How to D.I.Y.

To apply for and obtain a visa yourself can sometimes be extremely difficult.

The first thing to do is to contact the appropriate embassy, consulate or high commission to find out the information you will need to start your application.

You could save yourself this hassle by sending the Visa World order form.

Be careful of any possible misunderstandings due to language difficulties with officials and some automated telephone systems.

For further guidance on this important first stage go to The Hard Way.

Do ensure that you obtain the correct information, the correct forms and the correct list of requirements relevant to the specific classification of visa you are applying for.

You would save an awful lot of time if you used the Visa World order form.

Most applications are submitted at the relevant embassy’s visa section but there are a few that cannot be accepted there and instead have to be lodged at the embassy or consulate which can be at a completely different address.

Visa sections of busy embassies can be difficult places to communicate with. Some have websites which are simple and easy to follow and some are simply mind-blowing. Many have premium rate telephone numbers for information (£1.50 per minute), most of which are automated and cleverly require you to navigate many menus before receiving the most frequently sought information which is most probably what you are also searching for. As far as we know, the only premium rate lines where conversation takes place are those which require you to make an appointment and they are not designed or primarily intended to supply or provide information.

All Visa World order forms are processed on the same day they are received.

Once you have obtained and are able to provide the necessary requirements, you now have to decide how to submit your application.

Have you seen how easy it is to use the Visa World order form?

Embassies etc. can, and do, make mistakes. Therefore, you should consider very carefully whether you wish to post your application.

Do you have a good reason why you should not send the Visa World order form?

If you decide to visit the embassy, consulate or high commission to lodge your application, do consider that most either have a queuing system or an appointment system and some only process a certain number of applications each day. This means that for any busy embassy, such as those within the Schengen system, you will have to get there very early in the morning to get a place in the queue but even this cannot guarantee that you will be seen.

Are your costs and time spent so far worth not using the Visa World order form?

Some have designated opening times for the submission of applications and separate designated opening times for collections. Very few operate a while you wait or a same day service and collections are normally on another day. All have set times of opening but it is not unheard of for visa sections to open late or close early and sometimes they close unexpectedly for the whole day. They are always closed on their own country’s National Day and their own country’s own public holidays.

When you finally reach the front of the queue, your application will receive a preliminary check by a visa officer. Should there be any error, omission, inconsistency or if a required back-up document is missing, you will almost certainly be turned away and invited to come back and re-apply when your application is correct and complete. Some countries are very particular in their requirements and may reject an application on what might seem to you to be petty grounds.

It is still not too late to use the Visa World order form.

Remember that there may be different visas for different circumstances, such as tourist, working holiday, family visit, private visit, sports, study, pilgrim, business, work, temporary work, transit, etc. any of which can be for single, double or multiple entry. A small misunderstanding can so easily result in time-consuming errors and delays.

Do also consider and allow for parking and travel time, costs and difficulties.

Updated 10th June 2004