazil, visa documentation from the country is not available if you are considered a national of both Brazil and the United States. Thus, you must fill an out an application for a Brazilian passport instead.
3. Ground travel difficulties – As regards Brazil, visa application may not be directly affected by public transportation. Nonetheless, it is important to understand the inherent danger of intrastate travel in Brazil. Visa holders are advised to take care when trying to navigate roadways in Brazil, as the conditions are often poor due to lack of maintenance, bus hijackings, and lack of emergency assistance, among other concerns. Always take caution when traveling.

The Schengen Visa

The Schengen Visa

1. First of all, it should be discussed to where the Schengen visa does not apply, or where an international visa might be needed in addition to a check of a passport and other documentation. As indicated elsewhere, the United Kingdom, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Ireland all have disagreed with Schengen regulations in some form or another so that visas for transport into these countries may be required for residents of select countries. 
2. Residents of some countries, notably the United States of America, do not need visas for unrestricted travel through the Schengen area. The total list of countries that do not require a international visa to travel between Schengen countries numbers more than 30, and the onus is on the individual to verify whether he or she is on the list of exempt countries.
3. Visas for travel inside the Schengen area, therefore, apply to those countries who are not passport holders of the group to which countries like the United States belong. The Schengen international visa lasts for up to ninety days of use, and  can only be used for ninety days within a 180-day period. Though it likely goes without saying, visas for the Schengen area are to be used only for travel, not to establish permanent residency.

Visas to China

Visas to China

Even when the dynamics of travel do not involve countries that sponsor terrorism or are known to be breeding grounds for hostile factions that specifically target Americans and other Westerners, there still may be concerns with the acquisition of a visa
1. Fees for Americans in travel – In the last five years, noticeable, impacting alterations have been made to immigration and travel policy in China. Visa application now includes an exit visa to lawfully leave the country. Based on concerns of the trustworthiness of agencies that pledge to be official sanctioned visa providers, it is wise to secure the visa and verify its authenticity prior to arrival in China. Visa application, as a result of increased fees on the use of airports, also now builds in the cost of the fare hike.
2. Restrictions on travel to Tibet – Tibet’s sovereignty as a free, autonomous state, has yet to be granted by China. Visa grants, as a result, that include travel to Tibet come with the need for a special permit to visit Tibet, which can be granted by travel agents within China. Visa applicants who wish to visit Tibet, will be further restricted upon entry to the region to areas deemed acceptable for foreigners.
3. The “police state” nature of China – A national law passed in 2006 expanded the role of the police to handle immigration affairs in China. Visa application requests for a return visa, therefore must go through local authorities, and as a result,  Americans have been questioned without the opportunity to contact U.S. authorities. When questioned by the police, a visa holder should immediately attempt to contact their consulate or embassy.
4. Health concerns – Health standards are nowhere near the level of the United States when it comes to China. Visa holders are advised to keep contact information for their given U.S. embassy (which will, in turn, have access to the contact information for English-speaking doctors) or International SOS Centers close at hand. 

Visas to Malaysia

Visas to Malaysia

Entry requirements – For Americans, there is usually no visa requirement for periods of travel within three months’ time for trips devoted to business-related travel and pleasure; however, for other visitors to Malaysia, visa documentation must be clearly visible on their passports
Dual nationality – In Malaysia, visa officials are not legally obligated to recognize dual citizenship as both an American and Malaysian. In fact, dual citizenship runs directly contrary to Malaysian international policy, and consequently, a foreign national which tries to claim dual nationality including Malaysian citizenship may be subject to attempts by immigration officials to strip the individual of one of his or her claims to nationality. 

 Petty crime – Especially in urban areas, visa holders are advised to be on the lookout for evidence of criminalrobberiescredit card frauddrug offenses that some jurisdictions would consider minor are considered especially heinous. Some drug crimes in Malaysia, in fact, could result in a death sentence for the guilty party.

Visas to Pakistan

Visas to Pakistan

Visa types – As the Department of State freely acknowledges, tourist opportunities are limited in Pakistan. Visa applicants are encouraged to stick to metropolitan areas in order to maintain a greater likelihood of staying within established tourist areas.
In applying for visas to Pakistan as part of a purposeful temporary “holiday”, petitioners must indicate on the form submitted to the embassy or consulate the reason for their trip, namely if it is designed to be a visit to family, a mountain exploration trek, or a journey of religious (i.e. pilgrimage) or historical (i.e. visit to a sanctioned historical site) merit. Otherwise, the principal reason most non-governmental travelers will be contemplating acquisition of a visa is to do business
Traveling within Pakistan – While visas are reliable methods of international travel, intrastate commerce is decidedly dangerous in Pakistan.

Visa holders are encouraged to avoid public transportation whenever possible (U.S. government representatives are expressly forbidden to use it, in fact), are advised to stay away from hotels where security is suspect, and are requested to have a family member or friend as a close point of contact to affirm they are sticking to their itinerary and have not been attacked. 

Visas to United Arab Emirates

Visas to United Arab Emirates

Visit visas – The visit visa, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, is more closely analogous to the American travel visa/visitor visa.
Tourist visas – UAE visas for purposes of tourism, also unlike normal tourism visas, are not as inclusive as those of other countries, such as the United States. In practice, a UAE visa for tourism is only granted by hotels and tour operators in the United Arab Emirates, is only available for residents of China, South Africa, Thailand, and those European citizens who cannot apply for visas at ports of entry, and only lasts for a non-renewable 30 days.
Multiple entry visas – Again, UAE visas in this category are harder to obtain than their namesake generally is worldwide. A multiple entry UAE visa is only available for business persons with a business relationship with a trustworthy corporate entity in the United Arab Emirates. Special benefits may be afforded to visa holders from Germany and the United States; while normally, these UAE visas are valid for just six months, they may be available for up to two years and ten years, respectively.

American Travel to the European Union

American Travel to the European Union

 

When traveling within some countries, a completed entry visa must be shown to immigration officials upon arrival at a port of entry for their approval. As hinted at before, travel from the United States to the EU requires no entry visa for the purpose of travel between the 27 countries that are official participating member states of this bloc. Even though a visa is not needed for pleasurable or business-related conferences, an American is not totally unrestricted when it comes to traveling in and out of the region. For one, a valid passport should be on the individual's person at all times, especially when transitioning across external border lines.

In addition, even though visa documents may not be required, the idea of the visa is still preserved in terms of your legal ability to stay in the European Union. This is to say that there is still a time limit when it comes to the terms of the visit, namely 90 days. Furthermore, additional visa documents and applications may be needed to be fulfilled if the nature of the stay changes. If you, say, seek to accept an offer from an employer while in the EU, you will need a work visa. Other documentation – 

In terms of "visa documents," while actual visa documentation may not be needed by American travelers or any other temporary foreign-born residents, immigration officials in EU individual countries may request to see further proof of identity that is germane to visa applications, including onward and return tickets, evidence of lodging, and/or an invitation from a resident of the European Union. Before traveling to a particular country, you may want to contact the local consulate or embassy for more specific information.

Handy Information on Foreign Visas

Handy Information on Foreign Visas

With over a hundred independent nations, commonwealths, overseas territories, and otherwise organized territories in existence worldwide, the project of trying to compile visa-related procedural information for all of them is a tremendous undertaking.
Even so, it is a responsibility the United States Department of State is charged with, as it is the major diplomatic wing of the American Cabinet and has primary oversight of the visa authorization process. As one might imagine, the geographic variability of nation states from continent to continent tends to manifest itself in peculiar and substantial differences in how visas are handled by each one of them. Thus, to expect a comprehensive synthesis of all that international visa policies have to offer is not only impractical, but downright ludicrous.
Perhaps as it should be, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the visa applicant to determine what is both required by the country to which they plan to travel and even what practical sense about travel dictates. To appreciate how expansive international immigration lawVisas to the United Kingdom Visas to Australia Visas to Canada passport Visas to Russia
As is common with foreign visas, there are bright spots for Americans. Usually, travelers from the United States will be able to secure tourist visa and entry visa approval at an Egyptian port of entry (though this presents a risk in itself), whereas residents of other countries, notably those from all other African countries, will have to obtain their documentation in advance.
Even so, as noted, American and European visa holders should be especially wary of their surroundings. For instance, politically-based demonstrations may become violent, and owing to its geographic position, Egypt is a more than viable target for the emergence of terrorist cells. Travel to Egypt may also involve detailed immunization records or shots in the event the individual comes from a region subject to outbreaks of disease, especially bird and swine flu. 
Chinese visas and the trappings of travel may not be as much of a concern based on suspicions of terrorism, but even so, the economic and political policies of China may either be seen as a stimulus or a hindrance to the prospective traveler. With American visitors to China, the factors are indeed complicated. Seeing as China is party to a period of economic prosperity as compared to other countries, the decision to travel abroad may be financially advantageous. However, this is a drastic measure, and thus a Chinese visa may not be readily available considering how the United States is losing investments to China.
Moreover, there are definite concerns as expressed by diplomatic and humanitarian bodies about the overly large hand the Chinese government plays in the everyday lives of its citizens and whether it is too restrictive (as in the case of free speech) or not enough (as in management of standards of living). Critically to our pursuits, some of these concerns are indeed reflected in how visas are issued and scrutinized. One thing tourists would be keen to keep in mind is that they will need an exit visa to leave the country, and should go through a consulate or other trustworthy conduit.
China’s position towards Tibet and failure to recognize it as a sovereign state are also relevant, as foreigners will need a special permit to enter the region and will be able to gain entry to a select few specified areas. Other potential problems include questionable detention procedures used by the police, who have been given some authority over immigration procedure, and health standards, or lack thereof.
While Malaysia, part of the region known as Southeast Asia, is far removed from Afghanistan, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East, the country is also potentially dangerous to the Western traveler based on its identity as a Muslim state. The official state religion of Malaysia is Islam, and more critically, the world community has identified organizations within Malaysia that have suggested ties with international terrorist organizations.
However, visas to Malaysia are still sought out quite actively by prospective travelers the world over, whether it be for the purpose of a generally safer home in the region, better chances at employment for economic migrants from nearby nations, or simply people that are looking to take advantage of the inability of the government to prosecute illegal immigration.
This is not to say, however, that there are not logistics that could doom one’s travel plans. For those who need visas, documentation must be plain to see, and all travelers to the Sabah and Sarawak provinces will want to keep valid passports close at hand. Visitors to Malaysia will also want to be on guard for petty theftdrug offenses
Visas to Pakistan are not prohibited by law to travelers, even Americans. Suffice to say, though, based on its location, Pakistan is strongly recommended against for non-essential visits. Once more, the heavy influence of Islam in the region is a threat due to those radical practitioners who wish harm to foreigners, and even when terrorist groups are not part of the mix, the situation may also be dangerous based on crime and kidnappings for ransoms. In fact, stays in Pakistan have been deemed risky for American diplomats and government officials alike. Temporary residence in hotels is expressly forbidden by their superiors, as is the use of public transportation.
Consequently, for the civilian traveler, the precautions to be taken are even more important. Itineraries should be established, adhered to, and explained to an emergency contact. Anyone seeking a tourist visa should also stick to metropolitan areas of Pakistan where tourism is safer, and must specify the reason of the trip, whether it be to visit family, pay religious homage or to go on a historical survey.
Visas to the United Arab Emirates The federation of the United Arab Emirates, or the UAE, exerts a lot of control over its rules on travel and the availability, or unavailability, of visas. These rules come not as a concern over national security so much as attentiveness to the national interest, or rather, the interest of the collective of emirates. The terminology of the visas also distinguishes UAE visas from other visas. Rather than being called a travel visa or visitor visa, a visa used solely for the purpose of short pleasurable trips and business
The issue of outsourcing labor to foreign countries was a topic of considerable interest for American politicians leading up to the 2004 presidential election, and has not diminished with the effects of the recession on the American job market. Often, Eastern nations are implicated in the decision of corporations to contract labor to a third party in another country, one of the primary targets being India. Meanwhile, for wholly different reasons, outsourcing also applies to the way India processes visas to authorize foreign nationals into its boundaries. Indian consulates with the power to grant visas for travel ceded this authority to Travisa Outsourcing, Inc. some years ago.
There are additional idiosyncratic aspects of Indian visa applications that relate only to a small subset of individuals, but nonetheless, they may come into play. For applicants to the Overseas Citizens of India program, it must be realized that this will not actually grant Indian citizenship, but something closer to permanent residency documentation must be secured prior to arrival in India. 
American-Japanese relations during World War II were decidedly contentious, as Japan initiated conflict with the United States through their role in the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America broke the will of Japanese forces to continue fighting after the destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima via the atomic bomb. Despite this being relatively recent history, the political relationship between the two nations has improved considerably, and there is mutual recognition for the nations to work together for their economic benefit. Thus, business travel and tourism between the nations is highly encouraged, though this is not equivalent to a free pass to Japan, and can even be more restrictive than American travels to other nations.
For one, Japan is very explicit about the fact that no payment can be received while on a travel visa or similar passport-based provision, even when working for a private individual. Japanese immigration officials are also very strict about transit through the country to China for people who do not possess a valid Chinese visa. Yet more restrictions occur for those looking to plan a working holiday to Japan; only a handful of countries have such understandings with Japan, and this does not include the United States. 
Owing to the high poverty and unemployment rates in large sections of South Africa, the idea that South Africa may not be an obvious travel destination unless one is going on safari, and the very fact that a visa may not be needed for travel to South Africa (this applies, once more, to denizens of the United States of America), making sure one’s passport, health documentation and visa documentation are up to code may be an oversight to many. Nonetheless, South Africa applies some apparently strange rules to its visa review process.
One requirement that is seemingly very arbitrary but very real is the need for at least one blank visa page in one’s passport, even though the traveler may not have needed visa documentation. Visas are also needed even for volunteers and charitable work. Plus, while this would likely only affect travelers for nearby regions, proof of an immunization against yellow fever is a prudent measure, especially if one needs to travel with due efficiency through customs.
When it comes to travel to Brazil and Brazilian visa policy, much of it may be poorly characterized by representations of its people in popular media, whether this be relating to the perception that Brazil is a backwards country or simply a haven for tourism where rules and restrictions do not apply. In either case, these are largely erroneous concepts. In response to charges of Brazil being little more than a series of slums, Brazil is a developed nation.
Even so, travelers should pay attention to the inefficiency and danger of public transportation on Brazil’s many roads. With regard to American travel to the region, visa documentation is, in fact, very necessary and wholly inaccessible to travelers upon reaching a Brazilian port of entry. Moreover, for the subgroup of American citizens who also are nationals of Brazil, a Brazilian visa will be not be a possibility, necessitating the approval for and purchase of a Brazilian passport, unless previously owned.
Whereas most nations seem to be predisposed to making it more difficult to secure a visa, Costa Rica’s adopted policy reflects its peaceful, neutral nature. This very nature also helps to explain why some people might choose to forgo a non-visa requirement for short-term vacations for a more permanent form of residence in Costa Rica. 
Nevertheless, even if a person is not looking to secure a visa for more than three months, he or she will be expected to provide evidence of not only his or her initial ticket to Costa Rica, but must also prove possession of a ticket back to the United States or other territory, and may not extend his or her stay beyond 90 days. With the possession of a visa or not, renewal of the terms of the stay is only possible in a few scenarios.
In addition, as always, it is important to secure one’s passport and visas from the threat of theft. Instead of carrying their physical visa forms everywhere, travelers should produce acceptable copies of their passport with the requisite entry stamps, keep their valuables in safe pockets and bags, and avoid crowded plazas, buses and trains. 
While other Latin American countries such as Brazil may be more obvious places to visit, and thus, there is a bigger draw for tourist visas to those nations, visa documentation to Peru is still a viable destination for average vacationers and amateur anthropologists alike.
While it may not be known for its beaches, Peru is still a coastal nation, and travelers may stand a better chance of avoiding crowds by heading there. Arguably more importantly, there is the opportunity on a trip to Peru to witness the splendor of Incan ruins and get a new perspective on a critical moment in Peruvian historical development.
Specific to American interests, no visa stamps are needed for purposes of tourism or transit to another nation, but for all other purposes, generally, physical proof of ability to temporarily live in Peru must be certified. Once again, though, authorities will crack down hard on violations related to points of national interest. With regard to prescription drugs and herbal products (such as the coca leaf), often times what one country accedes to as legal will be deemed inadmissible by authorities in the other country.
Archaeological artifacts such as fossils, which serve as vivid symbols of Peru’s heritage as an Indian civilization, also make for non-negotiable items that will not be allowed to be taken back by travelers on return trips, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may even be enlisted to arrest the offender on the behalf of Peruvian officials.
Considering that the European Union is composed of twenty-seven separate countries, it may seem impossible that there could be efficient travel across its internal borders, as there are often complex processes that come part and parcel with an individual’s transportation between just two countries.
However, based on agreements in place for much of the EU, transit across internal boundaries has become much easier than in decades past. Visa rules concerning the European Union are of particular note since so many countries are participating members of this bloc and international travel is involved for EU residents and non-EU residents alike.
Though all travel between countries will involve some translation across boundary lines, there is a set of guidelines each for intrastate travelers in terms of the European Union as a whole and the crossing of non-EU individuals across external borders. Before even considering proper use of visas, though, credence must be given to passports. With all border crossings and at all times, travelers from outside the EU should have valid, up-to-date passports on their person, while EU travelers will only need passports when leaving or returning to the Union or when visiting one of five non-Schengen states, such as the United Kingdom.
Returning to visas, then, these are not a concern for European Union residents, as there is no need for acquisition for a visa for travel to any other country within the Union. For non-EU residents, freedom from visas is contingent upon where the foreign national hails from (only 34 states are allowed visa-free travel for pleasurable visits), and separate visas may also be required for visitation to those five non-Schengen states. 
While it may be assumed by even some Europeans that “the European Union” and “the Schengen area” are different names for the same thing, and to be fair, there is a large degree of intersection between the two political groupings of these countries, the European Union and the Schengen Agreement (named for the Lichtenstein municipality in which it was signed) were breathed into life at different points in European history; it was the individual countries of the European Union that would have to choose to accommodate the Schengen rules enacted by said agreement.
Concordant with this notion, not all European Union states are full Schengen countries (e.g. The United Kingdom and Ireland, who have not agreed to the “open door” provisions of travel between Schengen countries) and not all Schengen countries (e.g. Lichtenstein itself) are members of the European Union. Thus, a separate documentation for authorized travel within the external borders of the Schengen area is necessary, and subsequently was created in the form of the Schengen visa.
While residents of the Schengen area do not need a visa when travelling within it and denizens of some countries are not subject to visa requirements, others will indeed need a Schengen visa, and in any case, the 90-day terms of the trip are only valid for 180 days after first arrival in the Schengen area.
As indicated elsewhere, some countries are very restrictive when it comes to visa regulations (e.g. Russia, China), and some are more relaxed (e.g. Costa Rica), the European Union is in the latter group more that is more inviting to American international travel.
Still, there are documents that are beneficial to have close at hand. While a visa is not needed for American short-term travel in the European Union, a work visa will be necessary if the individual seeks paid employment in any one country, and regardless, a valid passport is a necessary form of identification.
In addition, local authorities of individual EU member states may request to be shown onward and departing tickets, proof of temporary residence, and/or an invitation from a family member or acquaintance. Moreover, the individual is advised to take out medical insurance even for short stays, apply for car insurance when renting a motor vehicle, and always have the contact information of an embassy or consular office at the ready.

The Benefits of the Visa Waiver Program

The Benefits of the Visa Waiver Program

 

The Visa Waiver Program is a program enacted by the United States to remove barriers and facilitate the travel to the United States. It was designed to increase tourism business visa

Specific Benefits of the Visa Waiver Program:

The prime benefit of using the Visa Waiver Program if your country qualifies for it is skipping the visa application process if you plan on only visiting a country for a period of 90 days or less. The Visa Waiver Program grants access for one to enter into the United States without the hassle of filling out piles of paperwork to receive a visa. While the United States still performs a background check for each individual entering the United States, the benefit of not applying for a visa lifts many of the barriers that have hindered travel to the United States before 1986; such as being denied a visa for various reasons.

One travel reason that the Visa Waiver Program was aimed at was for business travel. Business trips to the United States are now much easier to set up and members from other countries can conduct business on an international scale with a new level of ease. In the grand scheme of things, the Visa Waiver Program has facilitated the spread of international business and trade and has allowed businesses a greater ability to grow, spread ideas, and conduct business deals.

Tourism is also another target for the Visa Waiver Program. The tourism industry, as a result of the Visa Waiver Program, has seen a rapid increase due to the lifted guidelines for visiting the United States. The doors for people living in eligible countries who were hesitant to travel or who were never approved for a visa are now open. Essentially, the economic effects for the Visa Waiver Program are one major reason to have it enacted and expanded in the future.

Another hidden but meaningful benefit of the Visa Waiver Program is the easier spread of ideas between the United States and other countries. On a long enough timeline, as people do more traveling, the spread of ideas becomes more widespread throughout the world. There are always new ideas that a traveler may leave behind in the United States or bring back with them to their own country. The spread of information is a valuable thing that many other countries are hoping to enjoy as the Visa Waiver Program continues to expand.