Visa

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A visa (short for the Latin carta visa, lit. "the document having been seen") is a document issued by a country giving a certain individual permission to formally request entrance to the country during a given period of time and for certain purposes (see below for caveats and exceptions). Most countries require possession of a valid visa as a condition of entry for foreigners, though there exist exemption schemes (see passport for examples of such schemes). Visas are typically stamped or attached into the recipient's passport, or are sometimes issued as separate pieces of paper.

Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter (or exit) a country, and are thus, for some countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. While a visa for the European Schengen area constitutes the formal permission to enter, according to the conditions, in other cases a visa does not guarantee admission into the country for which the alien has the visa. This formal permission is typically granted by stamping the visa and, in some cases, by providing an additional document as proof of status, such as the United States' I-94. The common phrase "he has to leave because his visa has expired" is thus, strictly speaking, incorrect: the visitor's status has expired, the visa may or may not have.

Some countries, such as some states of the former Soviet Union, require that their citizens, and sometimes foreign travelers, obtain an exit visa in order to be allowed to leave the country. Until 2004, foreign students in Russia were issued only an entry visa on being accepted to University there, and had to obtain an exit visa to return home. This policy has since been changed, and foreign students are now issued multiple entry (and exit) visas. Citizens of the People's Republic of China who are residents of the mainland are required to apply for special permits in order to leave the mainland, including to enter the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao (and SAR residents require a Home Return Permit to visit the mainland). Saudi Arabia requires all resident foreigners, but not citizens, to obtain an exit visa before leaving the kingdom.

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Conditions of issue
Some visas can be granted on arrival, usually only to citizens of countries enjoying good relations with the issuing country, or by prior application at the country's embassy or consulate, or sometimes a specialized travel agency with permission from the issuing country. If there is no embassy or consulate in one's home country, then one would have to travel to a third country and try to get a visa issued there. The need or absence of need of a visa generally depends on the citizenship of the applicant, the intended duration of the stay, and the activities that the applicant may wish to undertake in the country he visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue conditions.

Some countries will have reciprocal visa regimes. This means that if Country A requires citizens of Country B to have a visa to travel there, then Country B will apply reciprocity and require a visa from citizens of Country A even if Country B's citizens are not a migratory problem for Country A. Brazil, for example, imposes a visa requirement on United States, Australian and Canadian citizens because those three countries have imposed a visa requirement on Brazilian citizens.

A fee may be charged for issuing a visa; these are typically also reciprocal, so if country A charges country B's citizens 50 USD for a visa, country B will often also charge the same amount for country A's visitors. The fee charged may also be at the discretion of each embassy and can be increased to discourage unserious applicants. A similar reciprocity often applies to the duration of the visa (the period in which one is permitted to request entry of the country) and the amount of entries one can attempt with the visa. Expedited processing of the visa application will also generally incur additional charges.

The issuing authority, usually a branch of the country's foreign ministry or department (e.g. U.S. State Department), and typically consular officers, may request appropriate documentation from the applicant. This may include proof that the applicant is able to support himself in the host country (lodging, food), proof that the person hosting the applicant in his or her home really exists and has sufficient room for hosting the applicant, proof that the applicant has obtained health and evacuation insurance, etc. Some countries ask for proof of health status, especially for long-term visas; some countries deny such visas to sufferers of certain illnesses, such as AIDS. The exact conditions depend on the country and the category of visas. Developed countries frequently demand strong evidence of the intent to return to the home country, if the visa is for a temporary stay.

The issuing authority may also require applicants to attest that they have had no criminal convictions, or that they do not partake in certain businesses (like prostitution or drug trafficking). Some countries requested information as to the ideological leanings of the applicant; this used to be the case of the United States, which inquired whether visa applicants were Communist sympathizers (and denied visas to known or suspected sympathizers.)

Bearers of official, and especially diplomatic, passports are generally subject to supplemental checks (diplomatic personnel must be formally recognized as such by the host country to benefit from diplomatic immunity.)

Types of visa
Common types of visas are:

transit visa, usually valid for 3 days or less, for passing through the country to a third destination.
tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business activities allowed. Some countries (e.g., Kuwait) do not issue tourist visas. Saudi Arabia introduced tourist visas only in 2004 although it did (and still does) issue pilgrimage visas for Hajj pilgrims.
business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas generally preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa would be required.
temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the United States' E-3, H-1B and L-1 visas.
on-arrival visa, granted immediately prior to entering the country, eg. at an airport or border control post. This is distinct from not requiring a visa at all, as the visitor must still obtain the visa before they can even try to pass through immigration.
Less common visas include:

student visa, which allows its holder to study at an institution of higher learning in the issuing country.
working holiday visa, for individuals traveling between nations offering a working holiday programme, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while traveling.
diplomatic visa, which confers diplomatic status on its holder and is normally only available to bearers of diplomatic passports.
journalist visa, which some countries require of people in that occupation when travelling for their respective news organizations. Countries which insist on this include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United States (I-visa) and Zimbabwe.
fiancee visa, granted for a limited period prior to intended marriage based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country: for example, a German woman who wishes to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancee Visa (also known as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States.
immigrant visa, granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing country. They usually are issued for a single journey as the holder will, depending on the country, later be issued a permanent resident identification card which will allow the traveller to enter to the issuing country an unlimited number of times. (for example, the United States Permanent Resident Card).

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Visas can also be single-entry, which means the visa is cancelled as soon as the holder leaves the country, double-entry, or multiple-entry, permitting multiple entries into the country with the same visa. Countries may also issue re-entry permits that allow temporarily leaving the country without invalidating the visa. Even a business visa will normally not allow the holder to work in the host country without an additional work permit.

Once issued, a visa will typically have to be used within a certain period of time, and the period of validity starts only on entry into the country. A notable exception to this is India, where the visa validity period starts at the time the visa is issued.

The validity of a visa is not the same as the authorized period of stay in the issuing country. The visa validity usually indicates when the alien can apply for entry to the country. For example, if a visa has been issued January 1st and expires March 30th, and the typical authorized period of stay in a country is 90 days, then the 90-day authorized stay starts on the day the passenger reaches the country, which has to be between January 1st and March 30th. The traveller could therefore stay in the issuing country until July 1st.

Once in the country, the validity period of a visa or authorized stay can often be extended for a fee at the discretion of immigration authorities. Overstaying a period of authorized stay given by the immigration officers is considered illegal immigration even if the visa validity period isn't over (i.e. for multiple entry visas) and a form of being "out of status" and the offender may be fined, prosecuted, deported, or even blacklisted from entering the country again.

Entering a country without a valid visa or visa exemption may result in detention and removal (deportation or exclusion) from the country. Undertaking activities that are not authorized by the status of entry (for example, working while possessing a non-worker tourist status) can result in the individual being deemed removable, in common speech an illegal alien. Such violation is not a violation of a visa, however despite the common misuse of the phrase, but a violation of status hence the term "out of status."

Even having a visa does not guarantee entry to the host country. The border crossing authorities make the final determination to allow entry, and may even cancel a visa at the border if the alien cannot demonstrate to their satisfaction that they will abide by the status their visa grants them.

Visa and immigration laws may be very different among countries. As such, aliens are advised to check with immigration lawyers for visa and immigration laws governing the countries they wish to enter and eligibility to receive visas or other immigration benefits.

Visa refusal
A visa may be denied for various reasons, for example (but not limited to):

if the applicant has committed fraud or misrepresentation in the requirements;
if the applicant is felt to be intending to stay permanently while applying for a temporary visa;
if the applicant does not have a genuine reason for their journey;
if there is already an immigration problem in the country the applicant intends to visit;
if the applicant is asking for a resident visa and has no visible means of sustenance;
if the applicant has a criminal record;
if the applicant does not have a good moral character;
if the applicant is considered to be a security risk;
if the applicant has not completed his military service to the state;
if the applicant is a citizen of a country with whom the host country has poor or non-existent relations (for example, North Korea rarely grants visas to American citizens).

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The European Union (EU) is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 member states. The European Union was established under that name in 1992 by the Treaty on European Union (the Maastricht Treaty). However, many aspects of the Union existed before that date through a series of predecessor relationships, dating back to 1951. [1]

The Union currently has a common single market consisting of a customs union, a single currency managed by the European Central Bank (so far adopted by 12 of the 25 member states), a Common Agricultural Policy, a common trade policy, and a Common Fisheries Policy.[2] A Common Foreign and Security Policy was also established as the second of the three pillars of the European Union. The Schengen Agreement abolished passport control, and customs checks were also abolished at many of the EU's internal borders, creating a single space of mobility for EU citizens to live, travel, work and invest. [3]

The most important EU institutions include the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Court of Justice, the European Central Bank and the European Parliament. The European Parliament's origins go back to the 1950s and the founding treaties, and since 1979 its members have been directly elected by the people they represent. Elections are held every five years, and every EU citizen who is registered as a voter is entitled to vote.

The European Union's activities cover all areas of public policy, from health and economic policy to foreign affairs and defense. However, the extent of its powers differs greatly between areas. Depending on the area in question, the EU may therefore resemble a federation (e.g. on monetary affairs, agricultural, trade and environmental policy, economic and social policy), a confederation (e.g. on home affairs) or an international organisation (e.g. in foreign affairs).

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The members of the European Union have transferred to it considerable sovereignty, more than that of any other non-sovereign regional organisation. As has been mentioned, in certain areas the EU begins to take on the character of a federation or confederation. However, in legal terms, member states remain the masters of the Treaties, which means that the Union does not have the power to transfer additional powers from states onto itself without their agreement through further international treaties. Further, in many areas member states have given up relatively little national sovereignty, particularly in key areas of national interest such as foreign relations and defense. Because of this unique structure most simply classify the European Union as a sui generis entity and leave it at that.

On October 29, 2004, EU member state heads of government and state signed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. This has been ratified by 13 member states and is currently awaiting ratification by the other states. However, this process faltered on May 29, 2005 when the majority of French voters rejected the constitution in a referendum by 54.7%. The French rejection was followed three days later by a Dutch one on June 1 when in the Netherlands 61.6% of voters refused the constitution as well. [4]

The current and future status of the European Union therefore continues to be subject of political controversy, with widely differing views both within and between member states. For example, in the United Kingdom one poll suggested that around 50% of the population are indifferent to the European Union and 20% voted for parties that wanted to withdraw from the EU in the 2004 EU elections [5]. However, other countries are more in favour of European integration — soon after the Netherlands and the French voted "no" on the constitution, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg voted "yes." What the term "European integration" itself means is also the subject of much debate.

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Current issues
Issues currently facing the EU cover its membership, structure, procedures and policies; they include the adoption, abandonment or adjustment of the new constitutional treaty, the Union's enlargement to the south and east, resolving the Union's problematic fiscal and democratic accountability, economic viability with the United States, China, and India, revision of the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact, and the future budget and the Common Agricultural Policy.

At the December 2005 European Council, which is a semi-annual meeting of EU member states' heads of state and government, EU member states decided on how it should allocate the EU budget for the next seven years (2007–2013). Also, the "Financial Perspective" was defined as EU members agreed to fix the common budget to 1.045% of the European GDP.[6] UK Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed to review the British rebate, negotiated by Margaret Thatcher in 1984, despite a promise to the contrary made to the UK Parliament. French President Jacques Chirac declared that this increase in budget will permit Europe to "finance common policies" such as the Common Agricultural Policy or the Research and Technological Development Policy. However, France's demand to lower the VAT in catering was refused.[7]

Issues controversial during upcoming budget debates include the British rebate, France's benefits from the Common Agricultural Policy, Germany and the Netherlands' large contributions to the EU budget, and reform of the European Regional Development Funds.

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ماجرای گرفتن ويزای آلمان


با وجود گرفتن وقت قبلی، در مقابل سفارت صفی از متقاضيان ويزا تشکيل می شود
گرفتن رواديد يا ويزا برای سفر به کشورهای ديگر به ويژه برای کشورهای غربی در ايران، معمولا روندی زمان بر و در صورت رد شدن درخواست ويزا، مايوس کننده است. در مجموعه مطالبی که قرار است به تدريج منتشر کنيم نازنين معتمدی در تهران تجربه های شخصی خود را از دريافت ويزا برای چند کشور نوشته و توصيه هايی به متقاضيان ويزا داده است*:
چند وقتی است که ارائه درخواست ويزا در سفارت آلمان، فقط با داشتن "وقت قبلی" امکانپذير است. واقعا خدا پدرشان را بيامرزد، درست است که زمانی را که مقرر می*کنند، حداقل يک ماه بعد است، ولی حداقل ديگر خبری از نصف شب خوابيدن کنار در سفارت نيست.

البته اشتباه نکنيد، اين مطلب به*اين معنی نيست که ديگر هيچ صف يا تجمعی جلوی در سفارت وجود ندارد. وقتی مامور سفارت متقاضيانی که سر ساعت هشت صبح وقت دارند را به*ترتيب به*داخل صدا می*کند، واقعا ديدنی*ست که همين ده نفر هم چطور سعی می*کنند برای ورود به*سفارت از هم جلو بزنند.

برای تعيين وقت قبلی از سفارت دو راه وجود دارد: از طريق ايميل زدن به نشانیtermin@tehe.auswaertiges-amt.de درخواست وقت حضوری برای دريافت ويزا بکنيد که يکی دو روز بعد برای شما جوابی می*آيد که در آن ساعت دقيق و روز مراجعه شما معين شده است.

امکان دوم، گرفتن وقت از طريق تلفن سفارت (۳۳۹۹۹۱۲۶۰) است، ولی در اکثر موارد آنقدر تعداد تماس*ها زياد است که شما برای ساعت*ها بايد پشت خط منتظر بمانيد، و بعلاوه، در صورتی که هرگونه اشکالی در فهرست متقاضيان سفارت پيش بيايد، شما مدرکی کتبی مبنی بر زمان دقيق حضورتان در دست نداريد.

با اين وجود برای گرفتن وقت تلفنی بايد روزهای يکشنبه تا پنجشنبه از ساعت هشت صبح تا ۱۲ ظهر و از ۵/۱۲ ظهر تا سه بعدازظهر با سفارت تماس بگيريد.


اگر در محدوده سفارت آلمان ايستاده باشيد کلی دلال دورتان را می گيرند و کارت*هايشان را می*اندازند توی کيفتان.

پيرامون سفارت چه می گذرد؟

اگر به*هر دليلی بيشتر از پنج ثانيه در محدوده سفارت آلمان ايستاده باشيد و حتی به*گلکاری باغچه*های سفارت نگاه بکنيد، کلی دلال دورتان را می گيرند و کارت*هايشان را بزور می*اندازند توی کيفتان.

همه آنها هم ادعا می*کنند: "پول مول هم تو کارمون نيست، آبجی! مجانيه، صرفا برای رفاه مشتری. همين بن*بست پايين سفارت، سمت چپ*ايم. همه کارهاتو از گرفتن وقت سفارت تا بيمه کردن و رزرو بليت و هتل تو آلمان برات رديف می کنيم."

بيشتر مشتری اين دلال*ها را دخترهای جوانی تشکيل می دهند که درخواست ويزای "الحاق به همسر" می*کنند. يک سری افراد ديگر هم هستند که مدام دور و بر جوانها می*گويند: "مشاوره دانشگاهی، گرفتن پذيرش تحصيلی، همه جوره سرويس می*دهيم. فقط کافيه لب تر کنی که می خوام بروم اون وره آب! سه سوت حلش می*کنيم."

بيمه مسافران

در صورت موافقت سفارت آلمان با درخواست ويزا، شما بايد در اولين فرصت خود را بيمه کنيد، حتی اگر دعوت*کننده تعهد مخارج شما را کرده باشد. برای اين کار کافيست به*نزديک*ترين دفتر بيمه مراجعه کنيد تا تعرفه "بيمه مسافران خارج از کشور" را جلويتان بگذارند که بر حسب سن مسافر و مدت زمان اقامت در کشور مقصد، مقادير مختلفی دارد.

اگر در زمان تقاضای بيمه، به*بيماری خاصی مبتلا هستيد يا دوران نقاهت بيماری را می*گذرانيد، هزينه*های مربوط به*آن تحت پوشش اين بيمه*نامه نيست.

در صورت عدم دريافت ويزا با ارائه اصل گذرنامه، حق بيمه با کسر دو هزار تومان به*شما پس داده می*شود. اگر متقاضی ويزا دريافت کند و سپس انصراف خود را از سفر به*شرکت بيمه اعلام کند، حق بيمه در صورت ممهور نبودن گذرنامه به*مهر خروج، با کسر سه هزار تومان قابل برگشت است.

چند نکته:
● به*جای مراجعه حضوری به *سفارت و دريافت فرم درخواست ويزا، می*توانيد آن را از روی سايت اينترنتی سفارت آلمان در تهران www.germanembassy-tehran.org کپی کنيد. البته اين فرم برای اقامت تا حداکثر سه ماه است، برای درخواست ويزا بيش از سه ماه بايد فرم مخصوصی را از سفارت تهيه کنيد.
● در صورتی که متقاضی ويزای دانشجويی هستيد و وقتتان محدود است، بهتر است مدرکی را که برای تامين هزينه تحصيل در آلمان ارائه می*دهيد، گواهی حساب بانکی*تان در آنجا (۸۰۰۰ يورو) باشد. چون جريان تاييد برگه حمايت مالی فردی مقيم آلمان از شما، کمی زمان*بر است.
● اگر قصد داريد برای معالجه اضطراری به*آلمان برويد، می*توانيد بدون داشتن وقت قبلی به*سفارت مراجعه کنيد و موضوعتان را با يکی از کارمندان آنجا در ميان بگذاريد. معمولا در دو سه روز آينده، وقتی برای شما درنظر می گيرند.
● سفارت در تابلوهای اعلانات خود به*متقاضيان تذکر داده است که رزرو هتل توسط افراد غيرمسئول يا واسطه*ها باعث رد شدن درخواست ويزا می*شود.
● مدارک برای درخواست ويزا حتما بايد توسط متقاضی به*سفارت داده شود، اما در صورتيکه فرد در دو سال اخير، ويزای "شنگن" را از همين سفارت دريافت کرده باشد، می*تواند مدارک را توسط نماينده*ای تحويل دهد.