The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce is advising the general public that, individuals applying for a non-resident or tourist visa to the United States of America and Canada; for recreational, business and other purposes should do so well in advance of their proposed date of travel.
The Ministry said in a statement that it is cognizant of the fact that the number of persons applying for visas has increased, especially during the summer vacation.
The statement said that while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to facilitate the necessary assistance to the public particularly in cases of extreme emergencies.
The Embassies to which persons are applying would need sufficient time to facilitate the processing of an application; this also includes scheduling the required interview for visa appointments, where necessary.
In this connection, the Ministry takes this opportunity to reiterate to the general public that preparation of the requisite application is the responsibility of the applicant, and therefore appeals to the public to plan ahead and prepare at least 2-3 months in advance of their travel to avoid any delays.
To avoid any impediments, keen attention must also be given to the requirements, documents that are needed as well as stipulated fees for processing of all applications. These fees and requirements are published on the websites of the US Embassy in Barbados and Canadian Embassy in Trinidad.
