Visa Process: The Door that Opens to Travel Freedom
Travelling is perhaps the most fascinating freedom of our modern age. To discover new places, to get familiar with different cultures, to wake up to all-different landscapes...However there is a barrier to this door to freedom, namely visa, which most of time shapes all our travel plans. But, waiting for an approval to see the beauties beyond the border of a country is full of surprises sometimes and even interesting stories in other times.
Well, then do you know that obtaining a visa is not a formality but also something that will sometimes take to the unexpected places? For instance, Schengen visa. Being the key to the doors of Europe, this visa in fact unlocks the doors of 26 different countries. When you obtain visa to visit Italy, you are, once stamped on your passport, free to visit France, the Netherlands, or Spain. With this visa, you can indulge in the freedom and find yourself in destinations that you have not planned for. And the actual surprise is that every country secretly applies their own small criteria to Schengen applications. Do you want to visit Germany for a business meeting? Then you need to have a full set of the documents related to your business, because Germans are very meticulous about this. Vacation in France? Then you can encounter an officer who examines up to the hotel reservations.
A completely different example comes from Asia. Japan offers Turkish citizens free visa, but they may ask you comprehensive questions once you enter the country. Showing that you know about Japanese culture or have planned your time there will surely make things go smooth at the checkpoint. Because, Japan, while being a welcoming country, is serious about border security.
Despite all these procedures seems complicated at the first glance, it indeed adds a different taste to your travel. Visa process is just like a preparation to understand culture of the country that you want to visit, as if it is asking you “what do you know about me” before landing on that country. And when you obtain visa stamp, this is not just a permission, rather becomes a small achievement certificate, a symbol of the respect you have for that corner of the world. Eventually, travelling and obtaining visa is much more than a simple process. These minor challenges become a part of your journey. And when you return, with your passport full of stamps, you feel yourself travelled not only through territory of a country, but also its spirit. Visa application is the first and sometimes challenging step that you need to take to make our dreams come true, isn’t it? The thrill we experience while travelling and desire to explore new places sometimes got shadowed with this “visa” concern! But there is nothing to worry about! A little attention and a good planning will help you to complete visa process smoothly.
First, you need to carefully read and understand visa procedures of the country you will visit. Some countries offer visa exemption to Turkish citizens while some require a long application process. For example, if you plan to travel to Schengen Area in Europe, you need to apply to Schengen visa. On the other hand, some countries such as Thailand or Georgia, offer visa-free entry to Turkish visitors, which makes things much easier!
The main thing to consider when applying for a visa is to choose the type of visa that suits your travel purpose. Many obtain tourist visa instead of business or education visa in an attempt to shorten process, but this may create problems at the checkpoint. It is important to be honest in your application, correctly indicate your planned travel time and purpose. Also, it is helpful for a smooth process to submit all necessary documents and make your application as much earlier possible.
For those whose visa application rejected, they do not need to be pessimist. Every country has their own security and migration policies, therefore in case of a rejection, you should reassess the situation, eliminate missing things and re-apply. Remember that visa process is not only a formality but also a step where traveler represents themselves and their own countries.
In a nutshell, applying for a visa is not as complicated as you might think. With a little attention and patience, you can complete this process, add a new stamp on your passport and chase your dreams. A happy travel!
