Which is more difficult, a Schengen visa or an American visa? The most comprehensive American visa strategy in history.

When traveling abroad, we often face some choices, that is, applying for a visa. Although the Schengen visa and the American visa application that Bian Xiao is going to talk about today are independent and contradictory, I don't know which one to apply for.

Well, today Bian Xiao will tell you briefly what kind of visa we'd better apply for. In addition, Bian Xiao also gives you the most comprehensive guide to applying for a US visa! Don't miss it!

Which is more difficult, a Schengen visa or an American visa?

In fact, these two kinds of visas are not contradictory. You can apply for any visa you want, but since this is what Bian Xiao suggested today, Bian Xiao will make your own choice for everyone and everyone can learn from it.

First, the scope of use:

Schengen visa:

The Schengen visa covers 26 countries in the Schengen area of Europe.

Countries that can travel without a visa with a US visa: With a valid US visa or Schengen visa, you can enter Argentina without a visa by simply applying for the Argentine Electronic Visa (AVE) online on the website of the Argentine Immigration Bureau and paying $50. Mexico is visa-free and can stay in Costa Rica for 180 days and Bermuda for 30 days. You can stay in landing visa, Dominica 180 days. It has a visa and has been used at least once (you can go to the United States first, then Panama, and the United States can transfer. You can stay in Panama for 30 days. Honduras can stay in Honduras 180 days. You can stay in Korea for 30 days without a visa! (remember: the premise is that you must go to the United States and go to Guam, an overseas territory of the United States, and you cannot enjoy this policy; Each round-trip stay is 30 days, and the transit in Singapore is 96 hours. The validity period is at least 1 month. There is only one round-trip stay in the Philippines for 7 days, and you can leave China directly, which is not allowed at the border inspection. The premise is that you want to fly from a third country to Serbia, and the stay period generally does not exceed 90 days. 2. Handling fee:

Schengen logo:

The one-time processing fee is 60 euros (about 484 yuan), which is generally a single entry visa, and the longest stay time is no more than 90 days. However, the stay time given by the visa officer is basically based on the travel plan submitted by the individual, and it will be relaxed for a day or two at most.

American visa:

The visa fee for the embassy is now RMB 1 120 yuan. The visa fee varies with the exchange rate, and the visa agent has a service fee.

From one or two thousand to tens of thousands, there are two reasons for the difference in cost.

1. Different institutions charge different fees.

2. For the same intermediary, if the applicant has been to the United States, it will be more than 1000. If the applicant's information is good, it will be about one or two thousand. If the applicant's information is not good or the visa is refused, it may be tens of thousands.

In short, the better the customer information, the lower the agency fee.

The following small series will tell you about the Austrian Schengen visa and the US visa for more than ten years!

Third, the Austrian Schengen visa

In addition to passports, photos and application forms, Schengen visas also require applicants to submit round-trip air ticket orders, visa insurance, employment certificates, company qualification certificates, residence and reception certificates in Schengen countries,

Copies of household registration book, identity card, marriage certificate and other documents, personal economic guarantee and translation of the above materials. Generally speaking, the visa processing process in Austria in recent years has not been simplified, but has become more complicated.

However, compared with the United States, although face-to-face interviews are still necessary, the practice of face-to-face interviews in the United States is still flexible in submitting materials. In theory, you only need to bring your passport and the confirmation page of DS 160 form when you go to the United States for a face-to-face visa, which is much more humanized than Schengen visa.

In addition, the cost of a US visa (B 1/B2) is 160 USD (about RMB 1097 Yuan), and the signing period is usually more than ten years, which is much more cost-effective.

Fourth, the United States has signed many times in ten years.

The practice of American visas is also more flexible in terms of the length of a single stay. Generally speaking, the duration of a single stay of tourists entering the United States through a B 1/B2 visa ranges from 1 to 180 days, and the specific number of days is determined by the immigration officer at the time of entry. Generally, this period is relatively loose.

Generally, it takes 180 days. In addition, with an American visa, the pass rate will be greatly improved when you apply for visas from other countries in the future. In addition to the United States, you can also use your passport to visit many other countries without a visa, which is very cost-effective.

Verb (abbreviation of verb) abstract

Finally, Bian Xiao will help you sum it up. If you want to compare the American visa with the Schengen visa in Europe, Bian Xiao thinks it is better to apply for an American visa. As for the most direct proof, in addition to the above points, there are several small points.

1, Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Immigration, Home Affairs and Citizenship of the European Commission, also claimed at the press conference:

Compared with American visa fees, the main problem of Schengen visa now is that it is too cheap. Recently, we are facing more and more security risks and changing immigration challenges. We must adjust our visa policy to adapt to this new reality and make it more powerful, efficient and safe.

In the European Commission's Schengen visa reform plan, it is planned to increase the visa fee from the current 60 euros to 80 euros. If successfully approved, the Schengen visa fee will usher in a wave of 30% increase.

2. Cost-effective comparison

I won't discuss the tourism resources of the two places today, because this is mainly the feeling of the supervisor, and everyone likes different scenery.

As far as visas are concerned, Schengen visas are expensive, the scope of visa exemption is not as much as that of the United States, and the treatment enjoyed is not as good as that of American visas.

3. Speed of development and national security

Although we always hear some unsafe news in America, it will not directly affect us, as long as we pay attention to it ourselves. Presumably, the main problem in some countries signed by Schengen in Europe is that there are many thieves, which is a headache. Let's choose for ourselves.

Conversely, the answer must be the United States, which has better transportation and economy than Schengen.

The most comprehensive American visa strategy in history

First, simple steps

1. Log on the website and fill in the DS 160 form;

2. payment;

3. Make an appointment for a face-to-face interview;

4. Sign the contract face to face.

Second, the specific steps

1. Fill in the form DS 160.

What is DS 160 form?

The form DS 160 is an online visa application form required by the US Embassy in Beijing, which replaces the previous forms DS 156, DS 157 and DS 158.

This form covers all aspects of personal family, life and work, and is mainly used as one of the important bases for visa officers to judge whether to grant visas to the United States.

It should be noted that the DS 160 form contains a lot of contents, and there will be a time limit for filling in the DS 160 form online. Sometimes it is easy to check the information for a long time without operation, which leads to the expiration of the form. So you'd better fill in a page and save it in time.

In addition, I have translated some key issues in the DS 160 table into the following table. I suggest that you draw up the contents according to this form first (in English format, so that you can be targeted when you formally fill it out.

How to fill in the DS 160 form online?

First of all, enter the online reporting website through this website. It is recommended that you read the official DS 160 form carefully before filling it out.

(1 Step 1, select the visa area.

* * * There are five consular districts to choose from: Beijing Embassy, Shanghai Consulate General, Guangzhou Consulate General, Chengdu Consulate General and Shenyang Consulate General.

(2) Then enter the verification code.

Click on the red label "STARTANAPPLICATION" in the lower right corner to officially enter the reporting page.

If you have already filled in the DS 160 form and downloaded it to your computer, you can also click "UPLOADANAPPLICATION" to upload the information directly.

If you filled out the form before, but saved it online instead of on your personal computer, click the "Retrieve Application" option and enter the application ID, and you can return to the previous filling process.

(3 application ID

The upper right corner of the second page of the form is the ApplicationID. This number starting with AA must be written down, whether it is the recovery of filling progress or the later payment link.

(4) Personal data

Fill it out truthfully.

(5) Standard Chinese code

Here is a question about "telecode", which means the code your name represents. I remember that I used to have to enter it when I filled it out, but now it seems that I don't need it. If you need to enter, you can use the following website to query the name and code.

On this page, most people only need to fill in an ID number, and some business elites or multinational talents need to fill in the American SSN number and tax number.

(6) Type of visa application

Select B above and B2 below.

As for the time of arrival in the United States and the date of stay, it is recommended to remember that the interviewer is likely to ask questions later.

(7) Fill in

This page also needs attention. If you fill out the trip by yourself, don't bring friends for the later interview. In addition, if you fill in the information of your peers, if the visa officer asks relevant questions when you go to the interview with your peers, the answers should be consistent with the contents of the DS 160 form.

Answer truthfully, the normal answer is "no", and the third question of the small partner who has refused to sign is "yes".

(8) Parents, spouses and other information-related options

Just fill it out truthfully

Please refer to the Chinese-English comparison table at the back.

(9) Specific information about work and education.

Truthfully fill in

Starting from the red box below, under normal circumstances, select "No" for all. People with relevant experience can easily be refused a visa.

American signs use 50mm×50mm color white front bareheaded photos. Going to the photo studio can be directly said to be used for American visas. The staff are generally familiar with it and will do it for you as required. In addition, remember to copy the electronic photos when you pick them up and use them when you upload them in the future.

(10 When you have elderly or young relatives traveling with you.

If their DS 160 form is for help, remember to choose Yes. Otherwise, the visa officer will be embarrassed to ask questions at the interview stage.

After filling out the form, you can get such a confirmation page of DS 160 form, print it out and use it when signing later.

Step 2 pay

Pay for face-to-face interviews and make appointments on another website.

Select Create User in the green box on the right.

Fill in the registration information

After logging in, select the "New Visa Application/Schedule Interview Time" option in the upper left corner.

Then follow the prompts step by step, that is, roughly select the consular area, fill in the application visa type, passport information and other content, and fill it in truthfully.

You need to choose a mailing address after filling it out. Note here that the passport is sent to the bank (usually CITIC Bank) after the visa is passed.

So you need to choose the nearest bank business department or outlet.

In addition, if you have a small partner traveling together, you can add the ApplicationID of the other party after choosing the pick-up address, so that you can pay the visa together.

After the steps are completed, you will get a CGI number, which will be used for payment. Please pay attention to save.

As I am a customer of CITIC Bank, I went directly to the bank outlet, told the teller the CGI number, and then paid a fee of 160 USD (according to the real-time exchange rate). After that, I will get a receipt with a number on it, so please keep it.

Of course, online banking payment is also conducted through this website. It is recommended to use CITIC Bank's own card. Other banks seem to have to pay certain formalities.

3. Make an appointment for a face-to-face interview

When you have completed all the above operations, enter the payment receipt number on the website where you apply for a US visa, and you can make an appointment for a face-to-face visa.

Take the American Consulate General in Shanghai as an example. Usually the approaching date will be full, so it is strongly recommended to complete the payment in advance so as not to delay your trip.

After the appointment is successful, you will receive a confirmation form with the applicant's information, interview date, confirmation number of DS 160 form, UID number and so on. Print it out and bring it with you during the interview.

4, face-to-face sign

Open the electronic map of Shanghai and enter "Visa Office of American Consulate". If there is no mistake, it will be automatically located in Meilong Town Square, Nanjing West Road.

The visa center is on the eighth floor of the mall, but don't go up yet, even if you go up, you can't get in. You need to register and confirm your reservation on the confirmation page of DS 160 form printed before going to Fengxian Road in Plaza.

After the registration is completed, the staff will write down the signature time on the confirmation page of your DS 160 form and give you a signature, then you can enter the visa center with your signature in your hand.

In addition, as we all know, all electronic products, liquids and food in the visa center can't be brought, so you need to go to the nearby grocery store to store your bags first. According to the size of the bag, the ordinary bag looks like 20 yuan, but it is nothing compared with the parking fee.

As for the visa center, in addition to queuing or queuing, queuing for review, queuing for fingerprint collection, and finally queuing for interviews.

The questions asked by the interviewer mainly revolve around the DS 160 form, mainly about why you went to the United States, whether you can speak English, what kind of work you are engaged in, and so on. Anyway, just answer truthfully.

5. About eVUS registration

With regard to American visas, eVUS registration will be implemented from 201kloc-0/654381October 29th. You need to update your personal data on eVUS online system every two years. If you forget to update it, you will not be able to pass the US Customs. Don't forget.

The registration step is very simple, even if you cram at the airport before boarding, you can easily get it. First, go to the website of eVUS, fill in the passport number, B 1/B2 visa number (the red number on the visa, birthday and other information and log in to your account.

Fill in your own information according to the prompt, then click Update, and finally the status bar shows "Registered" and you're done. Is it simple?

That's about it. I wish you all a pleasant journey!