Your Visa
Journey
Made Easy

Ideally 6 to 8 weeks before your travel date. Some embassies have limited appointments and longer processing times. For Schengen visas, the latest you can apply is 15 days before departure. No later.

No. We provide reserved flights and accommodation bookings where applicable, so you don’t have to risk non-refundable bookings.

Yes, in most cases your passport will be held by the relevant consulate or visa centre until a decision has been made. If you have other travel planned, make sure to factor this in. For UK visa applications, there is an option to retain your passport during processing for an additional fee.

Technically yes, but the documents required (especially your passport) often need to be with the respective embassy. We’ll guide you on the best way to approach this.

Not necessarily. A visa grants you permission to travel to a country and present yourself at the border, but final entry is always at the discretion of the immigration officer. They may ask additional questions or inspect your documents before allowing you in. In rare cases, they may refuse entry even with a valid visa.

A visa refusal doesn’t always mean you’ll be banned from applying again. Depending on the reason for the refusal, you may be able to reapply immediately or after a set period. We review each case individually and can advise on whether a reapplication is worthwhile and what adjustments may be needed to improve your chances.

Not always. Each country has its own immigration rules, risk assessment criteria, and required documentation. Being approved by one country doesn’t guarantee approval elsewhere. It’s essential to meet the specific visa requirements for the country you’re applying to at the time of application, as immigration laws and processing standards can change frequently.

In most cases, no. You usually can’t apply for a new visa of the same type while your current one is still valid even if it’s close to expiring. The validity periods of the two visas cannot overlap. If you need to apply again, the existing visa may need to be formally cancelled before submitting a new application. We’ll advise you based on the specific rules of the country you’re applying to.

Yes. South African passport holders require a UAE transit visa if they are stopping over in Dubai and plan to leave the airport. If you remain in the airport for your layover and do not pass through immigration, you generally do not need one.

Most short-term visas for South African passport holders allow a stay of up to 90 days. The exact length of stay will be confirmed by the Japanese immigration officer when you arrive.

Most travellers apply for the B1 Business Visa (for meetings, conferences, or short-term business activities) or the B2 Tourist Visa (for holidays, visiting family, or medical treatment). You can also apply for a combined B1/B2 visa if you plan to travel for both purposes. We also assist with other visa categories, including J1 Exchange Visitor visas, H2A Temporary Agricultural Worker visas, H2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker visas and more.

The validity period is determined by the US consular officer when your visa is issued. Many South African applicants receive a visa valid for up to 10 years, but this is not guaranteed. The maximum stay allowed per visit is usually up to six months, as determined by the immigration officer at your port of entry.