General and Technical F.A.Q.
- 1. What are the benefits of creating My VisaHQ account?
Our brief and secure registration allows you to view the progress of applications online, to easily apply for more than one visa at a time, and to store an applicant profile for future visas. If you choose not to register, you can still follow the progress of your application with email updates from VisaHQ.com.
- 2. Is it guaranteed that I will receive my visa or passport by a certain date?
VisaHQ.com will make every effort to ensure that you get your passport or visa in time for your trip. Processing times listed on our website are provided by the Embassies and the Department of State under normal circumstances. VisaHQ.com cannot always guarantee, however, that your passport or visa will be returned to you by a certain date, because it is ultimately at the discretion of the Passport Agency or Embassy as to when your passport or visa will be released. Sometimes these agencies become overwhelmed with the amount of applications they receive and this translates into longer processing times. Also, processing officers, at their sole discretion, may request additional documents. In such cases processing time will also be extended. Often, embassies give last minute updates on closure dates related to national holidays or other public events. Equipment failure is also among the causes that can trigger a delay. Such last minute changes are impossible to predict and may extend the processing times. Nevertheless, we do our absolute best to get the paperwork processed on time and without delay. - 3. Do you have the contact information for Embassies?
VisaHQ.com maintains the most extensive database of all embassies and consulates around the world. Please visit Embassy Row for Embassy contact information. We also offer free access to the basic customs regulations database: Customs Regulations - 4. Do I have to physically mail my passport to you?
Yes, with the possible exception of Australia, visas to all countries require the passport to be in our possession. We have to submit the passport, the application and other documents to the Embassy where the consular officer will stamp the visa onto one of the pages of the passport. When the visa is ready, we will pickup the passport with the visa stamped in it and will mail it back to you according to the shipping option you selected. - 5. I need a visa for two or more people. Can I send the paperwork in one package?
Yes, you can send and receive your documents in one package to save on shipping charges. - 6. Can I use my own FedEx account number for return shipping?
Yes, select "prepaid self addressed mailer" as the return shipping option when you apply online, and enclose a filled out self-addressed Fedex shipping label with account number listed along with an indication of the type of shipping you want (2 day, standard overnight, priority overnight, etc.). You can also request that we add your FedEx account number to your account and bill all your return mailings to that account. To make this request please send an email to Customer Care. - 7. How is the processing time calculated?
Processing times for visas and passports quoted by VisaHQ.com are approximate and based on processing times provided by Embassies and the Department of State under normal circumstances. Processing time should be calculated starting the next business day following the date when documents are delivered to VisaHQ office. Example 1: A China visa application with Same Day processing time that is received by our office on Tuesday will be submitted to the Chinese Embassy on Wednesday morning and, pending approval of the visa, will be returned to our office Wednesday afternoon. If you have the overnight delivery option selected, you will receive your visa on Thursday. Example 2: A Russian visa application with 3 business day processing time that is received by our office on Tuesday will be submitted to the Russian Embassy on Wednesday morning and, pending approval of the visa, will be returned to our office Monday afternoon of the following week. If you have overnight delivery option selected, you will receive your visa on Tuesday (the day after it was returned to our office).