Tourist visa applications for the USA, Schengen Area, UK and China for residents of Serbia

Updated 17.09.2026 · 3 min read

A Serbian residence permit confirms your residence status, but does not replace another country’s visa. Start with four details: your passport, the purpose of the trip, dates and where you will apply. You can then assess appointments, documents and the budget. Applying ‘where it is easier’ without reference to your actual itinerary is a poor starting point.

1. Check where to apply and for which visa
2. Separate the wait for an appointment from processing time
3. Compile a consistent application file
4. Compare the full budget before paying

For Schengen, apply to the consulate of the main destination country; if you will spend equal time in different countries, apply to the country of first entry. Applications are normally made where you legally reside. For the USA, check the permitted interview location and current appointment rules separately before paying the fee.

For the UK and China, first check whether your citizenship and purpose of travel require a visa. Tourism, work, study and business visits may follow different procedures. Not every Russian-speaking applicant holds the same passport.

• Schengen: apply no earlier than six months before travel; normal processing is 15 calendar days, or up to 45 days if additional checks are needed.
• UK: you can apply three months in advance; the usual decision guideline is three weeks after completing the necessary application stages, confirming your identity and providing documents.
• USA: the wait for an interview depends on the location and category; administrative processing afterwards is a separate stage.
• China: the consular instructions distinguish preliminary online review from visa processing. Neither includes the time needed to prepare your file.

Your calendar should separately allow for collecting certificates, an available appointment, processing and receipt of the document. A single claim such as ‘a visa in two weeks’ does not describe this chain.

• Passport and evidence of your status in Serbia.
• The actual purpose, dates and itinerary, and details of accommodation during the trip.
• Employment, business, income and a clear source of funds for expenses.
• Previous visas, trips and information about refusals.
• Family documents, an invitation and insurance as required by the chosen procedure.

The name, dates and purpose entered in the application must match the documents. There is no fixed bank balance suitable for every consulate and every trip: you need to explain the budget and its funding.

Basic fee guidelines are EUR 90 for an adult Schengen visa, GBP 135 for a UK Standard Visitor visa for up to six months, and USD 185 for a US B1/B2 application. Special rates, exemptions and additional payments may apply. Chinese fees must be checked by citizenship and category.

Visa centre charges, translations and application support are separate items. RICS will check whether you can apply, prepare the form and documents, and help with an appointment and interview preparation. Before starting, you will receive the scope of work and a cost estimate for your trip.

Good preparation makes your real trip clear: why you are travelling, for how long and with what funds. We will resolve inconsistencies between the application and documents without replacing your history with an invented story.

We will review your starting information, identify the sequence of actions and prepare a cost estimate. You will receive the scope of services, indicative timescales and a clear next step.

Information checked on 17 September 2026. Before applying, confirm the current fees and requirements for your category.

• European Commission: applying for a Schengen visa
• GOV.UK: Standard Visitor
• US Department of State: Visitor Visa
• Chinese Embassy in Serbia: visa applications