Hi Everyone!
I'm starting my RTW in Early November. I'm wondering if I need to get my visas for China, India, Australia and Vietnam now or if I can wait and get them on the road. I'm winging my trip so I'm not sure when I will be visiting these countries. Any advice you have would be very appreciated.
Thanks!!
Happy Travels! =>
Jen
Reply to this Hello Jen 😊
For China and India u apply through the Chinese and Indian consulate.
Look at their consulates websites on the internet, and u will see a list of requirements. These are usually passport, photos, filled in visa form, fee, stamped addressed envelope.
U will probably also be able to get the forms on the consulates website. If not, then phone the consulates and ask them to fax or email u one.
When your send the requirements to the consulates, each visa will take less than a week to be issued.
If u will be going to Bangkok, then a travel agent there can get u the visa for Vietnam for a reasonable fee.
If not, then apply through a Vietnamese consulate. I am not sure if it is as straight forward to do this, as it is for China and India. The best thing would be to check their consulates website to find out.
Also bear in mind that there are time issues associated with visas. They become invalid after a certain number of months, and u must enter and leave the countries within this time. So dont get your visas too far in advance.
Mel
Reply to this you can get your Oz visa online...I would do this is your home country as if you have lived in some other countries for longer than 3 months you have to have chest xrays and stuff. I wouldn't worry about getting the other visas now...a trip to the apppropriate embassy is quick and easy...you should get your visa within 48 hrs max, usually you go in the morning and pick it up the next day in the afternoon.
Reply to this Jen,
Generally, visas are processed by the Embassy of the country you wish to visit. Sometimes it is possible to obtain a visa for a neighboring country on the fly. However, many embassies require that you have permanent residency in the country where you apply for the visa in order to be eligible. For example, if find yourself in Mongolia and want to enter China, the Embassy of China in Mongolia may refuse to process your visa because you are not a permanent resident in Mongolia.
China - To apply for a Chinese visa visit one of the Chinese consulates throughout the country, prior to leaving the US. Currently, US Citizens are granted a standard tourist visa valid for entry within one year. The maximum duration of stay is usually sixty days.
India - On October 1st, the Indian Embassy began outsourcing all processing of Indian Visas. A company called Travisa Outsourcing will now all visa applications. India offers visas with a validity ranging from 6 months to 10 years depending on the fee that you pay.
Australia - The ETA (Australian Visa) can be obtained online. I would recommend doing this before traveling to Australia. (If your online application is rejected you will have to send your visa application and passport to be processed at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC).
For more information about all visa and passport issues you can visit my web site:http://www.traveldocuments.org/
Regards,
Jason
Reply to this Vietnam - The visa for Vietnam is issued by a Vietnamese consulate or Embassy. The visa is always valid for specifice date. If you only have a general idea of when you will be traveling you could get a three month or six month multiple entry visa. It costs more than the single entry visa, but would allow you to make multiple entries into Vietnam during either a 3 or 6 month period that you specify.
Regards,
Jason
www.traveldocuments.org
Reply to this I have got many visas in the past year...none of which were got in my country of residence and all of which were very easy to obtain. As long as the country you are in has an embassy there you will have no problem.
Reply to this Thank you so much for all your advice! I trully appreciate it!
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