The visitor visa is a one-of-a-kind visa that allows you to enter and stay in a foreign country for a stipulated period only. It is granted to travelers who have no purpose of becoming a permanent immigrant and have a motive or purpose that they want to achieve with their travel. Unlike a tourist visa which is issued after you arrive in the country, visitor visas have to be applied for in advance as part of your application. Most countries allow a visitor visa for a maximum of 6 months, however, it can be extended based on your genuine need in some circumstances. While assessing your profile, the embassies/consulates thoroughly go through your visitor visa SOP in order to decide if you can be allowed to enter their country or not. This statement of purpose is a vital part of your application as applicants present their case by prioritizing different aspects of their life in their home country. Applicants who request this visa without writing a decent SOP have higher chances of rejection. Many candidates take help from the best SOP Writing Services in Delhi to get their SOP done as they don’t want to take any chances.
What is the SOP for Visitor Visa?
SOP is an essay letter written by the person who is applying for a visitor visa. It is different from SOPs that are written for academic purposes and thus follow a unique structure/format. The applicant’s details in regard to their financial status, detailed travel plans, visa history, and intent to travel have to be explained and highlighted in a manner that leaves no questions or doubts answered. As careful as you have to be with the content of your visitor visa SOP, due importance has to be given to your writing style and choice of words. Since it is a formal document, avoid using any informal slang or short forms that might make your document difficult to read or understand. Applicants can contact professional SOP writing services if they are applying for a visitor visa for a specific purpose and are unsure about the structure and information that should be a part of your SOP.
Key points to remember while writing your SOP for Visitor Visa
Introduction and Purpose- Begin writing your SOP for visitor visa by stating your name and citizenship along with the details of your passport. Straightaway begin writing the purpose of your application and what you hope to achieve from your stay abroad. You can talk about the precise duration/no. of days for which you have planned your travel. If you have been invited by a company, institute, relative or friend then introduce their basic details as well. Avoid unnecessarily repeating any extra information that is already a part of your profile.
Details of Host– More often than not, visitor visa applicants have hosts that have invited them to the country. It is also a key factor that distinguishes a visitor visa from a tourist visa. State the name of your host, the kind of visa they are staying on in the country, residential details, work position or company name, college name, and course, etc. In some cases, you can elaborate on the kind of bond you share with your host only if it is relevant to your SOP. For example, Since childhood, I shared a close bond with my cousin. We would meet on all weekends and holidays to study and play. We were thick as thieves all through our teenage years and I was a little disappointed when XYZ had to move to Canada for studies. With this short trip, I hope to relive some of those moments again and be in the company of my favorite person.
Financial strength in the home country- The visa officials need sufficient details of your financial condition in your country. It is required to understand if you are capable of covering the expenses of an abroad visit and in no condition seek financial favor from the foreign land you are traveling to. You can begin this part by talking about the employment field/ type of work that you and your co-travelers do, monthly remunerations and profits, other jobs or side businesses that sustain your family, etc. Explain the financial worth of your residential and other properties that are in your/ your family’s name along with the exact amount of savings in bank accounts. A majority of visitor visa applications are rejected for insufficiency of funds that will not to able to sustain you in the foreign country.
Well-planned Itinerary- Irrespective of the duration of your stay, it is best to not just plan your itinerary but also elaborate on it in your visitor visa SOP. Visiting tourist places, doing recreational activities, spending time with family, exploring the country, shopping, etc, can be a part of detailing how you are planning to spend your time abroad. If you have booked advanced tickets or made payments for some activity then it is best to define upon that as well.
Details of the travel period- Emphasize the number of days/months for which you have applied. The day and date on which you will commence and conclude your journey is equally important. For some countries like the USA, return tickets are a mandatory part of your visitor visa application. If you have some justification for opting for these particular dates like attending an event, celebrating family occasions, or vacation period back home then feel free to elaborate on it.
Details of Accommodation– It is strongly advised that no applicant should take the chance of not making prior arrangements or inquiries before their travel. If you are invited by a friend/relative or you are going to stay in a hotel or inn, give proper details of the number of days and nights you are going to spend there and who will be taking care of your expenses of living and maintenance. If opting for any other form of residential facility then name and address as well. For eg. ‘during my one-week stay in the country, I have decided the stay in the Litchfield Inn on Bantam Rd. as it is well-maintained and quite spacious for an individual. Moreover, it is nearby the seminar that I am supposed to attend and thus it will be easy for me to commute. I will be taking care of my living expenses from sufficient savings in my bank account.
Details of sponsor- A visitor visa and stay in a foreign country can levy various forms of charges on you. Clearly mention the fact about who is going to cover your expenses for this trip. The trip of a visitor visa applicant can be funded by the hosting family, company or business heads, or the travelers themselves.
Travel History- Give a brief of your international travel history and the period during which you took those trips. Do not shy away from mentioning any visa rejections from the same or another country in the past, then you must mention that as well.
Plans to return- Give substantial reasons for why you have to come back to your home country and elaborate upon any family or work ties that you have abroad. Dependent/immediate family, work obligations, and assets for which you are responsible can be some of the reasons that prompt you to return after your stay abroad.
Tips to abide by in your SOP for Visitor Visa
- Craft your visitor visa SOP within the word limit of 800-1000 words only.
- Do not forge false details about employment and funds.
- Write about any legal case or record that you have against you.
- Write crisp-clear sentences with no grammatical errors.
- Do not mislead your SOP with unnecessary information.
- Emphasize intent to return to native country.
- The explanation for each point should not go beyond 150-200 words.
- Write suitable opening and closing statements.
- Edit and proofread your document before final submission.
Purposes for which you can apply for a visitor visa
Tourism– Based on the duration of your stay and invitation by the host, you can apply for a visitor visa instead of a tourist visa.
Business– Although you cannot move abroad for employment purposes on a visitor visa, your current employers can send you on a project or international companies can invite you.
Transit– A non-immigrant visitor visa can be used to transit from one place/country to another. If you are changing your transportation kind then this visa becomes a must.
Medical Care– A temporary visitor visa can be applied for by the patient who wants to seek treatment in a foreign country and wants to bring some family members along with them.
Attending events-People can be invited to attend or give seminars, organize events, or partake in special lectures organized by educational institutions.
Conclusion
A visitor visa is one of the most demanded visas from countries all around the world for people who want to travel with a particular purpose. The worth of a visitor visa SOP then increases manifold as this is the only document that allows you to converse with the visa officials. Applying candidates must keep in mind that there can be distinct reasons for which you might want to travel abroad and you have to personalize your SOP to your intent. Do not hesitate to contact professional SOP writers in Delhi who can customize your document for you and elevate the chances of you receiving your visitor visa. Finally, reiterate your travel motive and liabilities to come back home toward the end of your visitor visa SOP along with your expectation to receive positive feedback. If you wish to seek professional help, Contentholic is the best company that you can go to. They have 13+ years of experience in the field of SOP writing and have been covered by many renowned media websites.
