Visit Dates Important on Visa Applications?
Oct 16, 2011 | 3:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
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Posts: 3,505
Visit Dates Important on Visa Applications?
This winter I plan to visit China, India and probably a few nations in between. Those nations could include Viet Nam, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia and/or Myanmar, seeing each nation as a tourist for just a few days.
Is there a best way to get all the needed visas? Do I have to know, in advance, the exact dates of arrival and departure?
Thank you.
Is there a best way to get all the needed visas? Do I have to know, in advance, the exact dates of arrival and departure?
Thank you.
Oct 16, 2011 | 6:56 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
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Posts: 3,505
Yes, I'm a US citizen, and I've visited Shanghai before.
According to some, a stay up to 48 hours in Shanghai is OK if you have a ticket and visa for your next destination. Since my next destination after Shanghai is likely to be Hong Kong, I'm not sure how that will work.
Other possible stopovers include Viet Nam (visa reportedly needed), Laos (get visa at border), Singapore and Malaysa (no visa needed), and India (visa needed).
I don't know how important it is to have the exact arrival and departure dates for the visa-required nations.
According to some, a stay up to 48 hours in Shanghai is OK if you have a ticket and visa for your next destination. Since my next destination after Shanghai is likely to be Hong Kong, I'm not sure how that will work.
Other possible stopovers include Viet Nam (visa reportedly needed), Laos (get visa at border), Singapore and Malaysa (no visa needed), and India (visa needed).
I don't know how important it is to have the exact arrival and departure dates for the visa-required nations.
Oct 16, 2011 | 7:28 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,716
India is the tricky one. If you go for the 6 month visa, the clock starts ticking when the visa is issued. You must complete the visit before the 6 months ends. I got a 10 year visa just to avoid this problem. It's more than the 6 month (same price as the 5 year), but I intend to visit India several time.
Oct 16, 2011 | 7:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,716
For Vietnam, you can get visa on arrival with a visa approval letter. There are companies in the US that can arrange that for you. I think you will need two passport pictures (though I think they may be able to check that for you).
Google Vietnam visa for details.
Google Vietnam visa for details.
Oct 16, 2011 | 9:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern Nevada
Programs: DL,EK
Posts: 1,653
Laos is easy at the border (have a passport photo handy). India was the hardest visa I've ever done... and I have gotten them for Yemen, Iran, Turkmenistan, Syria, North Korea and others...
For India, we needed a copy of a utility bill in both of our names (having a Driver's License was not sufficient proof that we lived where was say we lived). A copy of the bill wasn't good enough, they needed an original and since my wife was not on it, it became a day-long nightmare trying to resolve it.
I have a 10-year visa for India now, but I'll never apply for another so I have to get all my India travel in. They did want to know dates of entry. The Consulate people were rude and impossible, but at the immigration in Kochi it was no problem and all very nice.
For India, we needed a copy of a utility bill in both of our names (having a Driver's License was not sufficient proof that we lived where was say we lived). A copy of the bill wasn't good enough, they needed an original and since my wife was not on it, it became a day-long nightmare trying to resolve it.
I have a 10-year visa for India now, but I'll never apply for another so I have to get all my India travel in. They did want to know dates of entry. The Consulate people were rude and impossible, but at the immigration in Kochi it was no problem and all very nice.
Oct 17, 2011 | 7:29 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,505
...For India, we needed a copy of a utility bill in both of our names (having a Driver's License was not sufficient proof that we lived where was say we lived). A copy of the bill wasn't good enough, they needed an original and since my wife was not on it, it became a day-long nightmare trying to resolve it.
I have a 10-year visa for India now, but I'll never apply for another so I have to get all my India travel in. They did want to know dates of entry. The Consulate people were rude and impossible, but at the immigration in Kochi it was no problem and all very nice.
Oct 17, 2011 | 11:37 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: FB Gold Privilege
Posts: 419
The US lets you retain your expired passport. You just carry both and show both at the border. The visa in the expired one is good with the new passport. Double check on this because it was the case with me with another country.