1. What is a passport and what is a visa? 

3. Where can I get emergency passport assistance if

4. my passport is lost or stolen?

6. What does US Visa Connection do?

7.  

8. Do I need a visa if I already have a US passport?

9.  

10. How long is my U.S. passport valid for?

11.   

12. If I have run out of blank visa pages in my still valid

13. U.S. passport, what can I do?

14.  

15. Do I have to have blank visa pages in my passport

16. when I need to get a visa or when I travel? Can a visa

17. or entry stamp be put on one of the blank amendment

18. pages in the back of my passport? 

20. Does our minor child need a passport to travel abroad?
     

21. The name on my passport does not match the name on

22. my ticket. Will this be a problem?

24. Why do I need a visa for some countries and not for others?

25. How do I find out if I need a visa for a specific country?

27. What is the difference between a tourist visa and a business

28. visa?

30. If a visa is required, do I need to send US VISA CONNECTION

31. my actual passport?

32.  

33. What is the difference between a single entry visa and

34. multiple entry visa?

36. Can the picture in my passport be used for the visa application?

37.  

38. Can I fax my passport or visa application to you for processing?

39.  

40. Do I actually have to sign passport and visa applications?

41.  

42. What is the difference between the Consular Fee and Service Fee?
     

1.  What is a passport and what is a visa?
A passport is a travel document issued by the government of a traveler's native or adopted country as proof of citizenship of that country. Visas are the permission that are granted by a sovereign nation to a traveler permitting entry into that country for a specific purpose (tourism, business, etc.). Majority visas are stamped into the traveler's passport at the consulate or Embassy.
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2.  Where can I get emergency passport assistance if my passport is lost or stolen?
 If you have lost or had your U.S. passport stolen, or just need a new passport, go to our passport pages  or call us at 877-VISADOC for instruction. If you are traveling, then you should proceed to the U.S. Embassy nearest you for assistance.

Note: All government offices, including the U.S. Passport agency and all the various Embassies and consulates, are closed on weekends and evenings.
Note: Keep copies of your major documents (your passport, drivers license, birth certificate, copy of your plane tickets) accessible in your e-mail in case of emergencies. 

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3.  What does US Visa Connection do?
US Visa Connection assists individual travelers, travel agents, and corporate travel departments, with all their passport and visa needs. We understand the passport and visa process can be confusing, time-consuming, and extremely stressful when your trip is on the line. US Visa Connection is not a government agency, but we work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency/Department of State as well as the various Consulates and Embassies in order to process passports and visas according to your needs, often as quickly as 24 hours.
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4.  Do I need a visa if I already have a US passport?
A US passport is proof of your U.S. citizenship, and permits you to re-enter the United States from your trip abroad. However, a US passport does not automatically permit entry into every country. Many countries allow US passport holders to enter without a visa because of reciprocal visa waivers and long-standing diplomatic relations; but there are many countries that do not. Without the proper visa, you won't even be allowed on the plane and your money and time will have been wasted. Check our visa assistance pages to see if you need a visa for your country of destination.
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5.  How long is my U.S. passport valid for?
Most U.S. passports issued to adults (over 16 years at the time of issuance) are valid for 10 years. Passports for individuals under the age of 16 are valid for only 5 years.
Non-US passport validity varies by nationality.
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6.  If I have run out of blank visa pages in my still valid U.S. passport, what can I do?
If you are a US citizen, you can send your passport to U.S. Visa Connection for the addition of pages in your current passport by the U.S. State Department. See our passport pages or call us at 877-VISADOC for instruction.
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7.  Do I have to have blank visa pages in my passport when I need to get a visa or when I travel? Can a visa or entry stamp be put on one of the  blank amendment page in the back of my passport?
Majority visas are stamped into your passport on the pages specifically marked for them, and all countries require that visa stamps be placed on those pages that do not contain any other stamps.
Amendment pages at the back of US passports are specifically designated by the US State Department for changes and endorsements to a passport, after initial issuance. All countries will deny the use of these pages for visa or entry stamp.  
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8.  Does our  minor child need a passport to travel abroad?
The U.S. Government requires a separate passport for each individual traveler, including minors and infants. See our passport pages for further instruction.
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9. The name on my passport does not match the name on my ticket. Will this be a problem?
For many reasons, which include security issues, you may be denied boarding if your travel documents and tickets have different names.
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10. Why do I need a visa for some countries and not others? How do I find out if I need a visa for a specific country?
Majority visa requirements are based on treaties of trade and commerce between nations. Still other nations base visa issuance on diplomatic or historical relations.
 U.S. citizens may check our visa pages for the particular country information you require.  For nationality-specific information, please contact us at
877-VISADOC.
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11. What is the difference between a tourist visa and a business visa?
Visas are issued to permit entry into a country for a specific purpose, most commonly for leisure, or to conduct business activities.

TRAVEL FOR TOURISM Some countries do not require a visa for US citizens traveling as a tourist for short periods of time. In these cases, it may be sufficient for the traveler to present upon arrival in a non-visa destination, a US passport, valid for a specific period of time, as well as a round-trip ticket.

Many countries not requiring a tourist visa for US citizens do, however, require the completion of a tourist card or arrival/departure card for presentation to the admitting customs officer upon arrival in that country. These arrival/departure cards are available through airlines. A limited period of stay is usually authorized upon arrival for the specific purpose of tourism.

TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS Business visas, depending upon the country, are most often required for a traveler who has a business agenda in the destination country. Each country defines what activities are allowed under their "business visa" category. See our visa pages for the requirements of the country you will be visiting. Generally, business activities can include the following: attending meetings and discussions, visiting customers, providing non-technical sales support, gathering market information, conducting short-term research, attending a business seminar, making a presentation, discussing regulatory changes, negotiating and signing contracts, participating in a conference or symposium, or meeting with government officials.
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12.  If a visa is required, do I need to send US Visa Connection my actual passport?
Yes, your actual and valid passport needs to be submitted so the visa may be stamped on one of the blank visa pages. 
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13.  What is the difference between a single entry visa and a multiple entry visa?
A single-entry visa may only be used for one entry for the specific purpose for which it was granted.
Normally, the number of times that a multiple-entry visa may be used depends mostly upon the expiration date of the visa, but also the nationality of the traveler, or restrictions placed on the total number of days permitted in country during any year.
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14. Can the picture in my passport be used for the visa application?
When photos are required to obtain visas, the photographs must be attached to the visa application forms and submitted to the country issuing the visa. Thus, the photograph in a passport cannot be used for visa applications. Most countries will accept either black and white, or color, passport-type photos taken within the past 3 months; digital photos are not usually accepted. Photographs are sometimes, as in the case of Russian visas, affixed to the actual visa.
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15. Can I fax my passport or visa application to you for processing?
For a visa or passport request, most countries require the submission of not only the actual passport, but also original photographs and completed application forms bearing the applicant's original signature, as well as various supporting documents. These requirements, which vary by country, are imposed by sovereign nations in consideration of granting a visa to a particular individual for a specific purpose. Thus, faxed documents are not usually accepted.
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16. Do I actually have to sign passport and visa applications?
Yes. The applicant, through signature, is acknowledging that all the information appearing on the application is true and correct, and formally petitioning a sovereign nation for the right to enter that country.
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17.  What is the difference between the Consular Fee and the US Visa Connection processing Fee?
"Consular Fees" are fees paid to an embassy or consulate in order to fulfill visa issuance requirements, or document authentication /legalization charges. Most consular fees are reciprocally charged, according to the current treaties of trade and commerce between nations. It is not unusual for consular fees to change, without advance notice, as trade negotiations take place and treaties are amended. If a country arbitrarily changes consular fees, reciprocal action generally will be taken.
The US Visa Connection is charged for actions performed by US Visa Connection in facilitating the issuance of visas, or other documents and services to successfully fulfill each order. US Visa Connection fees are separate from the fees charged by the consular offices.
Our working relationship which we have cultivated with the various consulates and Embassies through many years of daily interaction with foreign governments, allows you to have your own, personal diplomatic representative for a modest charge.
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