The visa process can be rather inconvenient and tiring for any traveller. It entails a lot of paperwork and money, and it can even cause your trip to be delayed. Those with weak passports can empathise. But there is no need to worry, we have good news for you! Certain visas, such as a US visa, can be extremely advantageous for you. There are several benefits of a US visa, which we will discuss in this article.
There are various types of US visas, but in this article, our core focus will be on the B1/B2 visa. The US B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued for business or tourism purposes. Besides the obvious benefits of a US visa, such as its 10-year validity, multiple entries, and 180-day stay per entry, there are several other benefits of a US B1/B2 visa. In this article, we will further delve into these benefits.
The benefits of a US Visa
There are approximately seven benefits to a US visa. These include visa-free access to many countries around the globe, which will save you considerable amounts of money and time in the long run. It will also allow access to remote parts of the Caribbean that you would not otherwise be able to visit. You will gain all these benefits simply by having a US B1/B2 visa. The majority of countries that allow visa-free entry with a US visa are developing nations, as these nations are unable to afford the infrastructure required to screen every traveller who crosses their borders.
US visas are among the list of “the most difficult visas to obtain”, and require a strict screening process. The screening process for US visas ensures that you have strong ties to your home country. This ensures that you have no desire to remain illegally in the United States or any other country.
Let us now look at the additional benefits of a US visa, specifically the benefits of a US B1/B2 visa.
Travel to 49 countries visa-free with a US visa
That is correct! Around 49 countries and territories around the globe offer visa-free entry with a valid US B1/B2 visa in your passport! If you have a shaky passport, we strongly advise you to obtain a US B1/B2 visa to add 49 more countries to your visa-free list.
This list contains many stunning countries. From North America’s Mexico to Central America’s Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama, all the way down to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru in South America, we would strongly suggest visiting these countries.
We have yet to mention Asia’s tropical locations. The Philippines and Taiwan are ideal destinations for island getaways! The Middle Eastern countries of the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, as well as some European countries such as Turkey, Montenegro, Georgia, and Albania, all allow visa-free entry with a US visa.
There is no need for a visa to transit through the United Kingdom or the Schengen area.
If you have a weak passport, you will almost certainly need a visa to transit through the United Kingdom or Schengen countries. This is true even if you are not leaving the airport and will be staying airside for the duration of your flight.
The good news is that if you have a US visa, you can transit through the UK or Schengen countries, which is one of the most significant benefits of a US visa.
If you have a US visa, you can transit through many Schengen countries without obtaining a transit visa. With a valid US visa, you can transit through France, Germany, or Spain. If you have a valid US visa, you can also transit through the UK without obtaining a transit visa.
This is ultimately cost-effective as well as time-saving. On the other hand, it will also alleviate travel stress by eliminating the need for another visa.
Flying through the United States is less expensive than flying directly to Latin America or the Caribbean.
When flying from Europe or Asia to Mexico, South America, or the Caribbean, most of the time it is cheaper to fly through the United States. There are many more flights departing from the United States to these locations daily than from any other airport in the world, which results in more competition among airlines, ultimately leading to lower-cost flights.
Consider the following two examples:
Example 1
The chart compares a one-way flight to Mexico City, Mexico, from Frankfurt, Germany, via the United States, to a direct flight. As you can see, flying through the United States is nearly half the price!
Example 2
A one-way flight from JFK International Airport to Providenciales, Turks, and Caicos, is shown above. As you can see, it’s a direct flight with very low fares.
US visas are typically issued for ten years.
One of the most significant benefits of a US visa is that the B1/B2 visa is valid for ten years. Most visas these days are valid for a period ranging from your specific dates to at most a year, if you’re lucky. Consider a Schengen visa or a UK visa.
Schengen or UK visas for longer periods are available, but you must demonstrate that you have visited these countries frequently. However, with a US visa, this is not the case. Even if you have never visited the United States, you can obtain a 10-year B1/B2 visa.
NOTE: Certain countries are only granted US B1/B2 visas for 5 years or less. For example, US B1/B2 visas are valid for 5 years for Pakistani passport holders and 2 years for Nigerian passport holders.
Other visas are easily obtainable with a US visa (for example., Canada and the UK).
Many travellers with weak passports underestimate the value of travel history. You may believe that your prior travel history will not in any way affect your future US visa application. But that is not the case.
A US visa is a powerful visa. It’s also one of the hardest visas to obtain. Holding a US visa indicates that you have been thoroughly screened, that you have strong ties to your home country, that you have the means to travel, and that you do not intend to stay in the US illegally. Your previous trips to the United States demonstrate that you are a genuine traveller.
Visa applications to the United Kingdom or Canada specifically ask for your previous travel history to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia. Having a US visa helps convince UK or Canadian visa officers that you are a genuine traveller who has never been accused of breaking immigration laws.
If you have a US visa in your passport, immigration officers will treat you better.
Even if you have a visa to enter a country, you may be subject to additional questioning at the airport if you have a weak passport. However, if the immigration officer notices a US visa in your passport, they will treat you better and will not question you much further.
Why? Because immigration officers are aware of the strict US visa screening procedures, they are convinced that you have already been thoroughly screened.
When I enter a new country, immigration officers look through every page of my Indian passport until they find my US visa. When they see my US visa, their search for something objectionable in my passport comes to an end. “Welcome!” They stamp my passport.
Conclusion
As it is evident from the information above, there are numerous advantages to obtaining a US visa that are extremely beneficial for you as a traveller with a weak passport.
Even though a US B1/B2 visa is difficult to obtain, I strongly advise you to obtain one before your trip. Having a US visa is extremely beneficial if you plan to travel not only to the US but also to many other countries that recognise and accept the US B1/B2 visa. So go ahead and start making plans. Your next adventure is waiting for you. If you have any questions related to visas, you can contact Visadone.
