Archive for the ‘Visa’ Category
Thursday, June 14th, 2012
According to a previous Rush Passport™ blog entry, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin surrendered his US passport and renounced his US citizenship to allegedly avoid paying capital gains taxes. However, a new trend involving foreign investors is creating thousands of new potential US citizens who will soon be US passport holders.
Thousands of foreign investors have been making investments in US countries and have been issued “investor visas.” The US Department of State is expected to hand out over 6,000 “investor visas” during the current fiscal year. These investor visas could soon turn into passports for these wealthy investors.
Under the “investor visa” program, investors from foreign countries can acquire visas that permit them and their families to live, work and attend school in the United States. In order to qualify for the visa, investors are required to invest a minimum of $1 million in a new or recently formed business. Investors can also take advantage of the investor visa by investing a minimum of $500,000 to fund companies in rural locations or areas that are high in unemployment.
The concept is that the investment must be shown to have been responsible for the creation or preservation of at least 10 full-time jobs for US workers over a period of two years. Once this condition is met, foreign investors and their families advance to permanent resident status and in three years may apply for US citizenship and acquire US passports.
This investor visa program, known as EB-5, is not a new program. It has actually been in effect for over twenty years. However, as of late there has been an increase in wealthy participants – especially from China.
Other countries such as Australia and Ireland have initiated similar programs to try to lure wealthy investors to their country. Currently there are approximately twenty countries that offer similar incentives. For many, investor visas are the path to getting US passports.
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.
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Monday, February 20th, 2012
In a recent Rush Passport™ blog entry, the topic was getting a Chinese visa to travel to the United States.
The main problem with the United States visa system is that it cannot keep up with the Chinese demand. China is currently the source of over 10% of all US visa applications. The only other country that has more passport holders applying for US visas is Mexico. With so many visa applicants, the visa system should be able to accomodate the large numbers to maximize travel to the United States.
However, the is a currently a 3 month wait just to get a visa applicant interview. Each visa applicant must have an in-person visa interview in order to be approved for travel to the United States.
It is in the best interest of the United States to process Chinese visa applicants more efficiently.
In order to expedite the handling of visas from China to the United States, there needs to be more American staff members at the embassy and UIS Consulates in China. In addition, more interview facilities need to be made available to Chinese visa applicants. The best case scenario is that a visa interview can be made in 48 hours or less once the visa application is submitted.
Another way to make the visa process smoother would be to grant visas to pre-qualified travelers who were granted visas in the past.
It is understood that national security should be the United States’ prime concern, but it is also very important from an economical standpoint to make the visa application process more efficient.
Other countries are competing for Chinese tourists and have taken steps to ease the visa process. Japan, for example, has made it so that a Chinese visa applicant who lives in a big city must only need to have a credit card to be approved for a visa.
New Zealand has also eased theire visa regulations with the hopes of attracting Chinese tourists.
Spain sees the opportunites to bring in more Chinese tourists and in addition to easing visa regulations, has also encouraged airlines to schedule more direct flights between the two countries.
Germany is also planning moves towards simplifying the visa process for Chinese applicants.
If you have more questions about getting a visa, a passport, an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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 and Connecticut.
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012
More and more Chinese tourists are traveling abroad. Many Chinese tourists choose to use their passports to visit the United States, but others are traveling elsewhere due to visa regulations. More and more countries are competing for the Chinese tourism and are trying to simplify their visa regulations.
Recently, President Barack Obama vowed to make the procedures in China for non-immigrant visas more efficient. Travel services are looking to cash in on the recent Chinese tourism surge. Having a passport alone is not enough to travel. Many countries require visas and the visa process can be tough. Chinese passport holders may have to wait several weeks and sometimes even several months to receive visas to travel to the United States.
Some experts predict that the number of Chinese passport holders requiring visas for travel to the US will double in 2012.
While the United States is considered to be the #1 ”dream destination” for Chinese citizens according to research by the US Travel Association. more Chinese tourists are visiting France. It is supposed that the main reason for this is due to the US visa system.
Countries that have made their visa process simpler for Chinese citizens have experienced greater numbers of Chinese travelers.
The US visa system for Chinese visitors can be made simpler. For starters, the Chinese visa applications are printed in English. If they were translated, it would make the process easier. Also, the fact that every visa applicant is required to be personally interviewed lengthens and complicates the visa application process.
Visa applicants generally have to wait 2 to 3 months just to get an interview. Once they are scheduled for the interview, visa applicants generally have to wait in line for a full day just to speak with someone. After the long wait, the actual interview takes less than 3 minutes.
Right off the bat, this eliminates the United States as a destination for travelers who can’t wait 3 months for an interview.
The next passport blog will deal with ways that the US can make the visa process better for Chinese passport holders.
If you have more questions about getting a passport, a visa, an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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 and Connecticut.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
An article in the USA today states that “For most foreigners, taking a last-minute business or leisure trip to New York, Los Angeles, Miami or other U.S. travel hubs would be nearly impossible. The average wait time for a visa interview in Rio de Janeiro, for example, was 87 days, according to the State Department.”
In a perfect world, visa interview wait times should not be more than a week, travelers would not overstay their visas and terrorists would not apply for visas. However, this not being a perfect world, the US must do its best to balance the importance of visa applications and national security.
Most visitors to the United States enter through the country’s Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program allows travelers from 36 countries to temporarily visit the United States without a visa. Currently, Argentina, Brazil, Poland and Taiwan are not part of the Visa Waiver Program. Many feel that these nations should be added because their residents are not likely to illegally overstay their visas and decide to stay in the United States indefinitely.
It is also tough for tourists from countries like India, China, Mexico to use their passports to travel to the US because they must obtain nonimmigrant visas. The nonimmigrant visa process is lengthy and expensive.
Passport holders who live far away from their country’s visa processing centers must visit the interview location without knowing whether or not their visas will be approved. A proposed solution to the visa interview process is videoconferencing. However, the US Department of State is not willing to explore this option due to safety and technological concerns.
Prior to 9/11, in-person visa application interviews were not required. Visas could be approved by consular officials based solely on responses entered into the visa application. Visa applicants must go through more intense screenings that include fingerprint checks and facial recognition screening of passport photographs.
If you need a visa, an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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 and Connecticut.
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Monday, January 2nd, 2012
Customs officers in the United States check passports of non-resident visitors everyday at airports all over the country. Passport holders from countries all over the world visit the United States and spend money on food, hotels, clothing and souvenirs. Visitors use their passports to visit New York City, Las Vegas, Disney World and a host of other destinations.
While the tourist industry in the United States is doing well, many believe that it could be doing better. Passport holders abroad must sometimes wait months to find out whether or not their tourist visa applications will be approved. This inconvenience may cause travelers who wish to come to the United States to use their passports to travel to other destinations instead.
It was not always the case that foreign visitors had to wait so long to get a tourist visa to visit the US. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks foreign visitors certainly have a tougher time getting a temporary visa. A campaign is in motion that may sway Congress into giving the US Department of State’s tourist visa application process an overhaul.
The proposed amendments to the US passport and visa process are expected to increase the number of visitors to the United States. However, while tourism may see a boost, these changes must not compromise the nation’s security. It is not an easy task for the State Department to increase passport visa services while maintaining tight security.
When it comes to visa services in the United States, security is the top priority. The visa system must enforce the immigration laws of the United States. Some are opposed to increasing the number of visitors because they feel that more visas would mean that the nation would be placed at greater risk.
The risk of freely handing out visas doesn’t only mean that there is more potential for terrorism, it also means that people may enter the country with temporary visas and never return to their countries of origin. While the US Department of State would like people who enter the US with visas to go home when their visas expire, many people want to come and live here.
If you need a visa, an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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 and Connecticut.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
According to a recent article posted on bloomberg.com millions of tourists visited the United States from overseas to celebrate the 2011 holiday season. These tourists all needs passports and sometimes visas to visit the US. These foreign passport holders spend billions of dollars in the United States. However, groups such as the U.S. Travel Association think that the US could have even more tourists in 2012 and bring in much more revenue.
New York City is the most popular travel destination and gets millions of visitors. However, according the article, New York City and the rest of the United States could get even more tourists if it wasn’t for the US visa bureaucracy. It seems that the current visa system is unprepared to handle the growth in the demand for US tourist visas and business visas. It seems that passport holders in China must wait weeks for visa interviews. Passport holders from Brazil and India who wish to visit the United States must also wait weeks for visa interviews.
The article doesn’t only mention problems, but also offers solutions to the visa problem. The article suggests increasing visa officers in the high- growth markets such as China, Brazil and India. This would help passport holders in those countries get visas more quickly. Another suggestion would be to hold visa interviews for applicants who don’t reside close to US consulates. The third suggestion would be to ease the requirement for in-person visa interviews. It seems that all of these three ideas were incorporated into the latest budget legislation that President Obama signed.
Another idea that could bring more travelers to the US in 2012 would be to expand the Visa Waiver Program. Currently passport holders from 36 countries are permitted to visit the United States without a visa. In order to be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, countries must have a low refusal rate when granting nonimmigrant visas to American citizens, take steps to improve their passport security, and share law-enforcement and security data with the United States.
One of the problems with expanding the Visa Waiver Program is that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be able to verify the departures of almost all foreign visitors who arrive by air. That presents a great problem because there are many citizens from Brazil, India and China who would like to live in the United States permanently. Once inside the US, they may never return. It is estimated that currently there are millions of illegal immigrants in the US who have overstayed their visas.
If you need an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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 and Connecticut.
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Thursday, December 1st, 2011
When applying for a visa, it is important to state the reasons for travel. There is a difference when you visit a country as a tourist or if you visit on a business trip. If you do not follow visa regulations, countries can take action. You may not be allowed to return to the country if you break visa rules.
Kim Kardashian recently visited Australia and applied for a visa. On the visa application, she applied as a tourist, but it turns out that she conducted a lot of business in Australia. As a result, Australia has placed Kim Kardashian on a watch list. This is her third such visa-related incident.
Kardashian took past trips to Australia in 2007 and 2010 and on those visits she also said that the purpose of her trip was tourism, but in fact she spent much of the time promoting her products. Her future trips to Australia will be monitored closely and she may run the risk of getting her Australian visa cancelled if she doesn’t comply with the visa regulations.
To find out more about visa regulations and to get a visa for travel to Australia or various other countries, feel free to contact Rush Passport™.
If you need an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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 and Connecticut.
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Saturday, May 7th, 2011
Are you a student thinking about getting a passport to study abroad? If so, you are not alone. 70% of US citizens don’t have a passport. However, lately college students have been getting passports in larger numbers. Most college students who get passports are doing so for a study abroad program or to travel to destinations around the world during spring break and other vacation times.
Just in case you didn’t know, you need a passport to go almost anywhere outside of the United States – even Mexico and Canada. Study abroad programs give students a way to learn about another culture while getting college credit. The first step to any study abroad program is getting a passport. Once students get a passport, they can decide what the destination will be.
Well, not exactly. A passport doesn’t get you automatic entry to all countries around the world. Cuba for example only lets a very small number of US citizens visit – even with a passport. But did you know that most African countries require American visitors to have a visa? Some African countries allow US citizens to get visas upon arrival, while some do not such as Cameroon, and the Cape Verde islands. US passport holders can apply for a visa in the airport upon arriving in Madagascar.
China, India and Pakistan are also among the countries that require US passport holders to have visas. In Europe, US citizens with passports must get visas to travel to Russia in advance and can get a visa for Turkey upon arrival. Brazil is another country that requires US passport holders to apply in advance for a visa.
How to Apply for a Passport:
Getting a passport sounds easy, but sometimes can be complicated. Those wishing to get a passport must fill out the passport application form. They also must take 2 passport photos. Passport applicants must be able to prove that they are US citizens. Passport applicants must also pay the passport application fee and submit the passport application.
If you need a US passport card or other passport services such as an expedited passport, emergency passport, same day passport, US Passport book or passport photos be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
Want to travel abroad? Getting a passport may not be enough. Did you know that US citizens need something more than a passport to travel to Brazil, China and India? All of these countries not only require a US passport, but they also require American travelers to get a visa before visiting.
Most US citizens are not even aware of what a visa is. Many US citizens think that all they need is a passport. However, many US citizens have experienced a rude awakening upon landing in Brazil and being sent back to the US without even being able to leave the airport.
A visa is a travel document that is required by some nations in addition to a US passport. Visas are also needed for travel from the US to Vietnam, Cambodia, Nigeria, Russia and Australia.
Can you imagine all of the preparation that goes into a trip abroad only to find out once you have arrived that you are not allowed to enter the country because you don’t have a visa? Then think about how you would feel if you were sent right back to the United States immediately after getting off the plane.
Some visas can take several weeks to process. Other countries offer passport holders immediate approval. Some countries even let US passport holders apply for visas upons arrival.
This does not mean that every country requires US passport holders to have a visa. In actuality for most countries a US passport by itself is just fine.
The main reason that some countries require visas and some do not is generally due to money. Wealthier countries tend to require travelers from poorer nations to get a visa. Another reason that some countries require visas is due to politics. Brazil requires a visa from US passport holders as retaliation for the US requirement for Brazilian’s to get a visa to travel to America.
It is best to apply for a visa one month prior to your trip, but unfortunately that is not always possible. If you need a visa for travel and your trip is less than a month away, it is a good idea to contact Rush Passport™, Official Passport and Visa Expeditors Registered with the US Dept of State and Foreign Consulates.
If you need a visa, US passport card or other passport services such as an expedited passport, emergency passport, same day passport, US Passport book or passport photos be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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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Monday, April 11th, 2011
In a previous Rush Passport blog entry it was stated that the government shutdown was averted and that “Passport Day in the USA” went off without a hitch. However, that statement is only half correct. The government shutdown was in fact averted, but as it turns out, “Passport Day in the USA” was canceled. It had been scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2011. The passport event was intended to offer passport applicants a Saturday in which they could apply for passports.
The bad news is that “Passport Day in the USA” was cancelled. The good news is that Rush Passport™ is always open on Saturdays to assist you with your passport needs. Rush Passport™ offers passport services Monday – Saturday at their New York City passport office.
There is no official word on whether or not “Passport Day in the USA” will be rescheduled, but in the meantime feel free to visit Rush Passport™ for all of your passport needs. We offer a variety of passport services including passport photos, passport renewal, passport replacement, adult passport, child passport, passport expediting, passport booklets, passport cards, visas, add passport pages and much more.
If you need an expedited passport, emergency passport, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can 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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