By Nela Statečná
There are many things that can be either liked or disliked about the European Union. However, when it comes down to travelling, being a member of the EU has one indisputable advantage - the Shengen area. That is definitely one of the most appealing reasons why it is nice to be a member of the EU. No need for visas, free travelling through borders with ID – isn’t that nice and convenient? It certainly is. Thus, it is not surprising that after living on the continent, which has few borders that you need to worry about, many students often forget that this way of travelling does not apply to the rest of the world. Therefore, when they decide to spend their year abroad volunteering, they often need to think of getting a visa, and often more than just the easily obtainable tourist visa.
What is a visa? “A visa or travel visa is a document which gives someone permission to travel into a specific country, and stay there for a set period of time. They may be stamped or glued directly into a passport for convenience, or they may be issued separately, in the form of documents which must be carefully protected to ensure that they are not lost or stolen.”
To obtain visas can take a long time and it can be very time consuming but it is undoubtedly one of the most important parts when planning a gap year overseas. Since it is not one of the easiest steps, it is always necessary to start the process of acquiring visas well in advance. You will need a valid passport with plenty of time left on it. If your passport validity expires while you are on your trip abroad you could get into a lot of trouble. To have a valid document is simply a must.
Voluntary organisations will help their volunteers to get the right visas as you cannot volunteer or work on a tourist visa. You should, nonetheless, know everything that you can about it and not simply rely on others to take care of it. Since some embassies may take a while to turn visas around, it is really important to apply for them in advance and not leave it until the last minute. Fast track visa applications also tend to be more expensive than standard ones.
If you are travelling to or via the United States you will need to complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). It does not matter whether you are only passing through the USA or if it’s your final destination. You will need to register into the system and will have to wait until you receive an authorisation of your travel. Making a payment fee is also a part of getting the authorisation, and it will need to be done while filling in the electronic form.
Getting the right type of visa and obtaining it on time, should be never underestimated. It is a process which usually requires some time and you should also add it into your gap year’s budget. Visas are not free and they definitely should be accounted for when planning you year out and when considering all the possible costs.
