Unmarried, no kids, and a bank balance that’s a little low? Your chances of successfully getting a visa to travel just got slimmer. Not everyone’s equal when it comes to visa applications. Factors such as your marital status, whether or not you have children, ownership of property, how long you’ve worked for the company, your bank balance, and even your social media activity can count against you. According to Andrew MacRae, the director of Execuserve SA, a visa application partner of Corporate Traveller, these factors have been leading to a rise in visa rejections among South African travellers. Embassies consider granting a visa as “a privilege, not a right”. This puts the onus on the traveller to prove their motives for travel are legit. “Your visa application needs to prove why you’re travelling, if you’re planning to return home and if you’re a potential threat,” he explains – hence an increase in visas being rejected after a “social media review”. Jumping through these hoops is increasing the burden on those arranging business travel for younger, lower-earning staff, recent hires, and first-time visa applicants, says MacRae. And let’s not forget the game of political chess that adds another layer to this already complex board. MacRae says some countries impose restrictions or additional requirements on South Africans based on how their citizens are treated when applying for South African visas. Plot twist! Ensuring your visa documents are in order doesn’t guarantee a stamp. Certain embassies prioritise interviews, which can…
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