Where Can You Get the Best Travel Visa Service? If you've ever felt overwhelmed by complex visa applications while planning your dream international trip, you're not alone. Whether you're heading to Thailand for vacation, China for business, or Europe for an extended stay, getting the right visa can be daunting. That's where travel visa services step in as your expert guides through the documentation process.
Best Option
Passport Visas Express's website design might seem stuck in the 2010s, but look a little closer when you land on their homepage - see the "Top Consumer Reviews 5 Star Rating" badge? There are several reasons why they consistently earn our first place rating for travel visa services.
No nonsense approach to travel visa information
Passport Visas Express nails it immediately with their Australian travel visa page. They don't try to upsell you on guided visa application services you don't really need or make you walk through application steps just to deny you service - they tell you in plain English that the Australian government requires you to apply directly through their mobile app. Their info about travel visas to Brazil is accurate, too, even featuring a notice of latest changes in regulations and when they take effect at the top of the page.
Information is thorough and easy to understand
But how does Passport Visas Express do with travel visas to China? It's a home run. The China visa page immediately presents all the essential information, including clear details about embassy fees and service fees, required steps, and application procedures. They offer multiple visa types, including tourist, business, family visit, crew C, diplomatic, non-business, non-US citizen, official, and student visas. We appreciate the itemized list of required documents and their explanations. PVE is very clear about errors that might cause the Chinese government to reject your application - they also give dates for future changes that are to be implemented. Overall, none of the information seems generic or half-done - it is evidently written and maintained by real people who know what they're talking about and want you to succeed in obtaining your travel visa.
Multiple tiers of assistance available
If you're anxious about filling out the application on your own and would prefer a little bit (or a lot) of hand-holding, PVE gives you choices. Opt for Regular Service to DIY your application at your own pace, with access to customer service when you need them. Go with the Preparation Service for $65 for assistance over a scheduled phone call, or pay $200 for a Personal Concierge who will create your order over the phone and complete your application based on the information you supply. All you'll need to do is provide your signature.
Can assist with over 150 countries
PVE has you covered for way more than just the countries we talked about above. Passport Visas Express works with over 150 embassies worldwide to help travelers like you get the visas they need. Here are just a few more of the popular destinations they handle:
PVE offers the lowest price for service fees
The name of this service is Passport Visas Express, so how long can you expect to wait? Naturally, it depends on how much you want to spend. Looking again at travel visas to China, you can opt for 4-7 business day processing for a $339 service fee ($539 total with consular fees) or 8-11 day processing for $249 in service fees, $389 total. When we compared service fee pricing for Chinese travel visas across all the agencies we reviewed, PVE came out on top with the lowest prices for the fastest turnarounds.
Money-back guarantee with standard limitations
According to their terms of service, Passport Visas Express offers a straightforward 100% refund of their service fee if they fail to meet their service commitments. However, as with most travel visa services, this doesn't cover consular fees (the fees charged by embassies for visa processing), which are non-refundable. Their guarantee explicitly excludes delays or issues caused by government agencies, embassies, or third-party services like couriers, which is standard practice in the visa services industry.
Thousands of glowing reviews
What do real customers think of Passport Visas Express? This travel visa service has received over 6,500 reviews, 89% of which are 5-star ratings. Common phrases we encountered among these include "so well documented", "very impressed", and "they know what they are doing". Should you run into any issues, it's said to be easy to get in touch with support. While we couldn't locate their live chat option (possibly because we were browsing after hours), you can call them Monday-Friday between 9am and 6pm Eastern, or shoot them an email.
Our #1 travel visa service
Passport Visas Express earns our highest recommendation for travel visa services, thanks to their transparent pricing, comprehensive country coverage, and multiple service tiers that fit every traveler's needs. Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter who just needs basic processing or someone who wants complete hand-holding through the visa application process, PVE delivers exceptional value. They particularly shine for time-sensitive applications to complex destinations like China, offering the industry's lowest service fees for expedited processing. While their website might not win any design awards, their accurate, up-to-date information and stellar customer support (evidenced by thousands of five-star reviews) make them the clear choice for anyone needing reliable travel visa assistance.
Great
Since 2003, Visa HQ has been helping travelers get visas and passports for international travel. You can apply for visas to almost any country by filling out a simple online form. The company has offices in 9 countries where staff members speak 19 languages, so you can get personal help if you need it. You'll also get free access to helpful resources like visa requirements, customs rules, and embassy contact information. Their friendly staff knows how to handle all the complex paperwork and regulations that come with international travel, making the process much easier for you.
Australian info was accurate
Let's talk about how Visa HQ handles visa information for different countries. Take Australia, for example: they currently require tourists to get their Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) through the official Australian ETA app. Unfortunately, Visa HQ wasn't totally open about this requirement and instead pushed visitors toward the more expensive tourist e-visa (class 600), only mentioning it's "if you cannot get subclass 601." Without doing our own research first, this could have led to unnecessary confusion and extra costs. However, this mention is still a little better than some of Visa HQs rivals who don't mention subclass 601 at all.
Brazil's visa options have some gaps to note
We found that while Brazil's visa information was current and accurate, the service offers a more limited selection of visa types than they did the last time we reviewed them. Tourist visas are still well-covered, but if you need specialized visas like missionary or researcher visas, you'll need to explore other options. That said, they do offer business, official, technical support, cruise, and transit visas that might meet your needs.
China's visa process is thoroughly explained
If you need a Chinese travel visa and are worried you might miss a requirement, Visa HQ can put your mind at ease. The process is clearly laid out here in five main steps. First, you'll need to fill out the visa application form, which becomes available after Visa HQ reviews your documents - which needs to be printed and signed in specific places. Second, you'll need your original passport that's valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date and has two blank visa pages. Third, you'll need to provide a passport-style photo. Fourth, you'll need to prove your residency with either a driver's license, state ID, or recent utility bill. Finally, you'll need to complete and submit a "Where You Stay Form" in hard copy format. Visa HQ also tells you exactly what else is required of applicants born in China, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan. They expertly cover the full spectrum of visa types, from tourist to specialized categories like journalist and talent visas.
We appreciate transparent pricing
You'll need to pay two separate fees when getting any tourist visa through Visa HQ: the embassy fee ($140 for China, for example) and Visa HQ's service fee. For standard processing (15-20 business days) of a Chinese tourist visa, the service fee is $299, bringing your total to $439. If you're in a hurry, you can opt for expedited processing (7-9 business days) for a $499 service fee, making your total $639. While Visa HQ's fees are a bit higher than some competitors - their closest rival charges $249 for 8-11 day processing - they're still much better than other travel visa services we rated lower.
Weekday support with fast response times
When you need help with your visa application, you can reach Visa HQ's customer service team on weekdays between 9am and 6pm local time. They offer live chat support during business hours, and you'll want to keep your application reference number handy for faster assistance. (And if you're wondering about response times - we tested the live chat ourselves and got help within seconds.) They also list a phone number on their site if you prefer to speak to someone that way.
4.7-star average and steadily improving BBB performance
Visa HQ has a pretty good reputation on Trustpilot: 4.7-stars from over 1,100 reviews. 84% of those reviews awarded a full 5 stars - people say Visa HQ is "very helpful with complex forms", that they received support throughout the whole process, and that visas often arrive ahead of schedule. Over on the Better Business Bureau, they've brought their grade from an "F" to a "D-" - but don't panic. Both of these less-than-perfect grades were the result of just a couple of complaints that weren't responded to, which are now so old they don't appear on the "Complaints" tab anymore. We wouldn't consider this a cause for alarm, considering that they have plenty of reviews to prove they're well-liked by the majority of customers.
Earns our second-highest rating
Visa HQ earns our second-place spot. You're getting exceptional value through their thorough documentation, lightning-fast customer support, and consistently high success rate. They're perfect if you're applying for visas to countries with complicated requirements, need detailed guidance through the process, or want the peace of mind that comes with a well-established service. (Just remember to double-check their recommendations against official embassy websites for simpler visas like Australia's ETA, where Visa HQ might steer you toward pricier-but-not-necessary options.)
Very Good
Travisa is a trusted company that helps you get your travel documents. As part of CIBT, a global company with over 2,000 experts in 60 offices worldwide, they can help you with everything from simple tourist visas to complex immigration needs. Their team works to make the process easy for you by offering personal service, quick processing, and careful attention to detail. Whether you need a passport renewed or a visa for your next trip, they're here to guide you through each step.
Travisa takes a refreshingly honest approach to Australian visas
Travisa was one of very few travel visa services in our review that correctly distinguished between a Tourist visa and a Tourist ETA (available only via a specific mobile app) for travel to Australia. When you click on the ETA option from the dropdown menu, it takes you to a page that doesn't quote you fees for services they're not authorized to provide, or try to upsell you on a visa that covers more than you need. (What a concept!) The subclass 600 Tourist visa (as opposed to the ETA) allows stays up to 12 months, and comes with Travisa's $307 processing fee plus a $140 consular fee. Be aware that Travisa adds a 6.9% processing fee on government charges.
Brazil visa services come with priority options
For Brazilian tourist visas, Travisa charges $197 for standard processing plus $85.14 in consular fees (and don't forget that 6.9% processing fee). On their Brazilian tourist visa page, they advertised an e-visa priority service for an additional $35 per traveler.
Multiple processing speed options with expensive surcharges
Travisa's Chinese travel visa services appear priced closely to what we've seen from other agencies at first glance, with standard processing (8+ business days) at $307. They also offer rush processing (4-7 days) at $301 - but look closely: that's a surcharge of $301 in addition to the $307 standard processing fee ($608 total). For emergency processing (1-3 days), you'll pay a surcharge of $440 (for a total of $747). Consular fees range from $140 to $165.
Expert pre-check service available for urgent applications
For time-sensitive applications, Travisa offers a document pre-check service for $85, where experts review your application to ensure accuracy and completeness before submission.
BBB listing is stagnant
The last time we reviewed Travisa, we were disappointed to note that their Better Business Bureau rating had dropped from an "A-" to a "B-" for two unaddressed complaints. Things do not appear to have changed at all since then - those two reviews are still on the BBB page. The clients in question alleged that they were not made aware of particular fees ahead of time, such as $30 for their digital photo, $21.50 for a cashier's check, and the 6.9% processing fee (although Travisa appears to be pretty open about this last one these days, at least).
Google reviews are excellent
What are people saying elsewhere on the internet? On Google reviews, Travisa has a 4.9-star average from just under 1,500 reviews. Recent reviews (left within 2 weeks of our visit to the page) show customers are very happy with Travisa's visa services. Most give 5 stars. For example, one customer got assistance with multiple Chinese visas and said "CIBT made getting [them] a very easy and smooth process." Another customer praised her coordinator Jean, saying the process was "smooth as silk." While some say it's expensive, they think it's worth it for the reliable service. Reviews often mention good communication and helpful staff. Many customers say they'll use Travisa again.
Customer support hours clearly indicated
If you need to get in touch with Travisa, they provide a phone number and an email address. Their hours of operation for each of their locations are 8:30am-5pm on weekdays, and their National Customer Service Center can be reached during the same window in the Central time zone.
No clear refund or satisfaction policy
While Travisa's parent company offers refunds of service fees for customers who aren't totally satisfied with their passport services, we couldn't find an equivalent guarantee for their visa services. They also did not provide a specific refund policy on their website, and we didn't find anything broadly applicable within their Terms and Conditions regarding this topic.
High marks for accuracy of requirement information
So, should you use Travisa? While there's a small chance you could have to pay fees you weren't expecting based on those BBB complaints, that's basically a given in this industry, and it doesn't seem to be an enormous issue given there have been no additional BBB complaints since the last time we reviewed them. (And if it gives you any extra peace of mind, their parent company, CIBT, maintains an "A+".) Plus, we give Travisa high marks for staying on top of updating their website with accurate and current travel visa requirements - it's something you'd think you could take for granted, but unfortunately you can't.
Good
Travel Visa Pro (TVP) began nearly two decades ago when founders Kest Gregeris and Rene Reklaitis turned their experience helping Russia-bound travelers into their own visa and passport agency. Today, TVP operates from San Francisco with 8 offices and 150 authorized locations across the US. Their trained staff assists customers 24/7 through website, phone, email, or text, working directly with government offices and embassies to process applications.
Navigation woes mar the first impression
Travel Visa Pro's interface presents immediate challenges. The landing page's dropdown menu was nonfunctional when we visited, and switching between countries proved glitchy. Your best path is navigating through the top menu's "visa" option and selecting "browse by country". It's clunky, but it works.
Australia's visa service raises eyebrows
Travel Visa Pro's Australian visa info is essentially correct, but lacking in clarity, particularly in distinguishing between their "tourist regular" and "tourist online" options. While they accurately disclose that the Australian government charges just $20 for ETAs through their official app, they still offer "assistance" services that essentially amount to helping you download an app and fill out basic forms.
China's visa options show attention to detail
Travel Visa Pro provides multiple Chinese travel visa options: to name a few, you'll find Employment Regular, Family Visit Regular, Non-Business Visit, Talent and High Skills, Student, Business, Crew, and Tourist. They explain visa requirements including the COVA application (which they estimate takes 1 hour but offer a form-fill service for an extra fee), photo requirements, the "Where You Stay Form," and more. You'll also find notes on transit, safety, health, and cultural topics. We appreciate that before placing your order, you see a checklist with explanations of all potential extra fees - no surprises.
Brazil's straightforward approach delivers clarity
Travel Visa Pro's information for travel visas to Brazil was accurate, with a red banner announcing recent changes - indicating that they stay current with updates. There's a single processing time for Brazil visas: 10-30 days.
Flexible pricing that adds up quickly
Travel Visa Pro's pricing structure is complex, with costs varying based on processing time and optional add-ons. Their concierge service comes in three tiers ($99, $199, or $499) with increasingly premium features like 1-on-1 video support and free overnight returns. You'll also encounter separate charges for basics like passport photos, form filling, and document pre-checks, but you'll be made aware of these ahead of time.
Chinese visa processing comes at a premium
When it comes to Chinese visas, Travel Visa Pro's fees run notably higher than competitors. Their two-week processing costs $299 - a price point that typically gets you 8-day processing with other services. If you're in a real hurry, prepare for sticker shock: their 2-day processing commands a steep $999.
Refund policy walks a tight line
Travel Visa Pro maintains a strict stance on refunds, reserving the right to refuse them for any reason. However, they do take responsibility for their own mistakes, overbookings, or government closures by offering refunds in these cases. The refund amount follows a tiered structure: 70% is counted as earned once they prepare your application, another 20% when they submit it, and the final 10% upon delivery.
Cancellation comes with strings attached
If you want to cancel before sending your documents, you'll pay either $99 or 15% of administrative fees (whichever is higher). Be warned: abandoning your order by not sending documents or stopping communication means forfeiting your refund entirely. Even inactive orders face consequences - if documents aren't received within 45 days of ordering, you'll be charged that same cancellation fee.
Responsive customer service across multiple channels
Travel Visa Pro offers comprehensive support through live chat, phone, and email, with contact information available for their 150+ locations. Based on customer feedback, their representatives are highly responsive and keep clients updated throughout the visa process - as evidenced by one customer's experience with Rita, who provided consistent communication and made the visa process "simple, easy and stress free".
Strong reputation backed by glowing reviews and real results
Travel Visa Pro has earned a perfect "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and their customer reviews consistently hit the 5-star mark. We found many reviews talking about staff who go above and beyond with responsive, step-by-step guidance. In one particularly telling story, a traveler discovered their passport was expiring the night before their flight, and Travel Visa Pro's team remained calm and efficient, successfully resolving what could have been a travel disaster.
Trustworthy, but not the cheapest
Overall, Travel Visa Pro seems like a trustworthy service. We appreciate their high customer ratings, the fact that they have a refund policy, and that you have the ability to pay according to the kind of assistance you need. However, their service fees run high, and their website could use a little touching up. Look at our top-rated options first, but come back to this one if those rivals don't impress you.
Average
You might like iVisa's services - they have lots of happy customers, offer support any time you need it, and have been helping people get visas for 10 years. While they have good reviews on Trustpilot and a high approval rate for visa applications, there are some issues with their service to be aware of before you commit.
Style doesn't make up for limited service
While iVisa has one of the most visually appealing websites in the travel visa service industry, that doesn't mean it's as functional as some of their less polished competitors. Their actual capabilities are surprisingly restricted.
Australian visa assistance falls flat
Despite Australia's page including various visa options, iVisa can't provide any assistance for US or Canadian travelers - not even for longer-stay tourist visas that competitors can handle. When we tried to use their support chat to ask about this, it was equally unhelpful - it required our email address and order number before they would offer any real assistance, despite having indicated earlier we were not yet customers. Similarly disappointing, iVisa's Chinese visa services are nonexistent.
Only Brazilian tourist visas offered
At the time of our review, iVisa only supported travel visas to Brazil - specifically tourist visas. While other services offer assistance with various visa types including business, missionary, and scientific research visas, iVisa falls short of providing these options.
Hidden fees and unclear pricing structure
To make matters worse, it's almost impossible to find out how much you'll pay for a tourist visa. While they've included the government fees ($80.90 for Brazil), service fees are conspicuously absent from initial quotes - you have to provide all of your details, including your passport number, before you can see your total calculated at checkout. Even their FAQ page obscures total costs, listing processing times without clarifying iVisa's processing fees (which are usually the most expensive portion of travel visa services).
Refund policy varies by processing stage
iVisa offers 100% refunds if they haven't submitted your application to the government yet. This applies during initial stages like "Action required" or "We're reviewing your application". However, once they've sent your application to the government, no refund is available unless you purchased their Denial Protection
Multiple ways to reach customer support 24/7
If you need to get in touch with iVisa's customer service, you have options. You can reach them via WhatsApp, send a message to their chatbot, or email them at their customer support address. You can expect a reply within 3 hours. They also list a phone number, but they don't make any promises about wait time.
Service does what it promises...
Despite the sketchiness of their pricing, iVisa has great Trustpilot reviews - 60k reviews and a 4.4-star average. Most people say the service is quick, that they ran into no issues, that instructions were clear, and that they successfully obtained their travel visas.
...but not at the lowest prices
However, we wanted to know more about pricing, since it's hidden from their public-facing pages. 1-star reviews mention paying "10 times the price for a UK ETA" or fees like $86 for "rush processing" for a visa to a country with a $6 fee and instant approval through their own website. Many of the one-star reviews come from customers who were under the impression this was the only way to get a visa, not realizing they could do it directly through the government agency's website for free (and iVisa certainly wasn't going to let them in on that). iVisa has a "B-" grade from the Better Business Bureau for 60 complaints of a similar nature filed against them.
Not our first choice
So, should you use iVisa for your travel visa needs? Only if you're a tourist who doesn't care much about knowing what you'll be spending until you're practically done with your application. While we once recommended iVisa as our second-place travel visa service, it seems like they have become less transparent about their service fees over the years. Add to that the fact that they wouldn't be able to help travelers with two out of our three test cases (Australia and China) and we can't give them more than an average score (and even that is somewhat reluctantly).
Fair
Handy Visas is an online service that helps you apply for electronic visas (eVisas) and travel authorizations from around 15 different countries. The company claims to have helped over a million travelers and maintains a 99% approval rate for visa applications.
Site transparency leaves much to be desired
If Handy Visas can't help you with a destination, it just won't be included in their list of options. So where can they take you? It's a relatively short list for American tourists (and even shorter than it looks on their website, because some countries were listed twice):
No visa assistance for China and Brazil
Unfortunately, Handy Visas' list excludes two of our test cases - China and Brazil. When you try to get visa information for Australia by choosing your location and destination from the prominent dropdown menu, the site immediately pushes you into an application form without explaining visa types or disclosing a crucial detail: you're required to apply for tourist visas through Australia's official app.
Pricing info not easily found
There was no pricing displayed anywhere at this point of the application process. We attempted to fill out the form with the Handy Visas requested in the hopes we'd get some actual numbers, but at the end of the form, nothing happened - no error message, not even a "this is not a real passport number, who do you think you're fooling?" - just a dead end.
You'll have to double back to find pricing
Turns out, if you want to see their service fees, you actually need to navigate to the Australia page manually - we typed our guess for the page's location into the address bar and fortunately landed in the correct place, but you can also get there by scrolling to the bottom of the home page (don't use the dropdown menus at the top). On the Australia info page, we found that their service fee is "from" $59 USD - meaning it could carry extra fees somewhere along the way, or it could be dependent on where you're from. Further down this page, Handy Visas explains the Australian ETA but fails to mention that the government requires applications through their own app - or that their fee is just $20 compared to Handy Visas' $59.
No live chat, phone hours not listed
Handy Visas offers multiple ways to get in touch, including email, phone, and their physical office in Houston. However, if you have an urgent visa question, you might want to use a different visa service: they explicitly state a 72-hour response window for email inquiries, and they don't list their hours for phone support. While they position themselves as a stress-free service for travel document processing, there are other 24/7 travel visa services that do customer support better.
A surprisingly robust refund policy for visa services
Handy Visas offers one of the more generous refund policies we've seen in the visa service industry, which is a positive mark in their favor that they sorely need. You'll get a full refund if your application is denied by immigration authorities or if it hasn't been submitted yet. Even with approved applications, you can get a 50% refund of the service fee (though government fees aren't refundable). Just make sure to request your refund within 30 days of payment.
Great reviews despite our nitpicks
Despite the issues we've outlined, Handy Visas gets great reviews online - 89% of customers give them 5 stars. People say support is responsive, questions are answered quickly and correctly, and most don't run into issues with getting their visas on time.
Just alright
So, while Handy Visas isn't our top choice due to their pricing transparency issues and a poorly designed interface, we give them a below-average score. Look at one of our higher-rated options first, but we wouldn't strongly advise against using Handy Visas if they happen to support travel visas for the destination you have in mind.
Subpar
As the name suggests, Rush My Travel Visa claims to speed up your travel visa applications. They are part of a larger company called Expedited Travel that handles passport services, too. The company works with official consulates from many different countries.
Bogus "service fees" for Australian travel visa
To test how accurate each travel visa service is, we've compared their information for the popular tourist destinations of Australia, Brazil, and China. During our research, we learned that Australia currently doesn't allow any third-party companies to assist with travel visas - everyone must apply directly through the official government website or app. However, Rush My Travel Visa charges a staggering $169 service fee plus $20 in embassy fees for Australian visas. What's worse, since our last review, they've increased their service fee from $45 to $169. For reference, applying directly through the Australian embassy's app - per their requirements - would cost you only the $20 embassy fee. If Rush My Travel Visa provides any legitimate value that wouldn't violate Australian government regulations, they fail to explain it on their website.
You'll pay more than advertised costs
Brazil is a bit better. In line with current Brazilian visa regulations, RMTV offers EVisas for Tourists/Business, Work Visas, and Student Visas. However, while these are advertised as $99 each, beginning an application reveals the actual cost: $179 in service fees, $10 for the Embassy/Consulate Fee, plus an additional $80.90 in Embassy Fees. All of this applies to their processing time of 7-10 business days (and, ironically, you can't rush your visa processing for travel to this particular country). In total, you're looking at paying $269.90 for a travel visa to Brazil. If there is indeed a scenario in which you'd only pay $99, we couldn't find it.
Practical travel guidance provided
Something we appreciated about RMTV's website is the prominent inclusion of important travel information on each country's travel visa page. For example, you might not have known that you need to fill out an immigration form upon arrival in Brazil and give it back to immigration officials before you leave. You also might not have known that Brazilian drivers often run red lights, so it's important to wait for cars to come to a complete stop before you cross the street.
Rush processing available for Chinese visas
Traveling to China as a tourist? RMTV advertises their travel visa services at $334 (as well as Business, Work, and Crew visas). However, that's just the service fee for 10-12 business day processing - you'll need to pay a $140 Embassy Fee as well (for a total of $474). If you need to rush your Chinese travel visa, you'll pay $404 in service fees for 6-9 business day processing and $454 for 5 business day processing. (For reference, our top-rated travel visa service charges just $249 in service fees for 8-11 day processing.)
A highly restrictive refund window
You'll need to act fast if you want your money back from Rush My Travel Visa. They offer full refunds only within 72 hours of placing your order. After that window closes, you're responsible for the full expediting fee, since they claim to reserve capacity on your behalf.
No refunds once processing begins
The policy becomes even stricter once your application moves forward: if your request has been submitted to an embassy or consulate, refunds are completely off the table. The company also explicitly states they won't provide refunds for a wide range of issues including flight changes, delivery delays, visa procurement difficulties, or incomplete filing information.
Great reviews on Trustpilot...
The majority of Rush My Travel Visa's Trustpilot reviews are positive - 91% of reviewers have given them a 5-star rating. There are mentions of quick turnaround times, relief from new travelers who were overwhelmed about applying for a visa, and supportive customer service.
...but terrible reviews on their BBB page
So it's surprising, then, that their Better Business Bureau listing has a "D-" grade (down from a "B" the last time we rated them, and a "C+" before that). This is due to over 160 complaints filed there within the last 3 years. Customers complain about lengthy delays, poor customer service, and unclear submission requirements - sometimes resulting in canceled trips.
Best of luck if you use them
Based on these reviews, it's safe to say Rush My Travel Visa's service quality is unpredictable. With such different customer experiences - some great and others terrible - using their service seems like taking an unnecessary chance. You might get excellent service, or you might run into plan-altering problems.
Use a different travel visa service
While some customers like Rush My Travel Visa, we can't recommend them. For starters, they need to be honest about when travelers should apply directly through their destination country's government website. They also offer fewer visa options and slower processing times than other services. We strongly suggest using a better-rated travel visa service provider instead of RMTV.
Subpar
TDS (known in full as Travel Docs, or Travel Documents) is a visa and passport processing company that has been in business for over 30 years, offering expedited services that can sometimes be completed in 24 hours. They help US citizens, some Canadian citizens, and US permanent residents get visas for multiple countries through their eight offices located near embassies and consulates across major US cities.
Information accuracy and maintenance
TDS maintains up-to-date visa information for all three of our test countries (Australia, Brazil, and China), though they can only assist US citizens with Brazil visas.
Australia visa services raise concerns
TDS' handling of Australian visas is slightly problematic. While they correctly inform visitors to their site that tourists can only obtain an ETA visa through Australia's official channels, their website defaults to showing long-stay (90+ day) visas instead. This could mislead inexperienced travelers, and that may be intentional since TDS can't profit from direct ETA applications.
Brazil visa requirements clearly outlined
TDS's Brazil visa information is also current, accurately reflecting the April 2025 reinstatement of the 2-year eVisa requirement. They provide all the necessary details about eligible travel purposes, including business, tourism, transit, and various other activities. You can expect to pay between $135.90 and $175.90 for a travel visa to Brazil, depending on your situation.
China visa services are competitively priced
For Chinese visas, TDS serves both US and non-US passport holders and we found all the accurate requirement information on their website. They offer two processing speeds: regular (8-12 business days at $269 - a competitive price) and express (5-7 business days at $319), both plus government fees - between $140-$175 depending on a few variables.
More hidden costs for "additional" services
Travelers should note that TDS includes extra charges for services that should be standard. We only discovered this by clicking through the document requirement toggles at the bottom of the webpage for Chinese travel visas. For example, TDS charges $15 for passport photo guidance and $50 for document pre-checking - something you could reasonably expect to be included in a travel visa service. You'll essentially be doing most of the work yourself anyway unless you pay for these additional services.
No customer service number or universal refund policy on website
TDS doesn't appear to have a refund policy listed on their website, which would lead us to believe all of those additional fees are non-refundable - and when we looked for a phone number or live chat option to clarify, we didn't find one specifically dedicated to customer service inquiries. You would need to call the office local to you to find out what their specific policies are. Also be aware that office hours are between 9am and 5:30pm, with no weekend hours. If you needed urgent assistance during your travel visa application process, we aren't confident you could reach someone after-hours.
Concerning online reviews
TDS' Trustpilot listing looks great - as long as you don't click into the reviews. While they have a 4-star average rating from 88% 5-star reviews, very few of those reviews are dated within the last 2 years. Of those few, one tipped us off to the fact that Travel Docs appears on the official Indian Embassy Brussels website's list of fake e-Visa websites (which we were able to verify). Another recent-ish reviewer complains that they attempted to get in touch with TDS for more than a month "to fix a small error" and never received a response. Also, although TDS displays an "accredited business" badge on their website, clicking this badge takes you to a Better Business Bureau listing with "NOT BBB Accredited" stamped across the page in bright red letters. (Embarrassing.)
Not recommended
We think you should stay away from TDS. While their Chinese, Australian, and Brazilian travel visa services seem legitimate, the fact that any of this service provider's travel visas would end up on an embassy's list of scam websites is highly concerning. (Even if it was a mistake, you would think that a travel visa agency would have the proper connections to prove it and get their name removed from the list.) TDS' hidden fees are also unnecessary - unless you look through everything carefully, you could end up paying way more than expected. Their lack of customer service is the final nail in the coffin. You have much better options that aren't likely to cause you to miss out on the vacation or family reunion you've been saving for.
Weak
CIBT Visas can help you get visas and passports. The company has two main services: CIBTvisas for individual travelers and small businesses, and Newland Chase for large companies. With offices in 29 countries and over 2,000 employees including immigration experts and attorneys, they work with consulates and passport agencies to process your documents. Keep in mind that you'll need to pay additional fees for their services beyond the standard government costs - which are the only ones they list outright.
Non-tourist Australian visa assistance available
Traveling to Australia as a tourist? Not with CIBT's help, you aren't - the Australian government requires you to apply for an ETA via their official mobile app. If you didn't already know you were supposed to apply that way, you wouldn't find out from CIBT. Though CIBT has a webpage with an explanation of ETAs and a "get an ETA" button, it leads nowhere. However, they can help you with other Australian visa types, like Work/Employment and Immigration.
Chinese visa requirement info isn't detailed enough
CIBT provides very limited information about visa requirements and regulations. This was especially apparent on the page for Chinese travel visas. Where we would expect to see a comprehensive list of document requirements, step-by-step instructions, and important notices about special circumstances, the site offered only basic information about topics such as passport expiration and length of tourist visa validity - potentially giving you a misleading impression about the Chinese visa process's true complexity.
All types of visas to Brazil available
What about Brazil? We were glad to see that CIBT can help with just about every type of visa there is for travel from the US (and other countries) to Brazil. It seems they only offer one processing speed here: 8-10 days.
Pricing could be clearer
You won't find pricing on CIBT's visa application pages, at least not until you complete the application. We were able to find the info elsewhere on the website, though. At first, it seems like it's a simple matter of how quickly you need your visa processed ($307 for 8 days or longer, with an additional surcharge of $301 if you need it in 4-7 days) - but it gets more convoluted the further down the page you scroll. You can get emergency visa processing in 1-3 business days for a $440 surcharge, while standard electronic visa services for common destinations like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand cost $66. The pricing varies significantly by country and visa type, so make sure to look closely for what applies to your situation.
No articulated refund policy
While CIBT has a satisfaction guarantee for their passport services, they don't appear to offer the same for visas. We didn't find a specific refund policy on their website, and the one or two legalese mentions of refunds in their Terms of Service gave us the impression that you won't see those service fees again after you've paid them.
Customer support available weekdays
You can reach CIBT's processing offices from 8:30am to 5:00pm in their respective time zones, Monday through Friday. Need help outside those hours? Their friendly National Customer Service Center is available from 7:30am to 8:00pm Central Time, Monday through Friday. While you'll find contact forms on their website for specific needs like checking your order status, you can always email their customer service address or call their number if you don't have your order details handy.
Bad reviews raise serious concerns
While CIBT Visas somehow maintains an "A+" rating with the Better Business Bureau, their customer feedback tells a more concerning story. A whopping 40% of their Trustpilot reviews are one-star ratings. Common complaints center around unexpected fees (with some customers being charged hundreds in extra "handling" fees after payment), poor communication (including unresponsive customer service and ignored emails), and missed deadlines. Even when fees are adjusted after complaints, customers report the final charges still don't match the advertised prices.
Service quality doesn't match the price tag
The steep pricing - which can allegedly reach as high as $920 for a basic Chinese visitor visa - might be more palatable if the service quality matched the premium costs. However, customers describe their experiences as "awful and traumatic", citing issues like complete silence after payment, inability to reach anyone by phone, and visa applications that never materialize in time for travel. The company's dismissive response to fee complaints ("we are sorry you are unhappy with our fees") suggests a concerning lack of accountability.
Not recommended
Although the information they provided about various countries' travel requirements was accurate, that alone doesn't earn CIBT high marks - they also need to be affordable. Unfortunately, they aren't transparent enough about their prices for us to say they are. Customer reviews indicate you're likely to encounter unexpected fees and broken promises. We can't recommend CIBT Visas for your travels.
Poor
Visagov, a Barcelona-based company, helps travelers apply for visas. Though funded by the European Union with a mission to simplify international travel, their strong focus on European customers means US travelers may be better served by alternative travel visa services.
Out-of-date info for Australian and Brazilian visas
Visagov's handling of major destinations is concerning. They're accepting visa applications for Australia even though these must be submitted directly to the Australian government without third-party intermediation. For Brazil, they falsely claim travel visa applications aren't available online, when other services are processing them just fine. When we went to their linked blog post about Brazil's visa requirements, the information was a year out of date. Need a Chinese tourist visa? Visagov doesn't even list them as an option.
Visagov can explain ETIAS to you...
Are you an American looking to travel to Europe? Visagov's "Europe" page explains that as of 2024, American citizens and other non-EU travelers need to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) before visiting some Schengen zone countries. This is not a visa but rather a travel authorization that costs €7 (around $8), is valid for up to three years or until passport expiration, and requires filling out an online form with personal details and travel history. While most applications are processed within minutes, some may take up to 96 hours, so it's recommended to apply well in advance.
...but can't help you get one
However, some of Visagov's ETIAS info is not up to date (shocker). Their page states that ETIAS will be in full force in 2024, when the implementation has actually been delayed several times - at the time of this review, it was postponed until Q4 of 2026. There's also no button or link to process applications through Visagov; it's simply an information page with outdated content. One has to wonder why they can't simply hire someone to stay current with travel visa news and keep their website up to date.
Service fees for other countries seem reasonable
Among our three test cases, we weren't able to find one country for which Visagov could (or should) help us to obtain a travel visa. So, let's look at some other places just to get an idea of what their service fees are. If you're traveling to Thailand as a tourist, Visagov only charges $33 USD in service fees. (Keep in mind there's an additional $52 you'll need to pay in government fees.) While there seemed to be more "currently unavailable" countries in their list than not, every available country we found charged that same $33 fee. That seems pretty reasonable to us - if you can expect to receive your travel visa on time.
Reviews are mixed
Visagov has nearly 800 reviews on their verified Trustpilot profile (as a Spain-based business, they do not have a BBB listing). Of these reviews, 68% are 5-star ratings, with customers praising swift processing times for destinations like Egypt, Puerto Rico, and Laos. However, a concerning 16% are 1-star reviews reporting serious issues with visas for Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Australia, and UAE- either visas never arrived or were rejected upon arrival. Many frustrated customers ended up turning to competing services at the last minute, who processed their visas within 2 days, while Visagov refused to provide refunds.
Get in touch via email or live chat
Should something like what those disgruntled reviewers report happen to you, what can you expect from their customer service department? While they advertise "24/7 visa and travel assistance in case something goes wrong or you have any questions", their "Contact us" page leads to a simple email form. However, you can find a live chat option at the bottom right corner of their website. Since they don't provide a typical response time for email inquiries, we'd recommend using the live chat.
Limited refund policy with fine print
What about refunds? If your visa application is denied by government authorities, you'll only receive a refund of the government fees - not Visagov's processing and handling fees. For other refund requests on processed orders, you'll need to email support@visagov.com for case-by-case consideration. They promise a response within 72 hours.
No cancellations once processing begins
Due to what Visagov calls the "urgent and personalised nature" of visa requests, they begin processing within 24 hours of your order. Once this happens, you lose any right to withdrawal or cancellation. The contract becomes binding as soon as you receive their acceptance email. While they say they'll "consider" refund requests, their policy makes it clear that they're not obligated to provide them.
No reason to use them over competitors
There's not much here to recommend Visagov. Based on what we read from their past customers, their service is unreliable and often frustrating. Many countries aren't listed on their site, and when they are, the information might be inaccurate or the application might not be included through Visagov. Save yourself time and money by using one of their rival travel visa services instead.
Continued from above...
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by complex visa applications while planning your dream international trip, you're not alone. Whether you're heading to Thailand for vacation, China for business, or Europe for an extended stay, getting the right visa can be daunting. That's where travel visa services step in as your expert guides through the documentation process.
A travel visa is an official endorsement in your passport that permits entry, stay, or exit from a specific country for a set time period. It's how countries pre-screen and control visitor access. Visas come in several types: tourist visas for holidays, business visas for meetings and conferences, student visas for international education, and work visas for foreign employment.
Visa requirements vary by country, with different fees and processing times. While some nations have visa-free agreements, others require visas even for brief visits. Applications typically need supporting documents like financial statements, travel plans, and visit purposes.
Travel visa services simplify this process by managing your paperwork and submission requirements, ensuring everything is correct from the start. This proves especially valuable for countries with strict requirements or when time is limited. (After all, no one wants visa issues to ruin their travel plans.)
These services offer different levels of support. Full-service providers handle everything from document preparation to tracking, including form completion and appointment scheduling. Self-service platforms offer basic guidance at a lower cost, while premium services provide dedicated support for urgent or complex cases, including door-to-door document delivery. Many also offer extras like passport photos, travel insurance, and embassy scheduling assistance.
With so many options out there, how do you determine which travel visa service deserves your business? Here are some things to keep in mind:
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best travel visa services available. We hope our reviews help you find the perfect service to make your international travel dreams a reality. Safe journeys!
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