When going abroad on a business trip or to visit relatives, in many cases you should take care of obtaining a visa: with it you can freely cross the border and live in the state for the entire period of validity of the permit. A visitor visa is issued at the invitation of the host party and does not provide the right to work or conduct business.
Features of a visitor visa
There are several types of visas, which are divided according to the length of stay in the country and the purpose of the trip. To visit relatives, study courses, relax and negotiate, citizens of the Russian Federation need a short-term visa. According to the purpose of the trip, they can be divided into:
- tourist,
- transit,
- guest,
- educational,
- business.
Before planning a visit, it is worth finding out what a visitor visa is and under what conditions you can obtain it. This is a document that gives the right to stay in the country at the invitation of a foreigner.
A visitor visa is easy to obtain for travel to most countries in the world. If relatives live in the European Union, then a Schengen visitor visa is required, which requires a guarantee from the inviting person.
Requirements for entry applicants at embassies of different countries may differ. Some consulates closely examine the visa invitation, others carefully check the identity of the applicant and are more strict when issuing permission.
Germany is one of these Schengen countries and places strict requirements on applicants to ensure that they are not seeking to immigrate or engage in commercial activities illegally. To obtain a document, it is important that a person has reasons for returning to his homeland.
When planning a trip based on a letter from a private person, you need to find out what the invitation visa is called in order to properly prepare the documents. For such a trip you should open a guest permit. In some countries, such as Canada, an invitation written by hand and certified by a notary is sufficient. Other states require a letter on a special form, issued when visiting the police station.
Other visas
Work visas are issued to highly qualified specialists from countries other than the EEA and Switzerland who are invited to work for an English company that has the appropriate license. The employer must show that it was unable to find another candidate to replace you in the local market.
We help companies obtain a license and workers obtain a visa to work in the UK.
Work visas are divided into several types.
Tier 2 (General)
This category of work visas is issued to foreign workers who have been invited to work in the UK in one of the authorized positions. The employer must have a special license to issue you an individual invitation - a sponsorship certificate.
You must meet one of the criteria for this category:
- You have sufficient skills and experience for an eligible position;
- You apply for a position from a special “list of in-demand vacancies”;
- Your salary is above £159,600 per year.
Your salary should be commensurate with your position, but in any case it should not be less than £30,000.
Holders of this visa must work for the employer who issued them the sponsorship certificate, although they have the opportunity to work additionally for a maximum of 20 hours per week in the same field and qualifications as their main position. However, they do not have the right to own their own business or to receive financial assistance from the state.
Unless your sponsor agrees to support you and your dependents, you must show that you have funds of at least £945 for the main applicant and £630 for each dependent family member, and they must have been in your bank account for at least 90 days before applying for a visa. Additional requirements:
- An appropriate level of English proficiency (B1 according to the European classification or British diploma);
- Certificate of no criminal record for 10 years (for some professions).
Valid term of a visa
Your sponsor determines the duration of the employment contract, but the maximum period is 5 years and 2 weeks. If the visa period is less than 5 years, the visa can be extended.
Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer)
This category is intended for qualified employees of international companies who are offered a position in a licensed division of the company in the UK.
This visa has 2 subcategories:
Long-term contract for permanent employees. If your employer cannot offer you a salary of at least £73,900 per annum, you must work at head office for at least 12 months before transferring. The maximum visa validity period is 5 years and 4 weeks.
Graduate Trainee – designed for recently graduated employees who are being sent to a company location in the UK for training as part of a corporate programme. The maximum visa validity period is 12 months.
Tier 2 (Athlete)
This category is intended for internationally recognized athletes and coaches who make a significant contribution to the development of their sport. Such an application must be approved by the responsible body of the sport. Other requirements: an invitation, knowledge of English and sufficient funds to support yourself and cover your expenses.
The maximum visa validity period is 3 years with the possibility of extension for another 3 years.
Tier 2 (Cleric)
This category is intended for clergy who have been asked to undertake pastoral or preaching work in religious communities in the UK, as well as members of religious organizations and communities. An invitation, knowledge of English and personal savings are also required for this visa, the duration of which cannot exceed 3 years and 1 month.
Priority review service
It can be used when extending a visa and when switching to a Tier 2 category from another category, only if you do this within the country. A decision will be made within 10 working days, although if you have a severe case it may take longer.
Permanent residence permit
A Tier 2 visa holder and their dependents are able to apply for permanent residence after 5 years of living and working continuously in the UK on this visa. However, you cannot spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. The main applicant must explain all periods of absence for business, personal and other reasons. You must also show that your position is still in demand by the employer and you are receiving at least the required salary.
In addition, you must pass the Life in the UK test and show a level of English language proficiency of at least B1 according to the European classification.
Citizenship and passport
One year after receiving permanent residence on a Tier 2 visa, all family members can apply for naturalization (citizenship) of the UK, provided that all requirements are met.
What responsibility does the inviting party take on?
An invitation for a visa can be written by an individual or a legal entity. The petition serves as a reason for the foreign citizen to be issued a document for entry and stay in the country.
In most countries, the inviting party must guarantee that the guest will be provided with housing and funds for accommodation and payment for medical services. This condition does not oblige you to live with the person who invited you, but acts as a kind of guarantee that in an unforeseen difficult situation there will be someone to take care of the visitor.
An invitation from a foreigner for a visa imposes financial responsibility on him, but he has no obligation or right to control the actions of the guest, limit his freedom or bear responsibility if he commits a criminal offense or administrative violation.
Types of visa invitations
The invitation letter must be written by a person legally residing in the territory of the country to which entry is being issued. It confirms the purpose of the visit and is an additional guarantee that the information submitted by the visa applicant to the embassy is accurate.
The type of application depends on the purpose of the trip and varies depending on the type of permission requested. The most popular are invitations for short-term study, for a private or business visit.
Private invitation
The document must include the personal data of the person inviting the foreigner to visit.
Passport details and residential address are required. The letter must indicate the date of entry into the country and the purpose of the intended trip. It is important to know what a visa invitation looks like and draft it correctly. An invitation from close relatives must be confirmed with documents that indicate such a relationship. When friends invite you to visit, you need to write down how many years the acquaintance has lasted and, if possible, provide evidence of friendship.
If the letter is prepared by a close relative, most often it is enough to have the document certified by a notary. When the paper is drawn up by friends, it is signed at the police station.
The inviting party assumes financial obligations towards the guest, and therefore is obliged to provide its financial documents. This could be a bank statement or salary certificate.
Business invitation
A business travel visa invitation must be filled out by a company officially registered in the country of visit. The document includes:
- company name;
- legal and physical addresses;
- Bank details.
The letter must indicate for what purpose the trip is planned. This could be an exchange of experience, a visit to sign contracts, attending a conference and other similar events.
The applicant’s address must be indicated, the approximate travel route is described, and information about the employee who is responsible for inviting a foreigner to the country is provided: contact phone number, passport details, address.
Study invitation
An invitation to study is issued by the institution where you plan to receive education. Such a letter is necessary for:
- attending courses;
- advanced training;
- internships;
- studying at a higher educational institution.
It must be sent on official letterhead. The document contains the student’s personal data, length of stay, name of the course that the foreigner will take, and confirmation of his enrollment. The amount of tuition fees, the address of residence during studies and information about the employee who signed the application for a visa are also indicated.
What should the invitation be like?
In each state, the invitation letter looks different. In some places a copy of a handwritten text is sufficient, but in other countries an original notarized document is required. The document must contain information about the visitor, the purpose of the trip and length of stay, the receiving party and its obligations. Requirements in this area change frequently, so it is advisable to update your information with your embassy or consulate.
One invitation per family is allowed, but with complete information about each person.
How to get a visitor visa
Obtaining a visa by invitation consists of several stages. First of all, you need to issue a letter that meets the requirements of the embassy. It is important that it is written no earlier than 6 months before the date of submission of documents for a visa stamp.
When the application is in hand, you need to collect a package of papers and submit them to the embassy in any way provided for by its rules. For this purpose the following are used:
- emails,
- Fax,
- Post office.
But it is better to take the documents to the consulate yourself, so that during a personal meeting with the employee you can find out that they were drawn up as required. Papers with errors sent electronically or by mail will not be accepted for consideration.
To get a visitor visa, you need to be a law-abiding citizen. The reason for refusal to issue a permit may be unpaid traffic police fines, utilities, alimony, or loan debt.
Documents for visa
The list of documents for a visa to different countries may differ significantly, so it is better to check it on the website of the desired embassy. For example, to obtain a Schengen visitor visa, you need:
- a foreign passport, the validity of which expires no earlier than 3 months after the end of the visit;
- photocopy and original of a regular passport;
- a correctly completed application form;
- booked tickets for travel;
- insurance policy;
- receipt of payment of the visa fee;
- original and certified copy of the invitation letter.
Documents for a visa upon invitation must include information about the receiving party: a copy of the foreigner’s passport and financial documents confirming his solvency.
You need to decide in advance where the guest will live. If the room is provided by a relative or friend, you need documents proving that the living conditions allow you to receive guests. Otherwise, you need to book a hotel room.
Conclusion
Now you know how to get a visa to Russia in Turkey. We hope that our article was useful to you, and if so, we ask you to share the link to it with your friends. We wish you to receive a 3-year Russian visa and go on many pleasant trips around our country!
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Validity and price of a visitor visa
The validity of a guest permit usually does not exceed three, six months or a year. This period depends on the rules established by the state that issued the document. If a visa is needed to attend courses or a business trip, its validity period may be limited to the period necessary to realize the purpose of the visit.
The cost of obtaining a visa by invitation to the countries of the European Union is 35 euros. This is a consular fee, which is paid when submitting documents. To open a visitor visa to the USA you need to spend $160.
Close relatives of citizens of some EU countries can take advantage of the benefits of the Schengen zone states. They have the right not to pay the consular fee if they document their relationship with the inviting party.
For example, this rule applies when applying for a visa to Germany. Children under 6 years of age and disabled people are often exempt from the fee.
What must be included in the invitation
Detailed information on the following points increases the chances of getting a visa:
- dates of entry and exit;
- purpose of the trip;
- length of stay in the country;
- the nature of the relationship between the parties;
- Full name, passport details, place of residence, contacts;
- documented financial obligations of the parties.
National legislation may change the priority of this information.
From a private person
Only a resident can initiate an invitation. Before sending a document abroad, information is collected: personal data, residential address, copy of passport, income certificate, rental agreement or document of ownership, medical insurance. The presence of family ties is documented.
From the educational institution
Educational institutions may provide a visitor visa if the period of study does not exceed 90 days.
For paid education, a receipt of payment and a certificate from the organization about enrollment in courses are required. You can get a visitor visa to study.
The original is submitted to the embassy indicating the name of the course, dates and address, cost, full name of the invitee, and living conditions. The person who compiled the document is named and his personal and contact information is provided.
From a business partner
Despite the private nature of the trips, entrepreneurs use a guest visa for short-term visits to events (conferences, signing contracts). For such purposes, a document of a special form is drawn up. It is advisable to write a business invitation to Russia for foreign partners and EU citizens in English.
The initiator of an invitation can only be a legal entity - a resident of the country. The letter is drawn up on company letterhead (if available) indicating the full details of the enterprise, the nature of the relationship with the guest, his personal data, purpose of the visit, place of residence, route of travel. Personal and contact information about the employee who is responsible for reception must be provided.
An example of a visa by invitation
To visit close relatives, the entry invitation must indicate:
- Full name of the inviting person;
- his home address;
- place of work;
- passport data;
- contact phone number;
- Full name of the applicant;
- home address and nationality of the guest;
- passport details;
- address of residence during the visit to the country;
- duration of the trip;
- estimated travel route;
- papers confirming family ties;
- financial documents of the party responsible for material costs.
If the rules allow, the information can be presented in free form or you can use a special form to compose a letter.
