When applying for a visa the first thing to check:
a. your passport has at least 6 months before expiration
b. check that the country you are requesting a visa to does not have any problems from a country you previously have visited. The application can be done directly to the country, via internet or through an agency.
When you are visiting a country such as Cuba which will stamp your passport unless you hand them a piece of paper that they will stamp. This must be kept with the passport until you leave the country. Another country with this issue is the Greek side of Cyprus. If you enter the Turkish side, again you need to hand them a piece of paper to stamp.
