Posts Tagged ‘Brazil visa’
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.
Tags: argentina visa, Brazil visa, emergency passport, how to get a passport, how to get a visa, India visa, manhattan passport office, mexico visa, nonimmigrant visa, NY Passport, passport, Passport holders, passport office, passport photos, passports, Rio de Janeiro, rush passport, Taiwan visa, US Passport Card, Visa, visa application, visa-waiver program, visas
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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.
Tags: argentina visa, Brazil visa, emergency passport, how to get a passport, how to get a visa, India visa, manhattan passport office, NY Passport, passport, Passport holders, passport office, passports, rush passport, Taiwan visa, US Passport Card, Visa, visa application, visa-waiver program, visas
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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.
Tags: American Passport, american visa, bloomberg.com, Brazil visa, brazilian visa, China visa, chinese visa, India visa, Indian visa, passport, Passport holders, passport ny, passport nyc, rush passport, United States, US passport, US visa, visa ny, visa nyc, visa-waiver program
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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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Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
With the US Passport service fee increases now in effect as of July 13th, I wondered how America’s passport fees measure up against the rest of the world. I had several questions: Were our passport fees the most expensive? Which country charges the most for a new passport? Which country charges the least?
What are the rates of passports around the globe?
I decided to do some research and I turned to google to search results for the cost of passports around the world.
My passport fee research looked promising as I was pleased to find a chart put together by the British government that listed passport fees from around the world as of May 2009. You can access the passport chart here. However my passport research hit a bump in the road when I noticed that the fees were listed in their original currencies as exchange rates vary more than passport fees. Also, I discovered that some countries offer passports that are only valid for 5 years while other countries offer passports that are valid for 10 years.
So in order to compare apples to apples, I had to put all passport fees on a level playing field. I utilized the Google Currency Converter and Yahoo Currency Converter with currency rates as of July 7, 2010 to make the process of deciphering passport fees from around the world a bit easier. Also, passport fees that were valid for 5 years were doubled so that all passports are on the 10 year scale.
Let’s start off with the highest passport fees in the world. So, which country has the highest passport fees in the world? That distinction belongs to Turkey. The cost of a Turkish passport valid for 10 years is a whopping $642.11 The least expensive passport is from Georgia (and I don’t mean the state in the US) which comes in at approximately $20.00 for a 10 year passport.
Interestingly enough, the United Kingdom passport runs at just under $110 USD. An Australian passport will cost you about $180 – that’s an awful lot of “shrimp on the barbie”. You would think that the Belgian passports come with diamonds, chocolates or even waffles – but for $180 you only get a passport. Canadians have to shell out a lot of bacon as their passports cost over $165. Japanese passports don’t leave much money over for sushi as they cost $182. New Zealand passports are even more expensive at just over $211. Portugal also makes the top ten coming in at a bit over $151 for a 10 year passport. Brazilian passports round out the list with passport fees of $140. Malaysian passports rake in $187 per person. Currently, with the passport price hike the US barely makes the top ten list at $135.
Here are the top 10 most expensive passports in the world:
| 1. Turkey |
$642.11 |
| 2. New Zealand |
$211.07 |
| 3. Malaysia |
$187.56 |
| 4. Japan |
$182.33 |
| 5. Australia |
$180.00 |
| 6. Belgium |
$179.36 |
| 7. Canada |
$165.82 |
| 8. Portugal |
$151.57 |
| 9. Brazil |
$140.00 |
| 10. USA |
$135.00 |
Here are all of the passport fees results listed alphabetically by country:
| Australia |
$180.00 |
| Austria |
$88.29 |
| Belgium |
$179.36 |
| Brazil |
$140.00 |
| Bulgaria |
$106.60 |
| Canada |
$165.82 |
| China |
$47.50 |
| Croatia |
$38.53 |
| Czech Republic |
$29.77 |
| Denmark |
$101.68 |
| Estonia |
$36.27 |
| Finland |
$116.21 |
| France |
$112.42 |
| Georgia |
$20.21 |
| Germany |
$74.52 |
| Greece |
$66.69 |
| Hungary |
$88.35 |
| Iceland |
$81.43 |
| India |
$21.38 |
| Ireland |
$101.05 |
| Israel |
$56.68 |
| Italy |
$107.30 |
| Japan |
$182.33 |
| Latvia |
$53.30 |
| Lithuania |
$21.88 |
| Luxembourg |
$75.79 |
| Malaysia |
$187.56 |
| Malta |
$88.42 |
| Netherlands |
$125.30 |
| New Zealand |
$211.07 |
| Norway |
$70.39 |
| Poland |
$43.28 |
| Portugal |
$151.57 |
| Romania |
$69.72 |
| Singapore |
$115.67 |
| Slovakia |
$46.35 |
| Slovenia |
$45.47 |
| South Africa |
$21.65 |
| Spain |
$37.89 |
| Sweden |
$105.56 |
| Switzerland |
$132.31 |
| Taiwan |
$36.00 |
| Thailand |
$61.60 |
| Trinidad & Tobago |
$78.74 |
| Turkey |
$642.11 |
| United Kingdom |
$109.26 |
| USA |
$135.00 |
You can always contact Rush Passport™ for all of your passport needs. 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: American Passport, Australia passport, Australian passport, Australian visa, Belgian passport, Belgium passport, Belgium visa, Brazil Passport, Brazil visa, Brazilian passport, Canada passport, Canadian passport, China passport, China visa, India passport, India visa, Japan passport, Japan visa, Japanese passport, Malaysia passport, Malaysia visa, Malaysian passport, new passport, New Zealand Passport, New Zealand visa, passport, passports, passports around the world, Portugal passport, Portugal visa, rush passport, Thailand passport, Thailand visa, Turkey passport, Turkey visa, UK Passport, UK visa, US passport, US Passport Card, US Passport fee, valid passport
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, Passport Services | No Comments »
Monday, July 5th, 2010
Maybe you didn’t get your passport in time, or maybe you were one of the soccer hooligans from the UK who had to turn in their passports, but if you haven’t heard – Germany beat
Passport Ponderings About World Cup Players
Argentina in the World Cup Semi-Finals on Saturday by a score of 4-0. I watched the game surrounded by an Argentinean contingent and it was not any fun as they were all dejected. I am not a big soccer fan, but as I watched the game, I noticed something didn’t seem right…
Serdar Tasci, Marko Marin, Mesut Özil, Piotr Trochowski, Cacau, Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose, and Lukas Podolski all play for the German National Team.
However, those names do not sound German at all! Did anyone check their passports? I began to question the countries of origin of many of the players. I decided to do a little research and I checked out the World Cup Team Germany roster on ESPN’s website . All in all, there are 23 players on the roster. Just about 50% of those players, 11 to be exact, have roots in other countries. The following is a list of German players and their ancestral roots:
Serdar Tasci – Turkey
Dennis Aogo – Nigeria
Jerome Boateng – Ghana
Sami Khedira – Tunisia
Marko Marin – Bosnia
Mesut Özil – Turkey
Piotr Trochowski – Poland
Cacau – Brazil
Mario Gomez – Spain
Miroslav Klose – Poland
Lukas Podolski – Poland
In contrast, the Argentinean players all appear to be Argentinean. See the World Cup Team Argentina roster on ESPN’s website.
As it turns out, Germany does in fact have several players with foreign passports. The rules are somewhat confusing, so I’m not going to bore you too much, but I will say that Germany acted within the rules set forth by FIFA.
The national teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a special case. All of their “home countries” are part of one national state, the United Kingdom. There is no such thing as English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish citizenship.
A player holding a British passport is eligible to play for the country of his birth, the country of the birth of either of his natural parents or the country of birth of any of his natural grandparents.
In addition, under UK law, a player (or anyone else, for that matter) who was born abroad will become eligible for a British passport after five years of lawful residence in the country.
I don’t mean to suggest that Germany would not have won without their players who hold foreign passports, but I just find the whole thing rather interesting and confusing at the same time.
Whether or not you are a soccer player, if you need to get a US Passport or get a US Passport card, feel free to call Rush Passport™ 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at Tri-State Area 212- 643-9305, Toll Free: 1-877-937-7277 or Nationwide: 1-877-937-8472.
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Top 10 Toughest Countries to Get a Visa
American citizens usually can travel freely across foreign borders, however there is a rising trend of reciprocity for restrictions that the U.S. places on incoming visitors. More and more countries are requiring Americans to come prepared with pre-issued tourist visas that carry fees as high as $400. Chile, for example, charges U.S. nationals surcharges in the form of exit and entry fees at airports. In addition to an increase in fees, most countries require that your passport be valid for six months prior to entry that it contain several empty pages. These ever-changing visa regulations means that travelers must be careful to know the requirements before purchasing airline tickets. According to Roman Yagudaev, President of Rush Passport™, the premiere passport and visa specialists, “Several of our customers book costly excursions to destinations without taking into account departure dates as they correspond to the most up-to-date visa regulations.”
Below are the top 10 countries to be aware of when booking your next exotic vacation.
- China. Many Americans are taken by surprise by China’s $130 fee for a single-entry visa. China also requires applicants or visa specialist to arrive in person at one of six consulates across the U.S. to submit the forms and visa fee.
- India. Visa requirements have changed and continue to change so much that many travelers find it difficult to keep up to date on the latest changes. For more information you can contact us 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at Tri-State Area 212- 643-9305, Toll Free: 1-877-937-7277 or Nationwide: 1-877-937-8472.
- North Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea does not share diplomatic relations with the United States and there are no North Korean embassies in the U.S. , nor is there an American embassy in North Korea. U.S. travelers can use the Swedish Embassy as long as they are escorted by North Korean “guides” for the duration of the visit. According to various sources, visas are not usually granted to Americans.
- Russia. Russia’s visa process can be a bit complex, especially the requirement of a letter of invitation, written in Russian. Rush Passport™ can offer assistance in obtaining this letter. Also, be prepared to answer extensive questions on topics such as medical insurance, military service, employment history, and educational background.
- Democratic Republic of Congo. Similar to Russia, the DRC also requires a notarized invitation. You will also need an International Certificate of Immunization as proof that you have received the yellow fever vaccination. In addition, travelers have been known to experience difficulties upon entering and exiting the country such as being detained, passport confiscation, and payment of unofficial ‘fees’.
- Saudi Arabia. Visa requirements are very limited. There are special visas issued to government-approved tour groups and even travelers with layovers or who are passing through may need to apply for a transit visa. In addition, women are subjected to stricter rules such as being required to be met by sponsors at the arrival point and having to be accompanied by a male relative for the duration.
- Angola. The U.S. State Department warns of excessive waiting times to receive a tourist visa. Travelers must provide proof of immunization, two invitations, and means of financial support. Approval time can take several months.
- Cuba. The official United States position on tourism to Cuba is that it is not allowed. Travel is only available for specific purposes such as visiting family, educational and religious travel. U.S. travelers can get there from Canada, but are advised not to have yout U.S. passport stamped by Cuban authorities.
- Brazil. High visa fees, inconsistent visa timetables and a no smile rule in effect for passport photos make this destination a tough place to visit.
- Iran. Just like North Korea, Iran and the U.S. do not have diplomatic representation in their respective countries. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran and the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., must provide assistance to travelers wishing to obtain tourist visas.
If you have any questions about obtaining a visa to any of the countries mentioned above or to anywhere else in the world, feel free to call Rush Passport™ 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at Tri-State Area 212- 643-9305, Toll Free: 1-877-937-7277 or Nationwide: 1-877-937-8472.
Tags: angola visa, Brazil visa, China visa, congo visa, cuba visa, India visa, iran visa, north korea visa, Russia visa, saudi arabia visa
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Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Brazil + Russia + India + China = BRIC Countries
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev just got another stamp in his passport after making the first visit by a Russian president ever to Argentina. President Medvedev was received by his Argentinian counterpart, Cristina Kirchner. 2010 marks 125 years since the Russia and Argentina first established diplomatic relations. The focus of the visit involved boosting trade between the nations as well as energy cooperation. Can you guess Argentina’s #1 export to Russia? That’s right, beef! As a matter of fact, Russians consume so much Argentinean beef that they now maintain a substantial trade deficit with Argentina. It seems that caviar is not so big in Argentina.
While Argentina leads in the area of export, they are looking to Russia for its energy needs. Russia has expertise in hydroelectric energy equipment and Argentina and Russia seem eager to cooperate within the oil sector. There has been a marked improvement in relations between Russia and Argentina in recent years, dating back to 2008 when the two countries agreed to waive visa requirements for travel between the two countries.
With an expressed interest in cultivating global ties, Medvedev will continue to add stamps to his passport as he is on to Brazil, to participate in the second summit of the BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India, and China. At this rate, Medvedev will need to add some pages to his passport soon.
Tags: Argentina, Brazil visa, BRIC countries, China visa, India visa, Russia visa
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