Ask any traveller what the biggest challenges they’ve faced are, and you can be sure that visa application will be in the top five of the list.
Much as we want the concept of a world without borders to become a reality, geopolitical conflict and socioeconomic issues are still driving nations to control who gets to actually enter their territory.
Admittedly, this is a good way by which to protect the sovereignty of a nation in light of threats, but it can be a challenge for genuine travellers who are just trying to drum up business or have a proper good time.
To be fair, the visa application process has become easier regardless of which nation you’re applying for thanks to groups like VFS Global, as well as the extensive range of backend technologies that have streamlined the application process.
Challenges inherent for the average applicant
Much as one would like to do things by the book, there are a number of things that applicants worry about or common mistakes made in the process.
Among the most pressing issues related to visa application are:
- Processing backlogs When the world shut down in the spring of 2020, it resulted in a backlog of several million visa applications, with the US alone registering 9.5 million pending applications as of February 2022. This has led to longer wait times, often spanning weeks and months, resulting in thwarted or adjusted work, study,, and leisure plans for applicants;
- Difficulty in ensuring correct documentation and proof of genuine intent to travel Establishing genuine intent to travel is one of the biggest challenges in visa application, as consular officials scrutinise every document submitted to ensure that applicants have a strong reason to return to their countries of origin. At the same time, even the slightest inconsistency or even one missing document could herald instant denial of one’s application;
- Significant cost outlay The cost of application often doesn’t just involve the price charged by embassies or visa processing facilities. It also includes the cost of official bank statements, medical examinations, medical certificates, and even security checks in order to prove one’s identity and financial capabilities to relevant authorities; and
- Policy changes and inconsistencies In recent years, some nations have been altering their visa application policies in light of national security or geopolitical issues. The US’ recent halt of processing for 75 countries is one; the Philippines’ 14-day visa-free entry for Chinese travellers is another. If policies remain in place or have remained in place for a while, there would be no issue. As it stands, however, national visa policies are shifting, leading to even more challenges for applicants whose approval remains in abeyance.
Significant improvements
While these challenges do still exist, the field has also improved a great deal thanks to technological innovations that have helped streamline work processes.
Among the most notable of these are:
- The advent of the electronic visa A number of nations have made the shift to electronic visas (E-visas), enabling travellers to apply and receive approval online. This decreases time spent on embassy visits, decreasing stress for both applicants and officials. It is also a more sustainable option as it does away with the need for physical stamps or stickers;
- Improved processing times While it may still take up to 60 days in a number of cases, many embassies can cut the processing time down to 24 hours in some cases, depending on the type of visa applied for. This is made possible by increased staffing and streamlined backend systems;
- Greater application of artificial intelligence and other technologies AI substantially decreases the margin of error when it comes to scanning documents and verifying biometrics. Not only does this make the screening process more efficient, but also more secure; and
- Outsourcing Partnerships with third-party providers has helped decrease the backlogs among embassies, likewise helping things along with the offering of mobile sites and off-site biometrics collection.
While we cannot truly say that these solutions are foolproof, they are helping drive the growth of the global visa services scene by up to 14.3 percent and making the way easier for travellers anywhere in the world.
