Archive for the ‘Latest Passport News’ Category
Saturday, April 20th, 2013
Do you need a US passport? Are you thinking about making a visit to the New York City passport office to get your US passport? Well, believe it or not, some people actually get rid of their US passports. The latest celebrity to get rid of her US passport is in Switzerland. The mayor of Zurich traveled to the US Embassy in Bern, Switzerland to give up her US citizenship. At the embassy, they punched holes in her US passport and she renounced her US citizenship.
The Swiss mayor who gave up her US passport is 52 year old Corinne Mauch, who was born in Iowa City, Iowa. She lived in the Midwest for her early years and has lived in Switzerland for over 30 years. Mauch has been mayor of Zurich sinch 2009 and was elected after spending a decade serving on the city council.
Mauch’s office states that she did not give up her US citizenship for tax reasons but also mentioned that “she won’t miss the bureaucracy of the IRS, the American tax office.”
Rather than deal with the IRS paperwork, Mauch renounced her US citizenship and destroyed her US passport.
If you are interested in renouncing your US citizenship, don’t call us. But if you are interested in getting a US passport, contact the passport specialists at Rush Passport™.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. We are conveniently located at 875 6th Avenue, Suite #1606, New York, NY 10001. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: celebrity passport, corinne mauch passport, get a US passport, passport, passport nyc, passport office nyc, passports, rush passport, Swiss passport, US passport
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Friday, March 29th, 2013
Passport questions continue to arise in Israel. Should Americans born in Jerusalem be allowed to list Israel as their birthplace on their US Passports?
According to a 2002 law, Americans should be able to list Israel as their birthplace on their US passports. However, the US Department of State does not allow Americans born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their birthplace on their US passports. The parents of an American boy named Menachem Zivotofsky filed a lawsuit after they were not allowed to list Israel as the child’s birthplace after he was born in Jerusalem. Currently, the boy’s U.S. passport only lists “Jerusalem” as his birthplace.
The Obama administration (as well as the Bush administration) has maintained that Congress may not tell the president what to do with regard to this facet of foreign relations. The State Department stance is that designations on passports need to reflect US positions with regard to recognition and borders.
Nathan Lewin, the attorney for the Zivotofskys, compared the US Department of State not allowing Americans born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their birthplace on their US passports to not allowing people to identify themselves as having green eyes on their US passports.
This issue has been in the news for quite some time and seems to reappear from time to time, especially when the US president uses his passport to travel to Israel.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: israel passport, jerusalem passport, Menachem Zivotofsky, Nathan Lewin, NY Passport, passport, passport office, passports, rush passport, Should Americans born in Jerusalem be allowed to list Israel as their birthplace on their US Passports, US passport, us passport ny
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
Each year, US passport holders visit foreign countries with the hopes of adopting a child. These children become US citizens and US passport holders and get a shot at living the “American Dream”. However, this is a case of a Russian boy adopted by an American couple that actually has returned to Russia. The boy used his US passport to return to Russia. The boy claims that his adoptive family treated him so poorly that he even lived on the streets of Philadelphia and was forced to steal in order to survive.
Alexander Abnosov, was adopted at the age of 13. Abnosov, now 18, returned to Russia to live with his 72 year old grandmother. Abnosov now be the poster boy of the Kremlin and its ban on US adoptions of Russian children. There are some that feel that US families should not be allowed to adopt Russian children. Others feel that Americans should have the right to adopt Russian children.
Alexander Abnosov is seen in the photo displaying a US passport. His US passport lists his adoptive name as Joshua Alexander Salotti. Abnosov blames his adoptive mother for nitpicking him. Abnosov left his home in Philadelphia and was living in a shelter. According to Abnosov, when his parents visited him in the shelter, they gave him $500 and told him to use his US passport to go back to Russia.
In Russia, Abnosov’s story is top news on state television. It is being show as the example of the problems that can arise when Russian children adopted by US parents. Russia banned all American adoptions of Russian children back in December 2012.
While some feel that US passport holders have no right to travel to Russia for the purpose of adopting Russian children, others feel that US families can offer Russian children a chance to have a family. For the past twenty years, US passport holders have been adopting Russian children.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: Abnosov, American Passport, child passport, Kremlin, passport, Passport holders, passports, russia passport, Soviet Union, US passport, USSR, Visa
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Monday, March 25th, 2013
Recently in the USA, the U.S. Department of State celebrated “Passport Day in the USA”. The vent was a huge success as many people turned out to get their passports. This national U.S. Passport acceptance and outreach event was held throughout different states, where U.S. Passport agencies held extended hours, to help people get the U.S. passports they needed. Passport agencies were open later than usual, ready to provide U.S. passport information, to take passport photos and accept passport applications, for first time passports, as well as passport renewals and passport replacements for lost/ stolen passports.
People looking to get a new U.S. passport simply had to bring a state issued certified birth certificate, which is required when applying for a U.S. Passport. If applying for a child passport both parents had to be present as well as the child they were applying for, and had to also present the child’s birth certificate. If renewing a passport for a child under the age of 16 the original passport and the birth certificate were necessary for getting a new unexpired passport. Parents could go and take their children to apply for a passport without having to pull their kids from school to get to the passport office before it closed.
Usually when someone needs a new U.S. passport they are limited by the short office hours that a passport agency has. They must miss work or make special arrangements to be able to go and apply for a passport. This event helped to alleviate that as well as provide people with a place to go and receive information about what applying for a U.S. Passport entails.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: adult passport, child passport, get a passport, NY Passport, passport, passport agency, passport day, Passport Day in the USA, passport office, passports, rush passport, U.S. Passport, U.S. Passports
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Saturday, March 23rd, 2013
With tax season in full swing, tax attorneys are getting plenty of calls from companies who are considering exiting the United States or moving their assets abroad. Why would companies want to leave the United States? The answer is quite simple: to pay less taxes.
Sometimes companies can get into a worse situation when they try to beat the system, but some companies are willing to take the chance. Individuals who give up their US passports to avoid paying taxes may also wind up with unexpected problems.
Problems that could arise as a result of surrendering a US passport include exit taxes and other costs. These individuals who give up their US passports are also subject to a strict set of IRS rules when establishing a foreign corporation.
It seems that even though the number of people surrendering their US passports goes up each year, the numbers are still relatively low in relation to the population.
It is important to understand that the US taxes citizens on their worldwide income even if they reside in another country. This is the reason why people decide to surrender their US passports.
To combat the problem of people surrendering their US passports to avoid paying taxes, the US government imposes hefty exit taxes. Additionally, a family’s wealth may still be subject to US taxes after an individual gives up his US passport. Even if parents surrender their US passports and move to another country, the money they leave to their children who remain US citizens may be taxed.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: NY Passport, passport, passport agency, passport holder, passport ny, passport office, passport usa, passports, rush passport, US passport
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Thursday, March 21st, 2013
According to a recent article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the value of the once-coveted US green card is plummeting. Super wealthy Chinese businessmen used to apply for permanent-resident status in the United States, but now, more and more Chinese businessmen are giving up their permanent-resident status.
The article contends that Chinese still do want to go to America because of educational advantages for their families, security of their financial assets, and retirement preparation.
The United States of America is still the most popular destination among Chinese and according to the article, “as many as 80% of the 7,641 investor immigrant visas approved in the U.S. in fiscal 2012 taken up by Chinese.”
While the wealthy continue to send their families and assets overseas, very few of the individuals have applied for US citizenship.
The US passport can be very expensive to a wealthy Chinese businessman because along with the US passport comes US citizenship and most importantly, the payment of US taxes. It is important to note that in the United States citizens are taxed regardless of where they live or where they earn their income.
Some Chinese businessmen have even gone so far as to apply for foreign passports to enable them to take advantage of China’s tax breaks for foreign investors. The business owners get foreign passports and the list their companies as “red chip” stocks in Hong Kong.
According to the article, the demand for visas to the United States and other countries by Chinese is making them very hard to get. China is the world’s biggest exporter of its people. “In 2011 alone, 150,000 Chinese got immigration visas from foreign countries, according to the Center for China and Globalization, a Chinese think tank.”
While Chinese who get US passports will be responsible for paying US taxes, many still feel that a US passport will protect them from being targeted by Chinese authorities. A US passport also offers the security of being able to get on a plane out of China in the event of a disaster.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: American Passport, chinese, green-card, hong kong, passport, passports, permanent resident, rush passport, US passport, usa passport, Visa, wall street journal
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Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
The old saying “Truth is stranger than fiction…” by Mark Twain comes to mind when thinking about Dennis Rodman’s trip to North Korea. Rodman first made headlines as a bad boy in the NBA and then as a boy toy to Madonna and various others including Carmen Elektra. Now, Rodman is making headlines across the globe on an international spectrum. When Dennis Rodman used his US passport to visit a country that most Americans have never been to, many questions arose. I wonder if Dennis Rodman got his US passport stamped in North Korea. Why did Roman visit North Korea? Since then, Rodman has become the most unlikely diplomatic emissary.
Rodman, a US passport holder, participated in an exhibition game featuring a few Harlem Globetrotters players and ‘hung out’ with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. According to Rodman, the North Korean leader had a message for President Obama “Call me.”
This is not the first time that a well known US passport holder visited North Korea. Prior to Rodman, it was Google chairman Eric Schmidt who used his US passport to head to North Korea. The New York Philharmonic even got their passports stamped in North Korea. Another US passport holder who visited North Korea was professional wrestler Ric Flair. On that trip, boxing legend Muhammad Ali got his US passport stamped in North Korea as well.
It is important to note that according to the US Department of State website “travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea is not routine, and U.S. citizens crossing into North Korea without proper documentation have been subject to arbitrary arrest and long-term detention”
Not only must you have a valid US passport, but you also must have a valid DPRK visa to enter North Korea from the United States. Another option is to enter and depart North Korea through China. In order to accomplish this you must obtain a multiple-entry visa for China. Currently, routine travel from South Korea to North Korea is prohibited.
Anyone who arrives in North Korea without a valid passport and a valid DPRK visa, faces the possibility of being denied entry, fined, detained, arrested, or even imprisoned. According the US Dept of State website, “North Korea has imposed heavy fines and long prison sentences with hard labor on persons who entered the country without the proper documentation. Even with the proper documentation, visitors may be subject to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and may not receive appropriate legal protection against inhumane treatment. “
If you are planning a trip from the United States to North Korea, the first step is to obtain a US passport. If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: carmen elektra, celebrity passport, dennis rodman passport, dprk, eric schmidt, Kim Jung Un, madonna, Muhammed Ali, North Korea, NY Passport, passport, passport agency, passport holder, passport office, passports, Ric Flair, rush passport, South Korea, US passport, valid US passport, Visa
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Sunday, March 17th, 2013
Do you have a US passport? Are you interested in applying for a passport? Besides a passport photo and payment of the required passport fees, there is something else that you need. If you are thinking identification, you are right.
It seems like a no brainer that when you apply for a US passport you must show identification. A Broward County, Florida man recently showed identification when he applied for his US passport, but he got arrested. Can you guess the reason why he got arrested for showing identification when he applied for the passport? Yes, he showed identification, but it wasn’t his identification. It was his son’s identification. The man used his son’s identity to apply for the passport in order to flee the country to avoid being arrested for a crime that he allegedly committed in 1987. He pled guilty to passport fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Falsifying passport records is a federal offense that carries a minimum two year sentence in federal prison. Passport fraud is a potentially dangerous crime that allows criminals to escape prosecution. Passport fraud is a concern in every country that issues passports. Lost passports can be used to perpetrate passport fraud and passports can be stolen for the purpose of fraud. As a precaution, it is a great idea to always keep a photo copy of your passport so that you can show that passport copy to the consulate to expedite the return of your passport and your ability to travel abroad.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: lost passport, passport, passport agency, passport application, passport nyc, passport office, passport photo, passports, rush passport, stolen passport, US passport
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Friday, March 15th, 2013
There are people all over the world who have the privilege of holding passports from two different countries. While there are situations in which second passports are legal, there are some instances in which second passports are not permitted.
Recently, two newly elected members of the Israeli Knesset had to relinquish their foreign passports in order to accept their roles in the government. Dov Lipman and Naftali Bennett surrendered their U.S. passports following the protocol to become members of Israel’s Knesset.
Lipman held dual citizen and it was a difficult move to make as he was born and raised in the United States. For Lipman, while it was necessary, it wasn’t easy to give up his US passport. Lipman was emotional as he discussed the difficulty in surrendering his US passport.
For Bennett, although he was born in Israel, it was also difficult to give up his US passport. Both Bennett and Lipman are proud to be able to serve in the Knesset. However, they are both upset about being forced to give up their US passports.
Many Americans have ties to other countries, usually the countries from which they migrated to the United States. Whether they themselves came to America, their parents, or even their grandparents, there is a certain pride that lies with their countries of origin. Even those who have assimilated into American culture still hold a special place for the countries of their ancestors.
For Lipman and Bennett, America is that special place.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: adult passport, first-time passport, get a passport, new york city passport office, nyc passport office, passport, passport agency, passport new york, passports, passports in ny, second passport, US passport, US Passports
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
The U.S. Department of State has just made a press release urging American Spring Break passport holders to be careful. The US Dept of State stresses that it should be the number 1 priority of US passport holders to exercise caution when traveling overseas for Spring Break 2013
Every year tens of thousands of American college students travel abroad for Spring Break. This year will be no different. As many college students get ready get their passports stamped in countries around the world, there are some important things that they should take into consideration.
As it turns out, spring break travel can lead to problems for some US passport holders. They can lost their passports, their passports can get stolen and they can miss their flights. Sometimes, US passport holders can get arrested, injured and even worse.
The State Department wants to remind spring breakers that they should be smart travelers and safe travelers. Prior to travel, students are encouraged to find out as much as they can about their spring break destinations. For more information, visit the US Department of State informational website dedicated to student travelers: http://studentsabroad.state.gov .
This resource can help students learn more about entry requirements, crime, health precautions, and road conditions just to name a few topics. Travelers are encouraged to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This program keeps students updated with important safety and security announcements. Once students enroll, it makes it easier for the State Department to provide assistance in the event of an emergency. There is even a mobile version of STEP that can be accessed so that students can stay connected.
FYI: The mobile version of STEP can be downloaded through the SMART Traveler App, available through iTunes and the Google Store for the Android.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. 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 and Connecticut.
Tags: passport, passport ny, passports, rush passport, safety, spring break, step, US Department of State, US passport
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