Visa Application Process
In most visa applications, the applicants are required to provide required documents pertaining to identity proof, address proof, and other documents based on the type of the visa. At times, the applicants may be asked to submit the passport itself so once the visa is approved, it can be attached to the passport and given back to the applicant. In a typical situation, the applicants can visit the official websites to obtain the details and information concerning the time-frame, documents, etc. required for the visa application. Based on the particular country, the applicants are expected to submit the visa application few days in advance that can help them avoid unexpected last minute delays. The application process for a visa differs from one country to the other. Depending on the nationality of the applicant, type of visa, and other factors, an individual can find the approximate processing period.
Visa Application Reference Number
Once the details are furnished and submitted along with the required document at the embassy/consulate, the applicants will be provided with an application identification or an acknowledgment receipt number which is also known as a reference number, file number, etc. The reference number is useful and essential when it comes to checking the status of the visa application. Based on the country, the applicants may have more than one method to obtain the current status of the application process. Most visa authorities provide an online platform to check the status of the visa application, while few others also provide either a telephone number or other contact options to retrieve the status. Understanding that visa is an important document, it is recommended to keep a copy of the reference number or at least to make a note of the unique reference number since it functions as an identifier that will locate the application accurately and provide an up-to-date status.
The reference number/file number can be used on the official visa website of that country to retrieve the latest information on the visa application, however, if you do not have a file number, you can still continue to check the status by using the passport number. Not all countries offer this service, however, the majority of visa applications are checked with the usage of passport number itself.
How to Check Visa Status With Passport Number
If you have already applied for a visa and looking for an update on the status, you will need a certain basic personal information along with the passport number. Though this service is not offered by all countries, most of them do provide an option to carry out an online visa application status check with the passport number. By visiting the official visa website of the country that the applicant is likely to visit, he/she can enter the passport number to get the visa application status instantly. If there is no online option to check the status, the applicant may refer to the website to find a telephone number or other contact details which can also help them get a status update on the application. The entire process for checking the visa application status with a passport number doesn’t take more than 2-5 minutes and can be performed by following few simple online steps.
Text/E-Mail Notifications
During the visa processing period, the authorities will also send out the status on a periodical basis. Few countries also send out text SMS and/or email notifications to keep the applicants updated. Through the text SMS and/or email notification facility, the applicants can keep an eye on their application at different stages. Typically, the notifications are sent out when the application reaches the concerning authority, getting processed/reviewed, approved/rejected, and dispatched for collection/delivery.