Visa Guide and Services for Your Next Travel — Do I need Visa Services?

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OETJobs

8 min readJul 24, 2019

Do I need Visa Services?

The process of Visa application can be done by do-it-yourself, the Visa service is completely optional. However, it will make your life a lot easier by skipping the hassle of the chore and an embassy visit or multiple if you miss a tiny thing. The service also prevents the frustrating situation if you are stopped by immigration officials or even the denial of entry to the country due to an improper visa or a missing document.

The various Visa services listed below reduce the complexities of foreign entry requirements and offer you a fast and easy way to obtain travel documents that are compliant for your international trips.

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Typically the visa services workflow

Fill out a form with a clear guidelines provided by Visa services, unlike ones from the embassy.
Visa services will double-check the required documents from you by asking you to scan them via online application first.
Mail in all the necessary documents and passports. No long line to wait merely to hand in the documents.
Visa service takes care of the rest and mails the visa back to you within a week or two.

Popular Destination Countries

Australia — iVisa
Information on visas to Australia can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Explore visa options on the department’s website to help you find the visa most likely to meet your specific circumstances.
If you are a US citizen and hold a valid US passport, you may be eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). ETAs are free of charge and most are issued automatically. See our Visa FAQs for more information. Airlines, travel agents, and visa service providers like iVisa are also able to apply for ETAs on behalf of travelers.
Brazil — Travel Visa Pro, iVisa
The typical turnaround period for Brazilian visas can be processed in 5–7 business days, or up to a few weeks during peak season.
US citizens are charged $160 for the visa application process in person, but as of January 28th, 2019, the Brazilian government began offering a new e-visa program for only $40.
Medical Certification — Due to the recent outbreaks of yellow fever in parts of Brazil.
Learn about the Visa process by Travel Visa Pro
China — Travel Visa Pro , iVisa
China has relatively strict requirements and high fees ($140 embassy fee in 2019) for US citizens due to reciprocity. China demands a rigid travel itinerary with confirmed reservations and proof of round-trip flight ticket, if not you will need a Chinese citizen to write an invitation letter.
Visa duration — 10 years visa up to 60 days stay each stay.
Common visa service fee — $140 Embassy visa application fee + $100-$350 depending on the processing turnaround time from 10 to 3 days.
Learn about the Visa process by Travel Visa Pro
Egypt — iVisa
U.S. citizens can obtain a renewable single-entry 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Egyptian airports for a 25 USD fee. A multiple-entry visa is also obtainable for 60 USD.
The Government of Egypt has created a website for the issuance of “e-visas” at visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/Home. There are other websites purporting to offer electronic visas, some of which reportedly charge double the official price, but this is the only official Government of Egypt portal for this service. U.S. citizens and citizens of 44 other countries are eligible to apply through this means in advance of their travel.
Egyptian immigration officials occasionally have denied entry to travelers without explanation.
Indonesia — Travel Visa Pro , iVisa
Visa Exemption: This is a no-fee stamp placed in your passport upon arrival for tourists staying less than 30 days; no extensions are allowed and no adjustment to another visa status is permitted. You must enter and exit through an immigration checkpoint at major airports and seaports. You also must have a return or onward ticket to another country and have not been previously refused entry to Indonesia or blacklisted.
Visa-on-Arrival: This is a $35 USD visa issued upon arrival valid for up to 30 days for tourism, family visitation, and other purposes. See Indonesian Immigration’s website for more information. You may extend a Visa-on-Arrival one time for a maximum of 30 additional days, for another $35 USD. Diplomatic or official passport holders cannot apply for Visa-on-Arrival.
Visa in advance: Travel for more than 30 days or travel for non-tourism purposes, including business, employment, and journalism, requires that the appropriate visa be obtained from an Indonesian embassy or consulate before arrival. If you are traveling on an emergency passport, you must obtain a visa before arrival in Indonesia.
Nigeria — Travel Visa Pro
Russia — Travel Visa Pro
Saudi Arabia — Travel Visa Pro
For all non-residents, a valid visa is required in advance of travel. Visas on arrival are not permitted.
For residency permit-holders (iqama), an exit/reentry permit is required to leave Saudi Arabia as well as six months’ validity on your passport to request an exit/reentry permit.
Saudi law requires that residency permit holders carry their residency card (iqama) at all times while in the Kingdom. Failure to do so could result in a fine of 3,000 Saudi riyals and a jail sentence of six weeks.
Females and minors may require a male guardian’s permission to leave the country, including U.S. citizens or dual-nationals.
You must exit Saudi Arabia using the passport for the nationality corresponding to the one on which you entered Saudi Arabia.
Thailand — Travel Visa Pro, iVisa
U.S. citizen tourists entering Thailand for fewer than 30 days do not require a visa.
We recommend that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry into Thailand to ease entry.
Thai immigration officials or airline staff may ask for your onward/return ticket.
Business travelers, U.S. government employees traveling on official business, teachers, retirees, and those planning to stay longer than 30 days should check with the Royal Thai Embassy about visa requirements.
Turkey — iVisa
Passports must be valid for six months beyond your entry date. You will be denied entry into Turkey if there is not enough space for entry and exit stamps in your passport.
You need a visa to travel to Turkey. For tourism or commercial travel of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, obtain a Turkish visa from Turkish missions abroad or from the e-Visa application system prior to arrival.
U.S. citizens traveling on cruise ships can enter visa-free for a maximum of 72 hours with permission from authorities at the port of entry.
Get entry and exit stamps. You must have a Turkish entry stamp to fly domestically. Get an exit stamp in your passport when leaving the country, or you may face difficulties re-entering Turkey in the future, and a fine.
If you are planning to work, study, or conduct academic or scientific research in Turkey, you must receive a visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate before arriving in Turkey. Visit “Living in Turkey” on the U.S. Embassy’s website.
Find additional information on the Turkish consular information website’s FAQ page.
United Arab Emirates — Travel Visa Pro, iVisa
Uganda — Travel Visa Pro
Vietnam — Travel Visa Pro, iVisa

You can find out all the traveling information on Travel.State.Gov.

Visa Services

The U.S. Passport Renewal

Renew your US passport through the mail

The cheapest but the slowest way to apply for or renew a passport is to send in all the necessary documents through the mail to the US Department of State. You can find more details here on the US gov site.

Renewal costs for passport books and cards

Passport renewals for adults and children, whether you’re replacing a lost document or an expired one, cost the same as mail-in applications: $110 and $80, respectively. However, there is an additional $35 Execution Fee for those choosing to apply at a regional passport agency, making the total $145 and $115 for adults and children.

Applying in person requires that you make an appointment and present proof of immediate travel. If you’ve had your passport stolen abroad and need to apply for a renewal at a US embassy or consulate, these fees may be waived or at least postponed.

Expediting Passport Renewal

Regional passport offices in the continental United States and Puerto Rico are capable of processing and expediting passport renewal applications in person. However, certain fees are added for travelers wishing to get expedited service; there’s a $60 fee on top of the $35 Execution Fee, and the $110 processing fee = $205.

In case of emergency, you can either renew the passport yourself or hire a third-party agency like Travel Visa Pro for expediting a passport renewal service. If you’re in a hurry (emergency travel or otherwise) and must have your application processed within the same business day. This guarantees that if your application is in the hands of one of our travel professionals with an appointment by the time our offices open, you will receive a new passport book or card by the end of the day.