Thinking of Applying for an Online Travel Visa? Here’s What You Need to Know

Planning on traveling abroad? Applying for a visa online can help you bypass most of the daunting visa application processes. Unless the U.S. Consulate or Embassy requested an in-person interview, you could utilize a third-party service to help you apply. If you decide to start the process of getting an e-Visa on your own, make sure to consult with an immigration lawyer first.

What Does e-Visa Mean?

E-Visas are a system created to save immigrants from waiting for a visa to get issued at the border. Users can apply online for the countries they intend to visit.

Many agencies provide this type of service, including iVisa. All you must do is visit their website, enter your native country and the destination. The agency is then able to tell you if your country allows travel to the United States through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for tourism or business.

Countries like Antigua, which are not specified as part of the VWP, have a different procedure. If this applies to you, a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa offers you the same opportunity. However, you will need to go through an interviewing process to receive the e-Visa and gain entry.

What Do I Need for Travel?

Once you verify that your country is in the VWP, the next step is applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ETSA) 72 hours before departure. Both the ETSA and an E-passport are mandatory. Keep in mind that your passport should be valid for six or more months before you’re scheduled to take flight.

Additional travel documents are subject to change depending on where you’re coming from. Re-confirming which documents you’ll need with a visa lawyer for non-immigrants can ease some of the stress associated with this immigration process. Aside from covid restrictions, as long as the trip is less than 90 days, you shouldn’t have any issues.