September 7th, 2010
Passport News Update: The US Customs and Border Protection agency has announced two important changes to the Visa Waiver Program. This policy change is in effect for foreign passport holders planning to visit the US.
The first change begins on September 8, 2010. Business and leisure travelers who use their passports to enter the US will be charged a new operational and travel promotion fee of $14.00. This fee will register passport holders for ESTA. This is an electronic travel authorization that passport holders must get before boarding a plane or ship to the United States. The ESTA application is to be filled out online prior to travel. Once approved, ESTA travel authorization is valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires.
The second change, involves a transition to paperless processing for Visa Waiver Program travelers. It applies to those passport holders arriving by air or sea who have already obtained ESTA authorization. Under the new automated process, if a passport holder is at a designated port of entry, the passport officer will stamp the applicant’s passport. The passport holder’s departure from the US will be documented electronically.
Currently, thirty six countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Those countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Westchester County, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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September 5th, 2010
Passports in the UK are about to get a makeover! The UK Passports have been redesigned in an effort to help fight identity theft and passport fraud.
The main difference between the existing passports and the enhanced passports is that the security chip will now be hidden inside the passport cover.
Enhanced passport security features include placing the passport security chip out of view as well as a personal data section of the new passport that features holograms.
The passport holder’s personal details used to be on the back of the passport and now they appear on the passport’s second page. The passport photo of the passport holder now appears twice. The new passports will be in circulation starting October 2010.
Cosmetic changes to the UK passport include pages that will display UK scenes such as the White Cliffs of Dover and the Giant’s Causeway.
The government expects the new passport to give UK citizens added piece of mind as well as solid protection from identity theft and passport fraud.
The main difference between the existing passports and the enhanced passports is that the security chip will now be hidden inside the passport cover.
This new feature is intended to make it more difficult to alter the chip without causing visible damage to the passport cover.
The change of adding the personal data to page 2 of the passport is an effort to speed up passenger wait times when traveling through border patrols.
This combination of physical and electronic security features will make the UK passport one of the most secure passports in the world, in line with the international passport standards.
If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ : Expediter of Passports, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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September 3rd, 2010
Passport regulations may be getting stiffer, but this story make be taking things a bit too far… A British man went to Amsterdam to see his friends for the weekend. He showed his passport to border control and he was allowed entry.
Authorities who checked his passport said that the passport photograph did not belong to Agyeman because of differences in the thickness of his ears and lips.
At the end of the weekend, he returned home and upon producing his passport he was denied entry. The reason – he was too fat!
Border control authorities said that Derrick Agyeman was not the same person that appeared in his passport photo. The passport photo, which is nine years old, showed Agyeman when he weighed considerably less.
Authorities who checked his passport said that the passport photograph did not belong to Agyeman because of differences in the thickness of his ears and lips.
As a result of the decision of the border patrol officials, Mr. Agyeman was detained and forced to remain in Amsterdam for three months before he was finally allowed to use his passport to get back in the country.
Agyeman was outraged by this passport photo fiasco and he filed a lawsuit in Britain’s High Court over his treatment by the country’s Foreign Office. He lost the case, but now Agyeman may be considering an appeal.
If you have recently gained a lot of weight, you may want to consider applying for a new passport. If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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September 1st, 2010
Passport processing doesn’t always go smoothly, so when you really need to get a passport, it is best to use a passport expediter. Rush Passport’s™ Passport Expediting Services are the solution when getting a passport doesn’t go as planned.
Rush Passport’s™ Passport Expediting Services are the solution for passport problems.
A recent article in the LA Times concerns a woman who applied for her passport along with her son’s passport and husband’s passport. After waiting for almost 6 weeks, her husband’s passport arrived along with her son’s passport, however – her passport did not arrive. After contacting the passport office, she was told that her passport was still being processed. Then after checking again she was told that her passport would not be issued because her birth certificate was unofficial.
Worried that she wouldn’t get her passport in time for her trip, she didn’t know what to do. This passport snafu presented a stressful situation. If you find yourself in a passport quandary, call Rush Passport™. Rush Passport™ is registered to do business with the US Department of State. Rush Passport’s™ Passport Expediting Services are the solution for passport problems.
Rush Passport’s™ professional passport expediters have vast experience and incredible knowledge of the passport system. We expedite passports and make getting a passport simple – all while making people’s trips come true each and every day!
Our New York City Passport Agency has experienced, helpful, English and Spanish-speaking staff ready to assist you in any way we can. We are dedicated to making the passport process as simple as possible.
If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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August 30th, 2010
Passports are important documents that not only can be used for identification, but more importantly passports are needed for international travel.
Can the government refuse to provide government services such as processing a passport? Or is this going too far?
The census form is also an important document – but what does it have to do with the passport? Right now – not much… but if Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe has anything to say about it passport renewals will be contingent upon completion of census forms.
There is currently a problem in Canada regarding low census form returns. Duceppe feels that if citizens do not fill out census forms that the government should withhold services such as initial passport applications and passport renewals.
Citizens have rights, but they also have responsibilities.
Can the government refuse to provide government services such as processing a passport? Or is this going too far?
Proponents of withholding passports feel that getting a passport is a privilege that citizens must earn through cooperation with governmental requests. Those opposed to the proposed passport legislation feel that the government does not have the right to withhold passport services regardless of whether or not the census form is completed.
It should be interesting to see how this question of withholding passports turns out.
If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ : Expediter of Passports, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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August 28th, 2010
US Passport fees saw a hike earlier this year and now an increase in visas is scheduled for September 8, 2010. A decision announced by the United States to charge foreign visitors for the right to enter the country has sparked criticism in Switzerland and Europe.
Starting September 8, passport holders that do not require a visa will be charged $14 USD to be allowed to enter the United States.
Starting September 8, passport holders that do not require a visa will be charged $14 USD to be allowed to enter the United States.
The United States Border Protection Agency is set to collect the surcharge. They reject the criticism, claiming that several other countries have been collecting an entry tax – some as high as $100.
A portion equal to $4 of the $14 that passport holders will be charged is to cover a new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The additional $10 will go towards travel promotion to bring more passport holders from foreign countries to America.
Visa-exempt passport holders will need to complete a detailed online questionnaire that includes questions regarding identity, state of health, and possible criminal past of the applicant. Applicants who are approved will receive confirmation from the US Department of Homeland Security within a few minutes.
Passport holders are encouraged to apply for the ESTA form before September 8, to avoid the fees. Once passport holders are approved, the ESTA is valid for two years.
If you are a US citizen and you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
Tags: ESTA, passport expeditor, Passport holders, rush passport, Switzerland, US passport, US Passport Card, US passport fees
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August 26th, 2010
Passport trouble for a Texas school teacher began when Alexis Stevens and her husband, Wayne planned to celebrate their wedding anniversary with a trip to Europe.
If you are a US citizen and you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at RushPassport.com
Alexis Stevens was born in England and adopted by a US military family who brought her home to Texas, where she was raised. She raised her own family, put herself through college and became a school teacher. Stevens always wanted to travel to England to see where she was born.
Neither Alexis nor her husband Wayne had passports, so they filled out passport applications and put down a deposit on the trip. After a few weeks, Wayne’s passport arrived in the mail. When Alexis’ passport did not arrive, they began to wonder what went wrong. They were told that nearly 50 years ago, Alexis’ parents never completed the process to enable Stevens to become a U.S. citizen.
Alexis voted in every election since she turned 18 years old and has always checked the boxes stating that she was a US citizen on college, employment and passport applications.
Stevens was issued a Texas birth certificate, Social Security card, a driver’s license and voter registration card. Her citizenship was never questioned until at 52 years old she applied for a passport.
Thanks to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, more than 50% of children adopted overseas by American parents become US citizens upon entering the country. However, there were no such laws 50 years ago.
Before Stevens can be issued a passport, she must first become a US citizen. She will have to meet all the requirements and pass the citizenship test. Once the application is made, it can take as short as 5 months or could take several years to process.
If you are a US citizen and you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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August 24th, 2010
Passports may be soon available online in Malaysia. The Home Ministry is considering an online passport renewal service to make it more convenient for Malaysians to renew their passports. This idea sounds like it could be problematic.
If Malaysia is successful in bringing the online passport renewal service to its citizens, it may not be long before other countries begin developing their own online passport renewal services.
Sparked by long lines at the Passport agency counters, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong believes that online passport renewal service will provide a solution to a growing problem.
The proposed online passport system is not yet ready to be implemented but is expected to save time and money by reducing the cost of manpower at the passport agencies.
Proponents feel that online passport renewal would address a problem in Malaysia that has been going on for quite some time.
Those opposed to online passport renewal feel that the system may compromise passport security.
Lee added that the new online passport renewal system will be equipped with security features to prevent it from being abused.
If Malaysia is successful in bringing the online passport renewal service to its citizens, it may not be long before other countries begin developing their own online passport renewal services.
Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for the United States to implement an online passport renewal service – all you have to do is apply for a passport through the traditional method – in person. If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ : Expediter of Passports, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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August 22nd, 2010
Passport applications are very much in high demand. With the National Passport Agency experiencing high volume in processing passport applications, those in need of passports are advised to consider using expedited services. Passport applicants are encouraged to apply for their passports as soon as possible.
Expedited services are recommended due to the high demand for passports. Regular passport processing times without the expedited delivery option can take from four to six weeks.
If you are scheduled to travel within 14 days we can assist you by getting an appointment with the National Passport Agency. It may require a trip to New York City – but the end result is that you will receive your passport within 24 hours.
Expedited services are recommended due to the high demand for passports. Regular passport processing times without the expedited delivery option can take from four to six weeks.
Applications may be obtained at Rush Passport’s™ Passport Agency, 875 6th Avenue
Suite #1606, New York, NY 10001. Applications and related information also can be found online at http://www.rushpassport.com/new_passport.php .
Our New York City Passport Agency has experienced, helpful, English and Spanish-speaking staff ready to assist you in any way we can. We are dedicated to making the passport process as simple as possible.
If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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August 20th, 2010
Getting a passport in time for his next bout may have been an even bigger challenge than the fight itself for boxer, Chad Dawson. Born in Hartsville, South Carolina, Dawson is being hailed as boxing’s next American superstar. He has won 29 bouts with 17 knockouts. Even though he hasn’t been knocked out inside the ring – outside the ring presents another story. Dawson has had problems with his manager and trainer – and most recently passport problems stood to score a big knockout!
Fortunately, you don’t have to be traveling abroad for a boxing match to get a passport – all you have to do is apply for a passport.
Dawson was supposed to fly from Hartford, Connecticut to Montreal for a press conference. He was told repeatedly that he needed to have a passport to enter Canada. However, on the day of the flight, Dawson realized that he could not find his passport.
Because Dawson could not find the passport, he missed the flight to Montreal and appeared in the press conference by telephone instead of in person.
Dawson was worried that he would end up missing the fight altogether if he could not locate his missing passport or get a replacement passport issued before his fight.
As it turns out, Dawson got the passport on time – but he probably wishes that he hadn’t… Unfortunately for Dawson, he found his passport – but he lost his WBC light heavyweight belt! Dawson lost the fight to Jean Pascal on August 14th after the fight was stopped in the 11th round.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be traveling abroad for a boxing match to get a passport – all you have to do is apply for a passport. If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ : Expediter of Passports, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
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