Archive for the ‘Visa’ Category
Friday, April 8th, 2011
Passport Day in the USA
It seems that the US Department of State didn’t see the possible federal government shut down coming when they announced that Saturday, April 9th would be National Passport Day in the USA. Now, if the federal government shut down takes place on April 8th, then the US Department of State has announced that National Passport Day in the USA will not be held.
The passport event that spans across the US was put into effect as an opportunity for passport applicants to apply for passports during extra Saturday hours at passport acceptance facilities. Rush Passport™ is always open on Saturdays, so we actually celebrate Passport Day in the USA every week!
If the government does stay open and is able to avoid the shut down, then passport hopefuls will be able to apply for passports all day Saturday. If not, it is hard to tell when new passports will be made available.
In the event of a government shutdown, American passport holders who are already traveling abroad can still do so. Also, they will still be able to receive emergency passport assistance from US Embassies and consulates. The cut backs, however, will have an effect on some of the other work that the consulates do, such as processing US visas.
Hopefully the government shut down will not take place and Passport Day in the USA will be a day in which several American citizens are able to get their passports.
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.
Tags: 2011, April 9, government shut down, new passport, new passports, passport, passport agency, passport agency nyc, passport agent, Passport Day in the USA, passport ny, passport nyc, passport office, passport office nyc, passport photos, passports, rush passport, US Department of State, US passport, US Passport Book, US Passport Card, US Passports
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, Passport Services, Visa | Comments Off
Monday, October 25th, 2010
Passports are travel documents that allow people to travel from one country to another. However, sometimes it’s not as simple as just showing your passport at border patrol. Depending on the circumstances, there may be restrictions that apply. When producing your passport, there may be additional requirements such as acquiring a visa. Specific countries have specific visa regulations dependent on which country you are traveling to.
With that being said, a recent study found that the British passport allows for visa-free travel between the UK and 166 different countries. The previous leaders in visa-free travel were the Danes. People from Denmark can travel to 164 countries without a visa.
The top 10 list of countries for which a passport will suffice when traveling abroad include Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Sweden. The United States passport also made the top 10, coming in 7th place despite being the leader in 2006. Countries with the lowest visa free ranking and most passport restrictions include China, India, North Korea and Russia.
Being able to get on a plane and knowing that your passport will be sufficient takes an enormous weight off a passport holder’s shoulders. Traveling can be stressful enough without having to deal with passport issues and visa restrictions.
If you are a US citizen and you are interested in getting an expedited US Passport to fill up with passport stamps or if you are interested in getting a 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.
Tags: Belgium, border patrol, British Passport, China, Connecticut Passport, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Long Island Passport, North Korea, NY Passport, passport, passport expeditors, passports, rush passport, Russia, Sweden, travel documents, UK Passport, US passport, Visa, Visa-Free, Visa-Free Travel, westchester passport
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Monday, October 11th, 2010
Passport problems for Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates and in other Gulf countries are being caused by hand-written passports. Pakistanis are being strongly encouraged to replace their hand-written passports with the new biometric machine readable passports (MRP).
Pakistanis are being told not to wait for their passports to expire. Instead they are being advised to get biometric passports as soon as possible.
Many countries in the world have restricted travel for holders of hand-written passports. Biometric passports have become the passport of choice around the world because this form of passport is considered more secure.
As of September 15, the UAE government no longer accepts manual passports. In addition, no visas are being issued to manual passport holders.
The Pakistan government has asked the UAE government for a 1 year grace period in which the manual passports will be accepted. However, it is unlikely that the UAE will grant the request due to passport security concerns.
In addition, the manual passports will be completely invalid by 2012.
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, Westchester County, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.
Tags: biometric passport, connecticut passport office, hand written passport, long island passport office, machine readable passports, miami passport office, nassau county passport office, ny passport office, Pakistanis, passport expeditors, passport problems, rush passport, suffolk county passport office, US passport, US Passport Card, westchester passport office
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | Comments Off
Tuesday, 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.
passport.com”>
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.
Tags: adult passport, American Passport, Australia, child passport, Connecticut Passport, get a passport, getting a passport, live passport agent, New York Passport Agency, passport, passport agent, passport applicants, passport application, Passport holders, passport renewal, passports, rush passport, rushpassport.com, US Department of State, US passport, US Passport Card, Visa, visas, westchester county passport
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Passports are international travel documents. There is no such thing as a New York Passport, a Long Island Passport or Connecticut Passport – they all fall under the term US Passport. Residents of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut can count on Rush Passport™ for all of their passport needs.
There is a misconception that passports must be obtained in the states in which you reside. This cannot be further from the truth. Those residents of Connecticut who wish to apply for a passport can apply at Rush Passport’s™ New York City Passport Agency . Getting a passport couldn’t be easier with Rush Passport’s™ Same Day Passport Expediting Service. Residents from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and from all over the United States can arrive in the morning without a passport and leave the same day with a passport.
Rush Passport™ is a full service passport, visa and vital documents expediting company that is registered to do business with U.S. Department of State. We work closely with the U.S. Passport Agency and foreign embassies to secure passports and visas for international travelers who need to depart on short notice. Our passport and visa specialists have proven travel document knowledge and vast experience, allowing us to cut “red-tape” and provide our customers fast, efficient, and economical passport expediting services.
Rush Passport™ is a New York City based RUSH Passport Agency that services Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Connecticut and the rest of the continental United States. Rush Passport™ assists individuals, tour operators, travel agencies, associations, and corporate travel departments with last minute passport and visa needs.
Rush Passport™ is the nation’s leader for US Passport and Foreign Visa Expediting!
If you live in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or anywhere else in the United States and are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us in person at our New York Passport Agency or visit us online at http://www.rushpassport.com . You can also reach 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.
Tags: Bronx, Brooklyn, Connecticut, Connecticut Passport, live passport agent, Long Island, Long Island Passport, Manhattan, New Jersey, New York City, New York Passport, passport agency, passport expediting service, passports, Queens, rush passport, same day passport, Staten Island, travel documents, US Department of State, US passport, US Passport Card, Visa
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Need a passport? Get a passport! According to an article from the Washington Post, something valuable is for sale in China – a US Passport and citizenship for your new baby. The cost: $1,475.
A husband and wife team, who live in Shanghai, run an agency that provides US Passports to the babies of expectant Chinese mothers willing to travel to the United States to give birth.
For the $1,475 fee, expectant mothers get a three-month stay in the US – two months before the birth and one month after. The accommodations include cable TV, wireless internet and all meals, for just $35 per day.
The mothers pay their own airfare and are responsible for getting a US visa.
A US Passport carries weight in China as the United States is seen as a place where students can get into a good university or land a high-paying job.
The main reasons they want US Passports for their babies are better education and better setting.
There are plenty of “birth tourism” packages sold online that offer US Passports.
If you are wondering about the legality of such a practice – the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, states that anyone born on US soil has the right to citizenship.
US officials confirm that it is not illegal to travel to the US for the purpose of giving birth to a child who can get a US Passport.
Opponents argue that the 14th Amendment was never intended to provide an instant passport to the children of people who are here illegally or who travel here for the purpose of gaining US citizenship for their child.
If more and more people use “birth tourism” it may be more difficult to get a visa.
If you do not have your passport or if you need to renew your passport or would like more information about 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.
Tags: 14th Amendment, birth tourism, get a passport, live passport agent, need a passport, New York Passport Agency, passport, passports, renew your passport, rush passport, Shanghai, US passport, US Passport Card, US Passports, US visa, Washington Post
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
As reported in yesterday’s Rush Passport™ blog entry, a Texas woman was denied a passport and the right to travel with her husband on an international cruise.
Today’s Rush Passport™ passport blog deals with another Texas couple with passport problems. A couple complete with snorkel gear and travel guide to the Galápagos Islands in hand were turned away at the airport on the day of their trip.
At the airline’s check-in counter, the husband was told he could not board the first end of a connecting flight to Ecuador en route to the Galápagos Islands. The reason that he was not permitted to board the flight is because Ecuador requires that travelers have a passport valid for an additional six months from the date of their visit. Even though he was only going to be in the airport in Ecuador on his way to the Galápagos Islands, because his passport was only valid for another four months, it did not satisfy Ecuador’s passport requirements.
They planned the trip for months and were shocked to find out about this rule. They had even called the Ecuadorian consulate office in Houston to check whether or not they needed a visa, but neglected to find out about the passport requirements.
Now, Friday afternoon, unable to board, they anxiously waited all weekend until the passport office opened on Monday where they went to renew the husband’s passport..
Finally, on Monday night, they got the passport renewed and were bound for Ecuador’s airport where they boarded a flight for the Galápagos Islands.
The passport dilemma quickly forgotten, the couple was able to enjoy their vacation. You can be sure that they will always be aware to check each country’s passport requirements before planning future vacations.
Don’t let this happen to you. Plan ahead. Be sure to check with foreign consulates to determine entry/exit requirements. However, if you do find yourself in a passport emergency, do yourself a favor – contact Rush Passport™ (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 / New York Agency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and speak with a Live Agent or visit us online at http://www.rushpassport.com
Tags: Ecuador, entry/exit requirements, Galápagos Islands, passport, passport blog, passport emergency, passport office, passport problems, passport renewed, passport requirements, rush passport, US passport, US Passport Card, valid passport, Visa
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
If you were one of the lucky passport holders to visit South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – it was an amazing competition, but now it’s over. If you are looking for the next big sport to root for – you may find yourself turning to lacrosse.
You’ll need a passport to see this year’s lacrosse world championship as it takes place in England. However, an American team has run into an obstacle and may not be able to compete.
The Iroquois national lacrosse team was prepared to travel to England for its first game in the tournament, but instead, because they are missing the passport.com/Visas-UK.php”>visas needed to travel abroad – the team is stuck in a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
What is at stake is on a larger scale than the tournament itself – it is a documentation dispute with the British consulate over American Indian sovereignty.
As it turns out, the lacrosse tournament has gotten a bit more complicated as the Iroquois players now must convince the State Department to honor their tribal passports.
The Iroquois team, also known as the Nationals, is considered a full member nation, just like the United States or Canada. The Nationals qualified and stand to enter this year’s tournament ranked fourth in the world.
The Nationals and their entourage made plans to travel to Manchester, England, using their own tribal passports. According to team officials, these tribal passports are the same ones that they have used for previous international competitions.
However, the British consulate made the team aware that they needed written assurance from the US government that they would be allowed back into the US before they would issue be issued visas. Neither the State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security was prepared to offer such a promise.
Ironically, lacrosse is a Native American game – they invented the game and now they are being denied the opportunity to travel to the world championship tournament.
A spokesperson for the State Department said that the Iroquois team has been offered expedited United States passports, but they have declined that offer.
The Iroquois feel that their own passports should be sufficient. But the State Department position is that federal law does not allow a tribal document to be used in lieu of a United States passport when traveling outside the United States.
It seems like this whole issue is over the players being prohibited from traveling with their tribal passports. It all comes down to a matter of tribal sovereignty and respect for the rights of the Native American population.
Even if the passport issue is resolved quickly, damage has already been done – the team will arrive with almost no time to practice before their opening contest and the delay has been a financial burden. The delay has already cost them $20,000 in accommodations, travel arrangements and various additional expenses.
Lacrosse player, Native American – or neither, 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 Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency.
Tags: Iroquois, passport, Passport holders, passports, rush passport, tribal passport, tribal passports, UK visa, United States Passport, US passport, US Passport Card, Visa, visas
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Just in case you missed yesterday’s blog, I am sorry to report that the Passport fees have gone up effective today, July 13th. Yesterday was your last chance to get a US Passport and save some money before the rate hike – and we tried to warn you…
Just so you are prepared, the new cost of an adult passport is not $135 up from $100. That includes a $25 administrative fee. Passport applicants under the age of 16 see an increase to $105 with the fee, up from $85.
Passport cards, which are valid for Americans traveling by land or sea on trips to the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico increase today as well. Adult passport cards went up to $55 up from $45 and child passport cards increase to $40, up from $35.
You can find a comprehensive list of all of the passport service increases by visiting the US Department of State Passport Fee page.
The US Department of State states that the passport fee increases have been made to cover the actual operating expenses that passport agencies incur.
Frequent travelers also should be aware of a new fee of $82 to add more pages to an existing passport for additional visas and stamps by immigration officers.
Who knows how much time you have before the next passport service fee increase? Don’t procrastinate – there’s no better time than the present. 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 Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.
Tags: get a passport, new passport, passport agency, passport applicants, passport application, passport renewal, passport stamp, rush passport, US Dept of State, US passport, US Passport Card, Visa
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
Monday, July 12th, 2010
Passport fees are going up tomorrow, July 13th. Today is your last chance to get your US Passport and save some money before the rate hike.
Seriously! Get that expiring passport renewed quickly. The cost of an adult passport will go from $100 to $135, including a $25 administrative fee. Passport applicants under the age of 16 will see an increase to $105 with the fee, up from the current $85.
Passport cards, which are valid for Americans traveling by land or sea on trips to the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico are set to increase as well. Adult passport cards will go up to $55 up from $45 and child passport cards are set to increase to $40, up from $35. cost more, too.
There are plenty of other passport service increases. For a complete list, visit the US Department of State Passport Fee page.
The US Department of State states that the passport fee increases are being to made to cover the actual operating expenses that passport agencies incur.
Frequent travelers will also see a new fee of $82 to add more pages to an existing passport for additional visas and stamps by immigration officers.
Well, what are you waiting for? 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 Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.
Tags: adult passport, adult passport cards, child passport cards, existing passport, expiring passport, passport agencies, passport applicants, passport cards, passport fee increases, passport fees, passport hike, passport renewed, Passport Service, rush passport, US Department of State Passport Fee, US passport, US Passport Card, Visa
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »
