Visas can be inconvenient for any traveler. It entails a lot of paperwork, and a lot of money, and can even cause your trip to be delayed. Those of us with insufficient passports can empathize. There is some good news. Certain visas, such as a US visa, can be extremely beneficial to you. There are several advantages to obtaining a US visa, which I will discuss in this article.
There are various types of US visas, but this article will focus on the B1/B2 visa. The US B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued for business or tourism purposes. Aside from the obvious benefits of a US visa, such as its 10-year validity, multiple entries, and 180-day stay per entry, the US B1/B2 visa has a number of other advantages. This article will go over them in depth.
The benefits of a US Visa
There are approximately seven benefits to obtaining a US visa. These include VISA-FREE access to many countries around the world, which will save you money and time in the long run, as well as access to remote parts of the Caribbean that you would not otherwise be able to visit. You will benefit from all of these benefits simply by having the US B1/B2 visa in your passport.The majority of countries that allow VISA-FREE entry with a US visa are developing nations. These countries cannot afford the infrastructure required to screen every traveler who crosses their borders.
US visas are among the most difficult to obtain, requiring a stringent 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.
You can travel to 49 different countries. VISA-FREE if you have a US visa
That’s correct. Around 49 countries and territories around the world offer VISA-FREE entry in exchange for a valid US B1/B2 visa in your passport! If you have a shaky passport, I strongly advise you to obtain a US B1/B2 visa to add an additional 49 countries to your VISA-FREE list.
This list contains many absolutely 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. I would strongly advise visiting these countries.
I haven’t even mentioned 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, also allow VISA-FREE entry with a US visa.
- You do not need a visa to transit through the United Kingdom or the Schengen area.
If you have a shaky 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. This 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.
In the long run, this can save you a lot of time and money. It alleviates travel stress by eliminating the need for yet 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, it is frequently cheaper to fly through the United States. There are far more flights departing from the United States to these locations on a daily basis than anywhere else in the world. This means that there is more competition among airlines, which leads to lower-cost flights.
Consider the following two examples.
Example 1
The chart besides 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
The chart besides compares a one-way flight from New Delhi, India to Sao Paulo, Brazil via the United States to a direct flight. As you can see, flying through the United States saves nearly 3/4 of the time. THE COST
Once again, flying through the United States is significantly less expensive than other options. This is one of the most significant advantages of a US visa. Having a US visa will save you a lot of money in the long run because it will save you money on flights and visas.
- Flights to the Caribbean are frequently only available from the United States.
One of the most significant benefits of US visa is that many direct flights to more remote Caribbean destinations, such as the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, only depart from the US. This means that one of the advantages of US B1/B2 is that you can fly into the US first and then to one of these more remote locations.
Example 1
An example of a one-way flight from Miami International Airport to Nassau, Bahamas is shown above. As you can see, it’s a direct flight with an incredibly low fare.
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 a period of 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 a year if you’re lucky. Consider a Schengen visa or a UK visa.
Longer Schengen or UK visas are available, but you must demonstrate that you have visited these countries frequently. 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 a period of 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.
US visas make it easier to obtain other visas (such as Canada, and the UK)
Many travelers with insufficient passports underestimate the value of travel history. You may believe that your prior travel history is unimportant in future US visa applications. That, however, is not the case. Your previous travels and visas are important factors in your visa applications, particularly for the Canada and UK visas.
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. Your previous trips to the United States demonstrate that you are a genuine traveler.
Visa applications to the United Kingdom or Canada specifically ask for your previous travel history to countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia. Having a US visa helps convince UK or Canadian visa officers that you are a genuine traveler who has never broken any 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 shaky passport. However, if the immigration officer notices a US visa in your passport, they will treat you better and will not question you 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 in my passport comes to an end. “Welcome,” they stamp my passport.
Conclusion
As you can see from the information above, there are numerous advantages to obtaining a US visa that is extremely beneficial to you as a traveler with a weakened 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 recognize 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 problem related to visas you should definitely contact Visadone for sure