Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.               Discover the extraordinary with Compass Expeditions.

Go Back   The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Trip Paperwork

Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 7 Nov 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 34
Tourist Visa vs Tourist Permit

What is the difference?
As an indian citizen (i.e third world), i am required to get tourist visas upfront before i go anywhere. My question is, when i enquire about getting a tourist visa for say all of the central american countries, i am required to have a standard bunch of paperwork such as: passport, residency status (in USA), 2 photos, driver's license, bank statement and $.

Now i imagine that if i were at the border post of that country, i would require none of these other than passport, bike papers, $, and DL? Why no photos? is that because a permit is issued at the border and not a Visa?

just a bit puzzled...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 8 Nov 2008
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Trenton NJ USA
Posts: 193
Hazard a guess...

Standard (bureaucratic) operating procedure: separate photos to verify that you as the visa applicant applying--often by mail, rather than in person--to a consulate office are the same person as the photo that appears on your passsport;
vs.
when you're physically presenting yourself at a border crossing requesting a visa, the border authority can immediately verify that you look like/ are the same person that appears in your passport photo.
[?]
It's a "visa," regardless (assuming that's what the particular country requires for India nationals to enter that country)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8 Nov 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 1,438
You often need photos to get visas at borders. They don't have to be of the same quality or precision required for passports; just get a bunch wherever it's convenient and carry them with you. In the US I use automatic photo booths in malls, but in the developing world there are usually shops who'll do it better and cheaper.

Take a hint from the recent poster who was shocked to find he needed hard currency for his visa, and bring some of that also--US dollars, euros or both. Don't forget insurance for your bike, either. And a yellow fever card.

It's been a while since I've been asked to provide proof of onward intent (airline tickets, carnet) or financial wherewithal (cash, travelers checks, credit and debit cards) at a border, but it still happens. Probably, I look more prosperous and reliable now that I'm old, balding and girthy.

Hope that helps.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 27 Nov 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 2
new law.

I would like to inquire about the details and conditions of a tourist permit, according to the new law. Do all companies have the right to issue this permit? What are the guarantees required for such permits? For how long can a tourist visa holder stay in the UAE? Is the visa renewable?
-------------------
oliviaharis
link building
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 27 Nov 2008
quastdog's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: formerly of Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 513
Tourist permits are issued at the border for residents/passport holders of certain countries (under friendly agreements). As a consequence, Americans, Canadians, and many European passport holders (and others) can show at the border in Central and South America and get a "permit" - a stamp with the time period written in.

Residents of other countries may be required to obtain a Visa in advance (possibly obtainable at the border). South/Central America is much looser on this (providing at the border) than many African and Asian countries.

In cases of Visa's, there's usually a dated visa sticker placed in your passport in advance at the time you applied/received the visa.

You need to check the web sites for the countries you would like to visit, under your visa, and find out where you stand, what's required. Not every country treats all individuals the same, so what someone says regarding their experience may have absolutely no relevance to your passport/situation.
__________________
quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand
doing the RTW thing since April, 2006
http://web.mac.com/quastdog/
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Does Paraguay still have a $50 tourist visa fee? gatogato South America 19 1 Week Ago 19:57
Trouble getting Tourist Permit at Agua Prieta MX JustBob Trip Paperwork 2 29 Oct 2007 17:49
Easy Tourist Visa for Iran worldon2wheels.de Trip Paperwork 4 17 May 2005 14:25
Belarus and tourist visa rtoilhead Trip Paperwork 0 30 Apr 2004 04:05
Tourist Visa for Iran Lalli Southern Asia 2 27 Sep 2002 19:56


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:37.