What kinds of visas are there for going abroad?

Generally speaking, a visa is a document issued by a country's entry-exit administration (such as immigration bureau or its embassy or consulate abroad) to approve the entry of foreign citizens.

Most visas are endorsed (stamped) on a person's passport or travel document, or affixed with a clearly stated label, indicating the reason for the holder's entry, the time allowed to stay, or allowing him to travel to other countries through his territory.

Visa system is a symbol of national sovereignty and a concrete embodiment of a country's control and management of the entry of citizens of other countries, so as to achieve the purpose of safeguarding national security and domestic social order. Under normal circumstances, a country issues visas to foreigners on the principle of equality and reciprocity between foreign countries and their nationals, and provides the same preferential treatment and convenience for the nationals of the two countries to interact with each other.

The types of visas vary from country to country, but generally they can be divided into diplomatic visas, official visas, courtesy visas, tourist visas, transit visas, entry visas and residence visas according to entry reasons. According to the number of entries, it can be divided into single entry and multiple entry visas; According to the number of users, it can be divided into individual visas and group visas: according to the convenience provided to the holders, there are individual visas and visas on arrival.

If a person wants to travel abroad, settle down or study abroad, get married, etc. In addition to his passport, he should also hold the corresponding visa. Passport is the holder's nationality and identity certificate, and visa is the permission certificate of a sovereign country to allow foreign citizens or their own citizens to enter, exit or transit.

Visas are generally endorsed on passports, some are endorsed on other travel documents instead of passports, and some are issued separately. For example, immigration visas in the United States and Canada are A4 paper, and Singapore also issues separate paper visas to foreigners. Generally speaking, a visa must be used at the same time as a passport to be valid.

Generally speaking, foreigners are granted different entry visas according to the identity of the applicant and the purpose of entry, such as visas for traveling, visiting relatives, emigrating, studying abroad and working, and the residence time after entry is limited. Due to the different types of visas, the relevant materials needed are also different. Generally, short-term residence applications have fewer restrictions and shorter waiting time for approval. For the purpose of long-term residence, the application is more restricted and the waiting time is longer. A country has no obligation to allow foreigners to enter the country unconditionally (unless there is a treaty), and a foreigner has no right to ask a government to allow him to enter the country. A sovereign country always has restrictions on the entry of foreigners. In recent years, with the development of international trade, international political relations and the prosperity of tourism, visa regulations in many countries tend to be simplified. There are also agreements between countries to exempt visas or simplify visa procedures.

Visa validity period

The validity of a visa refers to a period of time from the date of issuance of the visa to the future. After this period, the visa will be invalid. Generally, countries issue entry visas valid for 3 months, while some countries issue entry visas valid for 1 month. Some countries have strict restrictions on the validity of visas, such as Germany, which only issues visas according to the date of application. The validity of transit visas is generally short.

Visa stay time

The duration of the visa refers to the time allowed for the holder to stay after entering the country. The difference between it and the visa validity period is that the visa validity period refers to the use period of the visa, that is, the holder can enter and leave the country within the specified time. If the visa is valid for 3 months and the stay period is l5 days, the visa can enter or leave the country on any day within 3 months from the date of issuance, but the holder can only stay in the country for 15 days from the date of entry to the date of exit. Some countries must enter the country within 3 months after issuance, and the stay period after entry is 1 month; In some countries, the visa entry period and stay period are the same. For example, the validity period and stay period of the American visitor visa is three months, that is, the entrant is valid for three months and can only stay for three months after entering the country. The validity period of the visa is generally 1 month or 3 months; The longest is generally half a year or more than 1 year, such as employment and study visa; The shortest is 3 days or 7 days, such as a transit visa.

Number of valid visas

In addition to the validity period and stay period, the visa also stipulates the number of valid times. Generally, it is divided into one valid visa, two valid visas and multiple valid visas. The number of times a visa is valid means that once it is used within the validity period, it will be invalid. Two valid visas, that is, you can use them twice within the validity period of the visa. Multiple valid visas, that is, within the validity period of the visa, the holder can enter and leave its territory multiple times. For example, some tourist visas for Australia and India allow multiple entry and exit within three or six months. In some countries, work visas are also applicable to multiple entry. Of course, what kind of visa to issue, how long it is valid and how many times it is valid are decided by the visa authority according to the specific situation of the entry applicant.

Procedures for applying for a visa

No matter which way you apply for a foreign visa, whether it is entrusted or handled directly by yourself, you generally need to go through the following procedures:

Submit a valid passport.

(2) Submit various documents related to the application, such as my birth certificate, marital status certificate, education certificate, work experience certificate, etc.

(3) Fill in and submit the visa application form. Different visas have different forms, most of which should be filled in foreign languages and photos should be submitted at the same time.

(4) Meeting with embassies and consulates in China officials. Some countries stipulate that all immigrant applicants must be interviewed before making a decision; Some countries also require interviews to apply for non-immigrant visas.

(5) The embassy or consulate shall submit the completed visa application form and necessary supporting materials to the domestic competent authorities for examination and approval. The embassies and consulates of a few countries have the right to issue visas directly, but they still have to report to China for the record.

(6) Inform embassies and consulates in China of the examination and approval opinions after going to the national competent department for necessary examination and approval. If you agree, a visa will be issued. If you refuse, you will also inform the applicant.

(7) Pay visa fees. Generally speaking, when submitting a visa application, you must pay the fee first, and some countries only charge the fee when the visa application is successful. Generally speaking, immigrant visa fees are slightly higher and non-immigrant visa fees are slightly lower. There are also some countries and regions that are visa-free.

How to apply for a foreign visa

Most countries that have diplomatic relations with China have established embassies or consulates in China. The Embassy is located in Beijing, the capital, and the Consulate General is located in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Chengdu and other economically developed and populous cities. Some countries that have not yet established embassies or consulates either have consulates in Hong Kong or entrust other offices to handle visa affairs.

There are three ways for China citizens to apply for foreign visas:

(1) I apply directly to foreign embassies and consulates in China;

(2) Entrust the visa office of China Travel Agency (generally limited to tourist visas);

(3) Foreign relatives and friends directly apply for a visa to the country's immigration bureau.

The adoption of the above three methods depends on the situation. If I am familiar with the situation and the embassy accepts individual applications, I can apply for a visa directly to embassies and consulates in China. Some countries don't have embassies in China, so foreign relatives and friends should apply for entry permits there. After approval, relatives will send it to the applicant, and the applicant can start his journey abroad with his passport and returned visa.

Foreign consulates in China are responsible for applying for visas to their countries for people in their territories. Therefore, visa applicants should know in advance about going to China's embassies, consulates and jurisdictions.

Visa is the annotation and seal of the sovereign organ of a country on the passport or other travel documents held by its own or foreign citizens to show that they are allowed to enter or leave the country or pass through it. It can also be said that it is an endorsement certificate issued to them.

What is the function of a visa?

Visa is a measure taken by a sovereign country to safeguard its sovereignty, dignity, security and interests. Visa is an important means for a sovereign country to implement entry and exit management. If citizens of a country want to travel, settle down, do business or study in other countries, they must have their own passports or travel documents. Another necessary condition is to obtain visas to other countries. Otherwise, it is impossible to make a trip.

What are the types of visas?

According to the nature of entry and exit, visas are generally divided into six categories: exit visas, entry visas, entry visas, re-entry visas and transit visas.

Some countries (regions) classify visas issued by applicants as diplomatic visas, official visas, immigrant visas, non-immigrant visas, courtesy visas, tourist visas, work visas, study visas, business visas and family visas.

At present, visas in most countries in the world are divided into diplomatic visas, official visas and ordinary visas.

There are four kinds of visas in China: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, official visa and ordinary visa.

What does the visa code mean?

In order to facilitate identification and management, some countries use different letter codes to indicate visas issued according to different reasons of visa applicants. This letter code is the visa code.

At present, the most commonly used visa codes in the United States, among which non-immigrant visa codes are as many as 18, and each category is subdivided into multiple items. A brief introduction is as follows:

(1)A visa (i.e. diplomatic official visa) is issued to:

A- 1: ambassadors, ministers, career diplomats, consular officials and their families of foreign governments accredited to the United States;

A-2: other officials, employees and their families of foreign governments;

A-3:A- 1 and A-2 visa holders' entourage, servants, private employees and their families.

(2) Class B visa (i.e. business tourist visa) is issued to: B- 1: short-term stay personnel for the purpose of dealing with business, inspection, visit and other related affairs; B-2: Visiting relatives and friends and traveling for a short time.

(3) Class C visas (i.e. transit visas) are issued to:

C- 1: foreigners in transit;

C-2: Foreigners in transit at United Nations Headquarters in new york;

C-3: Foreign government officials, attendants, servants, private employees and their families in transit.

(4) Class D visas (i.e. crew and seamen visas) are issued to:

Crew members on international flights and seafarers on ships of various countries.

(5) Class E visa (i.e. international treaty or agreement investor visa) is issued to:

E- 1: spouses and children of those who do business in the United States according to international treaties or agreements;

E-2: Investors and their spouses and children are in the United States according to international treaties or agreements.

(6) Class F visas (i.e. study visas) are issued to:

F- 1: overseas students (that is, self-funded students);

F-2:F- 1 Spouses and children of visa recipients.

(7) Class G visas (i.e. visas for employees of international organizations) are issued to:

G- 1: the chief permanent representative of a foreign government accredited to an international organization, the staff under his representative and the family members of the above-mentioned persons recognized by the government;

G-2: other foreign government representatives accredited to international organizations recognized by the government and their families;

G-3: representatives of foreign governments and international organizations and their families who are not recognized by the government, or representatives of foreign governments and their families who are not members of international organizations;

G-4: officials, employees and their families of international organizations;

G-5: the entourage, servants, private employees and their families of the above-mentioned G 1-G4 visa holders.

(8) Class H visas (i.e. temporary employee and intern visas) are issued to:

H- 1: foreigners who work temporarily with special professional skills;

H-2: foreigners who work temporarily because of the lack of a certain type of work or occupation in China;

H-3: foreigners receiving various trainings;

H-4: spouses and children of the above-mentioned H- 1 ~ H-3 visa holders.

(9) A first-class visa (that is, a journalist visa) is issued to:

Representatives, journalists, spouses and children of American news, radio, television and other institutions.

(10) class j visa (i.e. exchange visit visa) is issued to:

J- 1: international students, advanced students and various scientific researchers sent according to the bilateral exchange and visiting scholar program approved by the government;

J-2: Spouses and children of visa recipients.

K visa (i.e. marriage visa) is issued to:

K- 1: foreigners who have to go to the United States to marry American citizens;

K-2: Adult children of visa holders.

(12) class l visa (i.e. employee visa of multinational company) is issued to:

L- 1: personnel of subsidiaries, offices or international enterprises of American multinational companies temporarily working in the United States;

L-2: Spouses and children of visa holders.

(13)M visa (i.e. non-academic international student visa) is issued to foreign students studying full-time in American vocational universities or colleges.

(14)N visas (that is, accompanying visas for parents and children of some special immigrants) are issued to the families (parents and children) brought by the staff of some international organizations during their employment in the United States.

(15)O visa (i.e. excellent talent visa) issued to:

O- 1: a nationally or internationally recognized figure in science, education or business, sports, literature and art;

O-2: Attaché of the above-mentioned sports or literary figures.

(16) The P visa (that is, the visa for outstanding talents in entertainment and sports) is issued to individuals or groups among outstanding performers in entertainment and outstanding athletes participating in competitions.

(17)Q visa (i.e. cultural exchange visa) is issued to those who go to the United States for short-term cultural exchange.

(18)R visa (that is, religious worker visa) is issued to those who go to the United States to engage in professional religious work for a short time.

(19) The staff visa for national defense scientific research projects is issued by the U.S. government to the staff appointed by countries with national defense equality and reciprocity treaties (no visa code).

(20) The work visa for the education of the disabled is issued to the personnel who go to the United States to carry out the education and training program for the disabled (no visa code).

In addition, there are many codes for visas in China, which are issued to:

(1)C: visa indicating that the holder is a crew member, etc.

(2)D: visa for settlement in China;

(3)F: business or visiting visa to China;

(4)G: indicates a transit visa;

(5)L: visa for coming to China or visiting relatives;

(6)X: visa for studying in China for more than half a year;

(7)Z: visa for work or employment in China;

(8)W: indicates visas issued to members of diplomatic or consular missions in China.

What is the function of a visa? What are the types of visas? What is the visa code? What do you mean? In addition, there are many codes for visas in China. These codes are published to: