Posts Tagged ‘Australia’

Your Passport May Not Be Enough to Travel Abroad. Do You Need a Visa too? Rush Passport Blog

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

visa nyWant 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

Passport Lost? Passport Stolen? Don’t Go to Twitter! Go to Rush Passport™.

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Lost Passport Stolen PassportLost your passport?  Did you need to get a new passport?  Are you unsure of how to get a passport?  Do you need to get your passport today?  Do you need an emergency passport?  Well, you’re not alone.  In an effort to keep passports in a safe place, passport holders often put them in too safe a place and end up losing their passports altogether.  Stolen passports are also possible, but passport theft usually occurs once a passport holder is traveling.  People also lose their passports during travel.

In you recall a previous Rush Passport passport blog entry introduced our readers to Mexican soccer player, Carlos Vela.  In April 2010, Vela lost his passport and ended up missing the biggest game of his career – after he was unable to travel to Barcelona for the Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final soccer match.  His team lost the match and now Vela actually takes his passport with him to bed! 

The latest passport blunder came at the hands of another athlete, star cricket player Graeme Swann.  Swann realized that his passport was lost right just 48 hours before departure for a big match in Australia.

Swann actually tweeted to his 78,000 Twitter followers “Are passports still absolutely required to travel overseas? If so then I fear today may be one of frantic searching.”

Twitter would not have been my first choice if I discovered that my passport was missing 48 hours before a scheduled flight abroad.  I would’ve called Rush Passport™!

However, all turned out fine five hours later when Swann again turned to Twitter to add: “My passport turned up in my ‘safe’ place, down the back of my kitchen bin.”

Losing a passport is no fun!  But, here’s some advice: Don’t go to Twitter – visit Rush Passport™.

If you are a US citizen and you are interested in getting an expedited US Passport 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.

Passport News Update: Passport Policy Changes in Effect September 8, 2010

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”>Passport Visa WaiverThe 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.

Passport Status for Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange

Monday, May 31st, 2010
Wikileaks Passport

Juian Assange, Wikileaks founder.

Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder, recently experienced some passport complications in his home country of Australia.  Wikileaks according to their own words is a website that “Publishes and comments on leaked documents alleging government and corporate misconduct.”   Upon arriving at Melbourne Airport, officials took his passport from him and told him that it looked worn.  It is standard policy for officials to hold passports for closer examination if they appear damaged.  

However, this turned out to be a bit more than a routine examination when after 15 minutes, the passport was returned and Assange was told by customs officials that his passport was about to be canceled.  Then after a half hour, Assange was approached by a customs official who searched his belongings and questioned about his criminal record relating to computer hacking offenses in 1991.

In 2009, Assange gained notoriety in Australia for published a list of websites that the Australian government planned to block under new Internet filtering laws.  Wikileaks has also been known to post Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports and footage of US forces behaving in questionable manners.

Australian Immigration officials maintain that Assange’s passport is classified as ‘normal’ on their immigration database and that the Wikileaks founder can travel freely on it.

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.

Qatar Refuses Visas to US and UK Citizens

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Visa Qatar

Qatar has made a decision not to grant visas upon arrival to citizens of several countries, including the United Kindgom and the United States starting May 1st, 2010.  Passport holders planning to visit Qatar must obtain visas prior to arrival.

Previously, British and United States nationals along with passport holders of 33 countries were issued visas upon arrival at the airport.  Americans traveling to Qatar starting May 1st, 2010 are advised to consult with either the Qatari government’s online portal or Qatari embassies for details on applying for a visa.  Travelers from Italy, France, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia also stand to be affected by this change.

For passport holder from other countries, gaining an entry visa will be complicated.  Starting May 1st, you will need either a company of government organization as a guarantor on the Qatari side.  Unlike embassies in most other countries, Qatari embassies do not issue visas.  Top hotels offer for a fee full visa services, when booking rooms with them.   Qatar Airways can also arrange visa services.

For lengthy stays, hotels and airlines are not viable as visas must be arranged by sponsor.   Additionally, due to safety concerns unmarried women under the age of 35 years old will experience difficulty gaining a visa for a lengthy stay.

While there are rumors to the contrary, information at the time of this article (April 2010) indicates that Israeli passport holders with valid visas are permitted in Qatar.

Happy trails!  Bring sunblock!

Why You Should Get Your Passport Now

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Get Your Passport Quick

Don’t miss out on all the fun!

Top events in 2010 include:

1) Riding with the Australian Cowboys in the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive

2) Going on a Safari during the Annual Kalahari Bushmen’s initiation hunt in Botswana, Africa

3) Witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse from the remote Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island

4) Partying it up at Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

5) Taking a ride on the luxurious Maharajas’ Express, India’s newest, highly anticipated super train

6) Getting into all of the excitement at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

If you plan to partake in any of these events or any others, here’s some advice: Get your passports now!  Why?  Later this year, the State Department may be increasing their rates to $135 for adults who wish to obtain a first-time passport.   For travelers under 16 years of age, the cost of a passport could go up to $105.  Passport renewal is expected to jump to $110.  Also, more and more American travelers are discovering that places (Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda) that previously did not require passports by land or sea, require them now.   Passports were already required for returns through United States airports.

Even if you missed “Passport Day in the USA” on March 27, it is not too late to take advantage of the rates before they increase.

Visas

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

What is a U.S. Visa?

 A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States first must obtain a United States Visa, to be inserted inside the traveler’s passport.   

United States citizens do not need to obtain a U.S. Visa for travel.  However, when traveling abroad may require a visa issued by the embassy of the country intend to visit. 

You can find the necessary forms here: