1. How to Obtain a Visa for Overseas Travel
For many countries abroad, planning a visit as a tourist or for short-term business requires you to first obtain a travel visa. Visas, which may be small documents or may be
stamped into your passport, allow you to enter and exit a country, usually within a specified amount of time. Requirements and application procedures vary per country; a good
place to begin to research visa requirements for your travels abroad is the U.S. Department of State.
Step 1
Research the need for a visa at least four to six weeks before your date of departure by visiting the U.S. Department of State at travel.state.gov. Click on "International Travel."
On the International Travel page you'll see the Country A - Z Index; select the country to which you will be traveling. This will take you to the U.S. Department of State
information specific to that country.
Step 2
Read the entry under “Entry/Exit Requirements.” This will give you information on what is required for a U.S. citizen to visit the country under basic circumstances, such as for
tourism. For Costa Rica, for example, the State Department says: “For entry into Costa Rica, you must present both a valid passport and a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Your
passport must be valid for at least 90 days after your arrival.” You are also instructed to visit the official website for the Embassy of Costa Rica, costarica-embassy.org, to view
the most current visa information. If the country listing includes this recommendation, follow the link to obtain more specific information.
Step 3
Look at the embassy’s website for more information (if instructed). In Costa Rica, for example, you will find the consulate does not require a visa for U.S. citizens who will be
traveling to the country for fewer than 90 days; only the passport and ticket as specified by the U.S. State Department are needed.
Step 4
Gather required materials and follow the instructions on the country’s consulate webpage to obtain a visa if needed. As another example, if you chose India from the U.S. State
Department website, you would be advised that U.S. citizens need a “valid Indian visa to enter and exit India for any purpose.” The website directs you to Travisa Visa
Outsourcing's website indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com, which handles visa applications for the Indian government. On the Travisa website, you may apply online for a visa to
visit India, which means you need to have your passport and a credit or debit card available.
Step 5
Visit the country's consulate or embassy, if there is one in your area, to apply for a visa in person. Many countries have offices in major metropolitan areas of the United States,
including New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. You may need to bring along your valid U.S. passport, other forms of identification, payment for processing fees, your dates
of travel, your contact information during travel or additional photographs. Check the country's consulate or embassy website or call the office beforehand.
Step 6
Mail your application to the visa processing office for the country of travel if it does not offer online applications and you don't live near an office. Be prepared. Many applications
require you to enclose a processing payment as well as your actual passport for stamping, so mail application materials as far in advance as possible to ensure return of the
visa before your date of departure.