They are issued for specific purposes, such as work, travel, tourism, and study. In most cases, programs only provide information about visas. It is your responsibility to get the visa. Residence permits This is permission to remain in another country for extended period, usually issued at police station or city gov't. Consulates are not open for very many hours each day and are often short-staffed.
National holidays result in consulate closings.
For a fee, the agency will handle your applications and help you obtain a passport and visas quickly. It all relies on proof of departure date and is practical only for truly last minute cases. Your visa gives you permission to apply for entry. If you are traveling Europe by train, you'll find that western European border guards don't stamp your passport for each country you visit. If already abroad, consult locally at the consulate of the country you wish to visit.