What is VISA?
A document stamping in a passport stating the passport holder to enter a country for certain purpose for a certain period of time. For all Indian citizens, visa stamping is required to step into other countries.
A visa does not generally give a person any rights beyond the right to enter a country and remain there. Anything beyond those basic entitlements requires special permits, such as residency permit or work permit.
A visa will allow you to stay in the particular country for a stipulated amount of time. As soon as you enter a country, the first thing to be checked is your visa. The immigration officer checks your visa and permits you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer is entitled to allow you inside the country.
ECR or entry clearance is the formal term to describe the application process for visa nationals who wish to enter a certain country for certain reason and for non visa nationals who intend a longer stay in the country. The entry clearance certificate, more commonly called a visa, is placed in your travel document for the specific purposes.
The visa document tells the immigration officer the following facts:
- The purpose of your visit.
- The period of your visit.
- The latest date you can enter their country.
Once you get a valid visa you may enter and leave the country as many times as possible in the time period of your visa.
There are usually two types of visa.
- Immigrant visa : for people who intend to stay permanently in the country.
- Non immigrant visa : for people with permanent residence outside the country.