Passport is a travel document issued by the government of a traveler's native or adopted country as proof of citizenship.

Visas are the permissions that are granted by a sovereign nation to a traveler permitting entry into that country for a specific purpose. Most visas are stamped into the traveler's passport.

The most common types of visas are granted for the specific purposes of tourism, conducting business or attending a conference or symposium, establishing temporary or permanent residence, or going to school. A traveler must follow very distinct guidelines and procedures established by each sovereign nation in applying for the appropriate visa category.

All government offices (Passport office and all Embassies) are closed on weekends and in the evenings. If you lost your US passport or need a new passport, follow our passport instructions and deliver in person or FedEx all the documents to our nearest Travisa office the next business day.

If you need an emergency travel visa, gather ALL the required documents and deliver (or FedEx) them to a Travisa office the next business day.

Travisa assists individuals, travel agents, and corporate travel departments, allowing them to meet travel deadlines without worry. We understand the passport process can be confusing, time-consuming, and extremely stressful when your trip is on the line. Travisa is not a government agency - but we work directly with the US Passport Agency and the Department of State to process passports according to the departure date.

A US passport is proof of citizenship, and permits you to re-enter the United States after your trip abroad. However, a US passport does not automatically permit entry into every country without a visa. Many countries allow US passport holders to enter without a visa because of reciprocal visa waivers and long-standing diplomatic relations; many countries do not.

Unless restricted to a specific validity, most of the 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.

Most visas are stamped, or affixed, in your passport on the pages specifically marked for them, and 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. Countries generally refuse to recognize the usability of an amendment page for visas.

Travisa Protection Plan is the answer. We provide you with specific instructions as well as important numbers so you can speak directly with someone who can help you. U.S. Embassies and Consulates are a phone call away, and with the Plan you are assured free transmission of all the forms and applications you need. This necessity for any international traveler lasts for the lifetime of your passport so it is always there when you need it most.

It depends on the nationality of the traveler. The US Government requires a separate passport for each traveler.

For many reasons, which include security issues, you may be denied boarding if your travel documents and tickets have different names.

Most visa requirements are based on treaties of trade and commerce between nations. Still other nations base visa issuance on diplomatic or historical relations. For example, the exemption of citizens of former colonies or dependent territories from visa requirements is fairly common. Please contact any Travisa office for nationality-specific information. Or, US citizens may check our web site at http://www.travisa.com for the particular country information you require.

Visas are issued to permit entry into a country for a specific purpose - to allow travel for leisure, or to conduct business activities. The various classifications and requirements for these, and other, visa categories are usually defined by treaty, and vary by country. In general, "tourist" visas are issued specifically for the purpose of travel for pleasure, while a "business" visa generally permits a traveler to engage in normal business-related 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. Contact Travisa on the specifics for 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.

Yes, a passport needs to be submitted so the visa may be stamped on one of the blank visa pages.

Depending on the reciprocal treaties governing visa issuance for each nationality, a visa may allow one entry before its expiration, or it may permit the traveler to enter at various times.

A single-entry visa may only be used for one entry for the specific purpose for which it was granted.

In general, the number of times that a multiple-entry visa may be used depends upon restrictions of time (expiration date of the visa), the nationality of the traveler, or restrictions placed on the total number of days permitted in country during any year.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

Applicants typically present documents such as job letters, bank letters, invitations, property titles, etc. to support their visa application. Since each person has a different personal situation, it is impossible to establish a general list of documents that prove your ties to Georgia.

Consular officers do not issue visas based solely on documents, but instead by weighing a number of factors. If issuing you a visa hinged solely upon your providing a document, the consular officer would have given you another opportunity to present that document. Your application was not denied because you were missing a document, but rather, it was denied based upon the lack of evidence of your ties to Georgia.

Although documents are helpful in explaining the purpose of your trip and overcoming the presumption of being an intending immigrant, they do not guarantee issuance of a visa. The interviewing consular officer reviewed your documents, along with your interview, in the context of the Georgian political, economic and cultural situation. Depending upon your circumstances, you may not be able to document strong ties until your personal, professional and financial condition change.

No. While family patterns of immigration are one of many factors the consular officer considers when adjudicating visas, your case was evaluated based on your personal circumstances and not on those of the person you intended to visit in the United States.

Just as every applicant's case is different, interview times can vary greatly. The interviewing consular officer asked specially formulated questions which are designed to quickly reveal compelling ties to Georgia. Consular officers are trained in U.S. immigration law and have knowledge of local conditions as well as the experience necessary to quickly evaluate a visa application.

The equivalent of US$131 in local currency fee you paid is a non-refundable application fee for processing a visa application regardless of whether you are issued a visa or not. Only those persons who receive a multiple-entry visa are charged a visa issuance fee.

Although applicants often have a sponsor who offers to provide plane tickets, accommodation or meals, ultimately applicants themselves must qualify for the visa and not the sponsor. The interviewing consular officer carefully considered your sponsor's willingness to finance your trip during the decision-making process. While a sponsor may be willing to guarantee an applicant's return, he or she does not have the legal authority to force a visitor to return to Georgia. Visa applicants must qualify for the visa according to their own circumstances, not on the basis of a sponsor's assurances.

Applicants may reapply at any time. However, we strongly suggest you reapply only if you can provide fundamental new evidence concerning your personal situation in Georgia or if there have been significant changes in your life, such as a change in employment or family situation. In order to reapply, you must repeat the entire application process: make an appointment for an interview, fill out another application form, include a photo and pay the equivalent of US$131 in local currency application fee. At the time of the interview, provide evidence that shows you will engage only in activities authorized on a visitor's visa and that you will return to Georgia.