Travel strategy: Why you should apply for a US visa ASAP

As a person with an Indian passport, visa is something that more often than not becomes the most important part of the travel-planning process for me. However awesome an itinerary you plan, unless you get the visa, there is no point. 

Of course, there are countries that allow visa-free entry to Indians and also those that provide visa on arrival. But these are the exceptions (also, this factor drives huge tourist flow from India to these countries. Think Indonesia and Thailand).

Considering this scenario, does it make sense to make the effort to get one or more stamps on your passport that will make your future travels smoother? Yes, if you ask me. Let me explain.

I will primarily discuss here the US tourist B1/B2 visa here. B1 is tourist, B2 is business and this is a single visa that is valid for 10 years. But this also works to a great extent with multiple entry UK or Schengen visas.

A valid US visa in your passport makes it stronger. Consequently, you, as a traveller with an Indian passport, should try and get this visa stamped as early as you can. Once this is in place, your life becomes a lot easier. Here’s how:

Valid for 10 years

This visa is valid for 10 years, which means you can visit the US as many times as you want during this time, with each visit not being longer than six months.

This provides the perfect opportunity to explore the huge countries over several years without having to go through the visa process every time.

Saves time, money and effort in the long run

A valid US visa in your passport will grant you entry to many other countries without having to get individual visas.

We are talking Mexico and several countries in Central America, the Caribbean, South America, some European countries, Turkey. Even the UK allows up to a 24-hour entry for those travelling to/from the US with an onward ticket. This also works in Oman, Qatar and the UAE in the Middle East and several Asian countries.

Just one visa could save you that much time, money and effort. Yes, the US visa is expensive. But when you consider that you don’t have to pay for so many other visas, it makes very good sense from the budget travel point of view.

US visa decreases chances of your visa applications to other countries getting denied

For the countries you still need a visa to enter, a US visa in your passport will make you application that much stronger.

A US visa is hard to get and if your having it means you have been screened and found unlikely to illegally immigrate somewhere and have demonstrated strong ties to your home country.

With a valid US visa, you will generally not find it too hard to get visas of other countries.

Get a US visa is a long and cumbersome process for sure. You have to fill this really long form online, then get printouts, then schedule an appointment to provide your biometrics and a second appointment for an interview with the visa officer. And rest assured, the visa officer will deny you a visa if s/he has an iota of doubt that you might stay on in the US. 

But all the trouble is worth that colourful piece of paper stuck in your passport.