As early as possible. Interview wait times vary by embassy and season and can run from a few days to several weeks. We recommend starting the process at least 6–8 weeks before you plan to travel, and holding off on booking flights or hotels until your visa is issued.

Most destinations require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, though some countries have bilateral agreements that shorten this. We’ll check the specific requirement for your destination as part of our assistance.

Renew it before your interview. A passport that is damaged, expiring within the validity window required for your destination, or too full of stamps to add a visa should be replaced first. We can guide you through the renewal process.

It depends on your nationality, travel purpose, and passport type. Citizens of participating countries travelling for short business or tourism visits may be able to travel without a traditional visa by obtaining an electronic travel authorization instead. We can help confirm your eligibility.

Programs like ESTA charge a modest, fixed registration fee per traveler, payable online at the time of application. We can walk you through the payment step so nothing is missed or duplicated.

Travellers under a visa waiver scheme who have not obtained the required electronic authorization in advance should expect to be denied boarding by their airline, or denied entry on arrival. Always secure your authorization before you fly.