8 Most Complicated
Countries to Visit
Bureaucracy is a hassle, but it shouldn't stop
you from seeing the world. That's why we've compiled a list of places—some more
surprising than others—that require serious planning to visit. Read this before
you book your next flight.
By Fran Golden, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011, 3:00 PM
Some tourist visa
applications are easy—an Australian visa, for example, can be acquired in a few
minutes via the Internet. Others, however, can take weeks, if not months to
procure. The following eight countries, including China, India, and Brazil, are
especially tricky to visit if you're a U.S. citizen. To ease the process, we
enlisted the help of an expert, Medhy Habimana, director of operations for visa
service VisaHQ. Habimana walks us through how far in
advance you should begin the visa process, the amount of money you should plan
to pay for the paperwork, and what you can expect once you arrive. While you
can apply for visas closer to your trip than we recommend, delaying may mean
extra fees for expedited service. But whatever you do, if you're planning a
trip to one of these destinations, call the embassy to verify the visa process
before you solidify your travel plans. Visa requirements change often, and the
last thing you want is to think that you're all set to travel—only to find out
that you're not. On the other hand, some of these places are well worth the
effort.
INDIA
Apply at least one month in advance.
Fee: $76
Apply at least one month in advance.
Fee: $76
Why Go: The
urban energy of Mumbai and Bollywood, the tiger reserves of Rajasthan, the
elegance of the Taj Mahal…India's allure is easy to understand.
Why It's Complicated: It's not that it's difficult per se to get a visa in India—more
than 8 million Americans visit the country each year—it's more that the process
is time-consuming. If you're not expecting the lengthy application exercise,
the visa can come as a surprise—and potentially delay your vacation.
What to Do: First, you need to apply to Travisa Visa Outsourcing, the
contractor that handles processing for the Government of India. Travisa will
let you know which embassy or consulate has jurisdiction where you live. Then you have
to provide proof of residency, such as a photocopy of your driver's license and
of a major utility bill—water, gas, or electric is OK; cable or cell phone is
not. (Reach out to your consulate to confirm the kind of paperwork they will
request as requirements change frequently.) And talk about picky: Travisa Visa
Outsourcing says on its website, "Do not cut your driver's license copy
down to a smaller size. Please leave the copy on regular sized paper." If
you don't submit a copy, they will make a photocopy for you for $2.
RUSSIA
Apply 90 days in advance.
Fee: $140
Apply 90 days in advance.
Fee: $140
Why Go: Russia
is persnickety, but cultural treasures like the Hermitage, the Bolshoi Ballet,
and the historic brick towers of the Kremlin make enduring the wearisome visa
process worthwhile.
Why It's Complicated: To begin with, you'll need an invitation letter. Your sponsor can
be a Russia-based hotel or tour operator registered with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Russia. Alternatively, you can work with a visa agency such
as VisaHQ, Travisa, or A Briggs to get a letter. And securing a letter is only
the beginning. The U.S. State Department advises you have someone who reads
Russian check your visa before you leave the U.S. to make sure it reflects your
intended dates, hotel, and activities. Once you get approval (in the form of a
voucher number), you need to deliver your visa application in person (or hire a
visa service to do so) at one of five consulate offices in the U.S.
What to Do: The process takes time, so you should "apply as early as you
can," Habimana advises. (The consulate will allow you to apply
up to 60 days in advance of your trip.) Once you get to Russia, don't overstay
your welcome (the duration of the Russian tourist visa cannot be longer than
one month). Do so, and you'll find yourself stuck in Russia until a new visa is
approved—a process that can take up to 20 days.
CHINA
Apply one month in advance.
Fee: $130
Apply one month in advance.
Fee: $130
Why Go: Many
a bucket list includes walking on the Great Wall, embracing history at the
Forbidden City, gasping at the Terra Cotta Warriors, and exploring glorious
Shanghai.
Why It's Complicated: China is not unfamiliar with American visitors, so its visa
process is pretty straightforward but makes the list for both the detail
required on the application—expanded in January 2011 from two pages to four—and
a steep $130 fee.
What to Do: According to Habimana, you need to list where you'll be
staying in a time sequence, your nationality and occupation, all your major family members
along with their nationality and occupation, and any countries you've visited
in the past year (plus the purpose of those visits). Mailing your application
is out of the question. Either you or your visa rep (defined as "someone
else or a travel/visa agent") need to drop off your application at the
embassy or consulate that holds jurisdiction over the state where you live.
There are six consulates in the U.S. (you can find them
on the embassy's website) and some
are more convenient than others (if you live in Wyoming or Montana, for
example, you'll need to travel to D.C. to hand over your application). Special
permits are also required if you want to go to certain regions, such as Tibet
and other remote areas. While the processing time is only four working days,
the visa application will be rejected if not filled out correctly online.
BRAZIL
Apply at least a month in advance.
Fee: $140
Apply at least a month in advance.
Fee: $140
Why Go: Rio
de Janeiro being named site of the 2016 Olympics and the Christ the Redeemer
Statue making the list of New 7 Wonders of the World have helped boost Brazil's
status as a must-do tourism destination—as if the giant party that is Carnival
in Rio, the rain forests of the Amazon, and the amazing Iguazú Falls weren't
enough.
Why It's Complicated: When it comes to visas, Brazil has a process made confusing by the
fact that each of its consular and visa-services offices around the U.S. can
set their own rules (you have to go to the office that covers the jurisdiction
where you live—the list is on the embassy's website). For
instance, the Los Angeles office, according Habimana, has been known to ask
married travelers making a solo trip to São Paulo to provide a letter from
their spouse saying it's OK for them to make the journey. That rule doesn't
apply in Atlanta, but the Atlanta office is known as one of the
slowest—Habimana has seen visa processing take up to 24 working days
there.
What to Do: First, call your consular office to find out what their specific
requirements are for procuring a visa. Then give yourself at least a month to
go through the process. The Brazilian visa is also among the priciest—$140, plus
$20 if you don't present your application in person.
BHUTAN
Apply three months in advance.
Fee: $20 upon entry to the country
Apply three months in advance.
Fee: $20 upon entry to the country
Why Go: Trekking
the stunningly beautiful Himalayas in Bhutan might sound like a dream come
true—the country's marketing slogan is "Happiness is a place"—but the
process for getting there is pretty involved.
Why It's Complicated: You need to go through a licensed tour agency in Bhutan, and among
other things you need to prove you can afford to visit—all visitors commit to
spending a set daily minimum amount, currently $200. This money goes toward
accommodations, food, transportation, the overseas-agent commission, and guide
services (a requirement for Bhutan). Note: On January 1, the rates are going up
to $250 (for March to May, September to November) and $200 (for January,
February, June to August, December). There are additional surcharges if you are
traveling solo ($40 per day) or as a couple ($30 per person per day).
What to Do: Find a licensed tour agency that will work with you to organize
your trip and obtain your visa—there is a directory at the Tourism Council of
Bhutan website. Once approved, you don't get a visa stamp until
you arrive in the country and pay $20.
IRAN
Apply at least three months in advance.
Fee: $27
Apply at least three months in advance.
Fee: $27
Why Go: Iran
has a big image problem, but it also has remains of the Persian Empire, which
once controlled much of the Middle East and nearly conquered Greece. They
include the impressive ruins of Persepolis (a thriving city about 2,500 years
ago and a UNESCO World Heritage Site); and stunning architecture in the
frenetic cities of Tehran and Isfahan, the former capital of what was once
Persia and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country today.
Why It's Complicated: It's not an easy place to visit. Start with the fact that all U.S.
citizens get fingerprinted on entry. Add to that the U.S. State Department's
Travel Warning that advises against travel to Iran.
What to Do: If you still want to go, you need to have a sponsor (an Iran-based
travel agency, such as Let's Go Iran, will do) and they need to get approval for your visit from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Iran, which issues a reference number that is
then forwarded with your visa application to the Iranian Interests Section in
Washington, D.C. Here's the kicker: Passport photos for female travelers must
adhere to Islamic dress code (you need to cover your head and dress modestly).
The process takes a "very long time," according to Habimana. And even
if you follow all of the instructions and earn a visa, that doesn't guarantee
you'll gain entry. "Some U.S. citizen travelers with valid visas have been
refused entry at the border without explanation," says the State
Department.
KAZAKHSTAN
Apply a month in advance.
Fee: $40
Apply a month in advance.
Fee: $40
Why Go: Fictional
Borat may have put Kazakhstan on the map, but it's actually the ninth-largest
country in the world by size and a place that combines Islamic, Western, and
Soviet culture into an unusual mix. Adventure seekers come for the many
mountains, which provide both trekking and skiing opportunities. Others come to
explore the nomadic past of the Kazakhs and to see UNESCO World Heritage
attractions, including petroglyphs and nature reserves that are home to such
species as the rare Siberian white crane.
Why It's Complicated: When it comes to visas, all the "Stans" can be tough,
according to Habimana. For Kazakhstan, for instance, you need to write a
personal letter of intent to the embassy in Washington, D.C., stating the
purpose of your trip, the places you plan to visit, and your dates.
What to Do: Follow the instructions on the embassy's website, and apply a month out from your trip (approval takes a
couple of weeks). While the government enacted new rules in 2010 to try to
simplify the process, what that means for tourists remains to be seen. Fans of
bureaucratic garble will appreciate the official description of the changes,
which are "aimed at further liberalization and streamlining of
Kazakhstan's visa regime."
SAUDI ARABIA
If you can get one at all…
Fee: $500 for a hajj (religious tourism) visa
If you can get one at all…
Fee: $500 for a hajj (religious tourism) visa
Why Go: The
holy Muslim cities of Mecca, to which all able Muslims must undertake a
pilgrimage, and Medina are the country's big tourist calling cards. There are
other sights of interest, too, including the ancient elaborately carved tombs
of Madain Saleh, Saudi Arabia's version of Petra (as in Jordan, the temples at
Madain Saleh were carved by the Nabataeans).
Why It's Complicated: But good luck going to see these amazing sites—Saudi Arabia
discourages visits by U.S. citizens and is currently not issuing standard tourist
visas.
What to Do: The embassy will occasionally make an exception for religious
tourism, but you must apply through a licensed U.S.
travel agency representing the consulate, and the prices are high ($500 to $600 per visa if you're
approved). If you are visiting as a business traveler, you need to have an
invitation from a local company you are doing business with and visas can take
months to process. Women visitors traveling alone need to be met by sponsors at
the airport or may face delays in entering the country, according to the U.S.
State Department. And overstaying your welcome is also not looked upon
kindly—go beyond the dates on your visa, and you may face a $2,667 fine and
incarceration.
Consider a Visa Service
For some countries, it
may be easier to get your visa via a service such as VisaHQ, though of course a
fee is involved (prices usually start at around $45). Here are the main reasons
to consider professional help:
1.
If you don't live in a city with an embassy or a consulate, the service will
represent you so that you don't have to travel to the embassy or consulate
yourself.
2.
Some visa-service professionals provide real-time updates, sending you
reassuring messages that your passport is in proper hands and the like.
3.
Once your paperwork is ready, they have people who speak the language who can
review the documents and make sure everything is in order.
4.
Visa services are very knowledgeable about country-specific quirks, such as
special holidays when embassies and consulates close (for example, the Indian
consulates close for Dussehra), and that some countries including Iran and
Saudi Arabia won't admit you if you have an Israeli stamp (requiring you to get
a second U.S. passport without a stamp).
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