No one wants to go through the arduous visa application process. It can take weeks and even months to get a visa application accepted through an embassy website.
This iVisa review will explain how you can bypass all the hassle and the benefits & pitfalls of using this e-visa service.
iVisa was created by a group of travelers who faced a tough time while acquiring an India tourist visa.
With iVisa, they aimed at eliminating confusing paperwork and reducing repeated trips to embassies and consulates related to the entire visa application process.
What is iVisa?
iVisa is an online service that issues travel documents and visas to travelers across the world.
Anyone willing to visit a foreign country with visa-restricted entry needs to visit an embassy or consulate to acquire a visa or apply for one upon arrival. This is very time-consuming.
iVisa eliminates this problem by issuing e-visa online, thereby saving the time required for visa application.
iVisa guarantees faster visa application processing than anywhere else in this world.
Who is iVisa for?
iVisa is for digital nomads, long term travelers and really anyone who wants to travel to a country with visa-restricted entry but wants to bypass the hassle associated with the visa application process.
However, you must remember that if you are using iVisa, you will be eligible for an e-visa only. You will not receive the traditional paper visa.
If you want a traditional paper visa, you must follow the usual visa application process or you can use the ‘guided application’ feature of iVisa.
Do remember that obtaining a visa yourself can be cheaper because iVisa will charge you for paperwork, administration, and service.
In case you are looking only for a Passenger Locator Form, I recommend getting that by yourself from your country’s Foreign Office website. Using iVisa makes sense when you need a visa or a health declaration.
iVisa Review: TL;DR
- Provides an electronic visa that is electronically linked to your passport.
- Offers fast processing options for an additional cost.
- Provides physical or digital passport photos that are compliant with government regulations of different countries.
- Offers passport renewal services, too!
- Offers guided application for people who want a traditional visa through the embassy or consulate route.
iVisa Review 2022: Pros & Cons
iVisa Pros
- Eliminates the lengthy and arduous international visa application process.
- The entire process of visa application is online.
- Visa checking tool to check visa requirements.
- They allow Rush and Super Rush visa processing.
- They offer guaranteed approval. In case of failure, they offer a full refund of the processing fee (not the government fee).
- Provides exceptional customer service.
iVisa Cons
- They don’t have a phone number to speak directly to a service agent.
- You must always use their self-help tools for the entire visa process. They will help only when you face certain issues.
- You must pay first before filling out the application form and submitting it.
- You can pay only using a credit card or PayPal. They don’t allow using a debit card.
iVisa Review: Features
iVisa issues visas online and comes with various features (or rather services) that are very useful for travelers. The features or services offered by iVisa’s e-visa systems include:
User Interface
The iVisa website is elegant with a clean and modern UI. The website can be accessed in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, etc.
The navigation is easily accessible with clearly defined menu options on the top.
Visa Service
iVisa offers multiple travel visa services including printed e-visa, e-visa on arrival, health declaration form, and guided application.
Printed e-Visa
This is the commonest service they offer. You must pay the visa fee, which is essentially the government fee along with their service fee, and fill out an online application form & submit it.
iVisa will then deal with the embassy or consulate and send the e-visa via email. You can then take a print and present it along with your passport to the immigration officer upon entry to the destination country.
e-Visa on Arrival
In this electronic visa service, you will not receive an e-visa by email. Rather, you will receive a confirmation email that your electronic visa has been approved. You must carry your passport and the confirmation document to the country you are visiting.
When you arrive at your destination, the immigration experts at the airport will check the documents and issue a visa for you to travel.
The application process is the same. You must pay iVisa using your credit card or PayPal and then fill out the online application form. They will take care of the rest. You will receive an email once the application is approved.
Health Declaration
A health declaration is a formal document that declares that you are not suffering from COVID-19 or any other contagious disease. This formal document is required for the entry clearance process for certain countries.
iVisa helps you to receive the health declaration. You need to fill in the online application form, pay using your credit card or PayPal, and wait. iVisa immigration specialists will take care of the rest and send you the official document via email.
Once you reach the destination country, you can furnish the document at the airport.
Guided Application
iVisa also offers a guided application service to those who want traditional paper visas.
The process is simple. You fill out an online form with guidance from their didactic manual. You will also get personal help and guidance from iVisa experts.
Once you fill in the application form correctly, you need to send the required documents to the embassy or consulate. If called for, you must attend the visa interview. Once you pass the interview, you will receive your new visa.
Processing Options
For online visa issuance, iVisa offers a few processing options that include:
- Standard Processing: your visa will be available in 24 hours.
- Rush Processing: your visa will be available in 4 hours or so.
- Super Rush Processing: your visa will be available within 30 mins to 60 minutes.
However, when you apply for a visa, the time required for visa processing will depend on the destination country. For example, an India tourist visa takes about 24 hours while a UK visit visa can take longer.
The above numbers are only estimates. You can learn about the time required for international visa processing using the calculator tool provided by iVisa.
Standard Processing is suitable if you are on a budget while Rush and Super Rush Processing make sense when you require your visa faster.
Passport Renewal
Apart from issuing e-visas and health declarations, iVisa also helps with online passport renewal. They provide a hassle-free experience and ensure that the renewal is error-free and compliant with government regulations.
Passport Photo
iVisa offers a passport photo service, too. For an error-free process, you can use their mobile app (unfortunately available only for iPhone users). They will ensure that the passport photo is 100% compliant.
Not only do they provide photo services for passports, but they also extend the service for work permits, biometrics, green cards, diversity visa lottery, and general purpose.
You can receive the passport photos online in a digital format, or you can request a physical copy mailed to you. Their processing fee per photo is $1.37.
Easy Tools
iVisa offers two easy tools for checking the visa cost and visa requirements. Both tools are incredibly simple to use.
The first tool is available on the homepage of the iVisa website where you need to select your country and destination to check the visa requirements.
iVisa will show whether they can issue an electronic visa or not. You will also see other details like whether you need to stay quarantined upon arrival, health insurance requirements, etc.
The other tool is a calculator tool that will show you the price you must pay for acquiring a visa online through them.
iVisa Review: Pricing
There is no fixed pricing. The price you must pay will depend on the visa fee (or the government’s visa fee) and the processing fee.
Of course, the processing fee will vary depending on the type of processing you select when you apply for a visa online.
Standard processing is always the cheapest while super rush processing is always the most expensive option.