Zimmerman Surrenders Passport in Trayvon Martin Case: Rush Passport NYC

April 20th, 2012

When a person is arrested for a crime and then released pending a trial, sometimes the court will ask the accused to surrender their passport.  By surrendering a passport to the court, the person is trying to let the court know that he/she is not a flight risk.  Without a passport it will be very difficult to leave the country.  Not that it isn’t possible, but it probably isn’t easy.

The latest in the Trayvon Martin Tragedy is that George Zimmerman has surrendered his passport to a Florida court during a bail hearing.  Zimmerman handed in his passport as he awaits trial over the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. 

Zimmerman turned in his US passport in hopes that he would be released pending trial on a charge of second-degree murder.  By handing in his passport, Zimmerman wants the court to know that he would not flee the country if he would be released.

On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman, 28, shot and killed Martin, 17, in what Zimmerman has said was self-defense after a confrontation in a community in Sanford, Florida.

Without knowing all of the details, some feel that Zimmerman was justified and shot Trayvon Martin in self-defense.  Others feel that Zimmerman should be found guilty for the murder of Martin.

If you have any questions about getting a passport, 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.

Passport Legislation to Change in the Future: Rush Passport NYC

April 18th, 2012

passport-renewalPrior to 1941, the US passport was nothing like what it is today.  There are some pieces of passport legislation from the early days that are somewhat obscure.  Such is the case with the US Passport Act of 1926 that came about when the idea of passports was circulating around the world – no pun intended!

Later added into US Code Title 22, the US Passport Act of 1926 was originally put into effect so that US citizens could use passports for travel abroad.

Several years ago, the law was changed to give the Secretary of State the authority to revoke a passport to any US citizen that is convicted of engaging in immoral acts with minors overseas. 

Although there has only been one instance of the exclusion of a US citizen from travel abroad due to this type of conviction, some people feel that a new law is on the floor right now that could give the Secretary of State the right to revoke or deny a passport to any US citizen due to ‘seriously delinquent tax debt.’

Some argue that the Secretary of State should not be able to revoke the passports of pedophiles or those who don’t pay their taxes.  Others feel that pedophiles and tax evaders should not be able to travel outside of the country.

Whatever side you agree with, passport legislation has certainly come a long way since the US Passport Act of 1926 and there are bound to be more changes in the future.

If you have any questions about getting a passport, 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.

Get a US Passport Today! Rush Passport

April 16th, 2012

Getting a US passport shouldn’t be so difficult.  Getting an Indian passport shouldn’t be so hard either.  Don’t tell that to Varva Purushottam Patel.  Patel was living in the United States for the past 8 years until his luck finally ran out.  Upon leaving the US with his valid US passport, he arrived in New Delhi and was arrested at the airport.  It turns out that Patel used a fake New Delhi passport to travel to the US and was arrested 8 years later.

passportPatel, was living in New Jersey in the United States and he became ill.  He arrived at the New Delhi airport due to a medical emergency.  He is suffering from kidney ailment and wanted to return to his homeland. 

It turns out that in 2004, Patel went to the United States using someone else’s passport.  It took 8 years to prosecute Patel and it may take even longer because of his illness.

Patel allegedly travelled to the United States with a forged passport that he supposedly got from an agent.   However, Patel asserts that he doesn’t remember the agent’s name.  Passport fraud is a very serious charge and there is an ongoing investigation.

It just goes to show that crime doesn’t pay.  If you would like to get a legal US passport, as long as you are a US citizen it shouldn’t be too much trouble.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, a visa, or if you would like to get a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

If you have any questions about getting a passport, 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.

Where Can I Get a US Passport in NY? Rush Passport NYC

April 12th, 2012

Getting a US passport is a privilege that all US citizens should take advantage of.  While millions of Americans have US passports, there are millions who do not.  US passports allow US citizens to travel out of the country.  There are still millions of Americans who are not interested in getting a US passport. 

ny passport officeHowever, some people who are not eligible for US passports and who are not citizens will go to great lengths to get a US passport.  Recently, a woman and her brother-in-law have pleaded not guilty to charges that they gave false information in a US passport application for her son.

The Chinese nationals were arraigned in federal court on charges of passport fraud.  It is a federal crime to knowingly provide false information on a US passport application.

It turns out that the child’s uncle posed as the child’s father in an attempt to get a US passport for his nephew.

It just goes to prove that crime doesn’t pay.  Are you interested in getting a US passport?  Are you confused about the passport application process?  Do you have very little time or patience to deal with the bureaucracy of getting a passport?  If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then it’s time to contact Rush Passport™.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, a visa, or if you would like to get a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

If you have any questions about getting a passport, 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.

Want a US Passport? Get a US Passport! Passports Made Easy: Rush Passport NYC (212) 643-9305

April 10th, 2012

Getting a US passport is something that many people all across the globe would love to be able to do.  US citizens can usually get a passport by just applying for one.  However a US passport is more than just a travel document.  A US passport can give someone the right to travel freely to and from the United States without having to apply for a visa each time.  A US passport also does not put a limit on how long your trip to the US must be.  However, there is a situation in Egypt where a US passport is creating problems.

passport-renewalOn May 23rd, Egypt is scheduled to hold its first open presidential election.  One presidential candidate has been forced to drop out because his mother has a US passport.  The issue is that according to a new Egyptian law, any presidential candidate whose parents or grandparents held foreign citizenship will be disqualified.

As it turns out, Abu Ismail is against Western influence in Egypt and his platform is based on anti-American sentiment.  Nevertheless, Egypt’s electoral committee claims that it has proof that Ismail’s late mother had obtained US citizenship.  They also claim that his sister is married to an American and that his mother spent extended visits to her daughter in California.

If you ask Ismail if his mother obtained a US passport, he denies it.  He claims that the allegations are a plot conspired to remove him from the election.

The mother’s alleged US passport has not been produced as of yet.  It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, a visa, or if you would like to get a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

If you have any questions about getting a passport, 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.

New Passport Law May Pass: Rush Passport NYC

April 8th, 2012

passportIt’s been said that there are two things in life that are guaranteed: death and taxes.  And then there’s passportsUS passports are a privilege awarded to US citizens that allow them to travel abroad.  However, there is a currently a law being mulled over by Congress that says if you owe the IRS you can lose your passport.

The proposed bill states that if you owe more than $50,000 then you will not be allowed to get a passport.   Some feel that it is unfair to authorize the federal government to stop US citizens and passport holders from traveling abroad if they owe back taxes.  The proposed bill adds that if your tax debt is being paid regularly there can be exceptions made.

What the bill may not take into account are circumstances in which the IRS has wrongly accused people of owing in excess of $50,000.  Those people, even if found to not owe the money, would have the passports revoked during the investigation.

Some feel that this is a great idea and will help prevent passport holders from skipping town on the money owed to the IRS.  Others feel that withholding passports due to back taxes is an unfair practice.  It will be interesting to follow this proposed passport law to see what develops.

Are you interested in getting a US passport?  If you would like to get a visa or if you would like to get a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

If you have any questions about getting a passport, 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.

Have Derivative Citizenship? Get a US Passport. Rush Passport, NYC

April 6th, 2012

passport nycDo you need a US passport?  Applying for a US passport can be confusing.  At Rush Passport™ we make getting a passport easy.  US citizens can apply for a first time passport or passport renewal at our NY passport agency.  There are certainly situations in which getting a passport is not so easy. 

When a person is not a US citizen, they must first become a citizen before they can receive a passport.  One complicated situation occurs when a child applies for citizenship through a parent.  This is known as derivative citizenship.  In this case, citizenship through a parent is generally granted automatically. However, derivative citizens usually want proof of citizenship.  Two commons forms of proof of citizenship are US passports or Certificates of Citizenship.

There are two sets of rules that apply to derivative citizenship.  There is one set of rules for children who are not yet 18 years of age as of February 27, 2001.  There is another set of rules for people who have already turned 18 years old as of February 27, 2001.

For children who are not 18 years old as of February 27, 2001, holds derivative US citizenship if:

  • A parent was a United States citizen when the child became a permanent resident or when the parent was naturalized prior to the child’s 18th birthday.
  • The child became a permanent resident prior to turning 18 years old. 
  • The child was single (unmarried).

A person who was already 18 years old or older as of February 27, 2001 holds derivative US citizenship upon the naturalization of a parent if:

  • The other parent was or became a US citizen prior to the child turning 18 years of age. 
  • The child was born to unmarried parents and the naturalized parent was the mother. 
  • The child’s other parent was no longer alive.

The child’s parents were divorced or separated and the parent being naturalized maintained legal custody of the child after the divorce/separation.

After reading this passport blog, if you feel convinced that you are a derivative US citizen then you should get a passport to prove citizenship.

Getting a US passport is less expensive than getting a Certificate of Citizenship.  Also, passport officials are less difficult to deal with than the US Citizenship and Immigration Services when it comes to deciding whether a person derived US citizenship.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, if you need a visa or if you would like a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

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.

Are Polish Passports Enough to Visit the United States? Rush Passport NYC

April 4th, 2012

There is a fine line between encouraging travel to other countries and creating a security breech.  Passports are extremely important when it comes to protecting a country’s borders.  However, if a country’s passport policies are too restrictive, then it can hurt their tourism industry.  Countries must carefully outline their passport security programs to maintain proper security while allowing the tourism industry to thrive.

New York State Senator, Chuck Schumer is pushing for a bill in Washington that would waive the need for Polish visitors to obtain visas before visiting the United States.  Under the new bill, a passport would be sufficient for Poles wishing to travel to the US.

Proponents feel that this move would boost the tourism industry, while those against the bill feel that it may cause a security breech. 

visa nyCurrently citizens from two dozen other countries can visit the United States with just a passport.  However, travelers from Poland still need to apply for a visa.

The bill is part of a larger initiative aimed at encourage tourism to the United States from countries in which visas are required.

The Polish American Congress group has been trying to make this happen for quite some time and hopes that Poland will be exempt from the visa program.  Polish tourists who wish to travel to the US must have a passport and then apply for a passport.  Tourism will surely increase if Poles are allowed to visit the US with their Polish passports.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, if you need a visa or if you would like a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

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.

Passport Security Alert: Rush Passport NYC

April 2nd, 2012

passport renewalAs you know, passports are important travel documents.  Passengers traveling from the United States to other countries around the whole must show their passports.  The same goes for passport holders in the UK.  However, hundreds of passengers recently walked into the United Kingdom without having their passports checked.  This passport mishap happened after immigration systems failed at a major airport in England.

As it turns out, as many as 200 travelers were upset due to a three hour delay, so they took matters into their own hands and walked through border patrol without showing their passports.

The delays were the result of a computer power failure.  The problem prevented all new arrivals to the UK from having their passports scanned.

This poses a potential threat as many people could have illegally entered the UK.

This computer passport problem occurred for the second night in a row.  The night before approximately 500 passengers entered without showing their passports.

In an attempt to get control of the situation, border patrol allowed passengers to proceed after providing their names and passport numbers so that checks could be carried out once the system was running.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, if you need a visa or if you would like a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

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.

Get a Passport Now: Rush Passport NYC

March 30th, 2012

passport nycBefore the 1920′s, most people didn’t travel more than 10 miles from their homes.  For the people who did travel, there were no restrictions or documents that would prevent people from traveling the globe.

Once the League of Nations was formed, they got involved into international travel and began work to standardize an internationally recognized travel document that became our passport that we know today.  

Officials used to ask people for their “papers.” Today, border patrol ask for passports. 

Nowadays, most people around the world become a citizen of the country in which they are born.  Most people end up staying in their country of birth.

Generally, people keep that citizenship and do not seek citizenship to another country.  This means that they only require one passport to travel from country to country.  There are some who feel that it is beneficial to have multiple citizenship. 

Multiple passports can open up more options for travelers and create freedom to travel.  Most foreign banks don’t do business with US passport holders, but may do business with those who hold dual citizenship in the US and in that particular country.

A second passport can offer you more possibilities than you know.

If you are interested in getting a US passport, if you need a visa or if you would like a US passport card, contact the passport professionals at Rush Passport™Rush Passport™ New York City passport office specializes in passport expediting services.

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.