Posts Tagged ‘visas’
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
Posted in Latest Passport News, Visa | Comments Off
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
Posted in Passport Services, Visa | Comments Off
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
Tags: Australia, australia visa, Brazil, Brazil visa, Cambodia, do I need a visa to travel to russia, emergency passport, emergency visa, India, passport, passport holder, passport ny, passport photos, passport US, passports, rush passport, rush visa, Russia, US visa, Visa, visa expediter, visas
Posted in Visa | Comments Off
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.
Tags: add passport pages, adult passport, celebrity passports, child passport, passport agency ny, passport agent, passport booklets, passport cards, Passport Day in the USA, passport expediting, passport expeditors, passport office ny, passport office nyc, passport photos, passport renewal, passport replacement, Passport Services, passports, rush passport, US passport, visas
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, 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 »
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Passport fraud is more prevalent than expected as evidenced by the results of “Operation Goalkeeper”; a recent passport initiative launched at US – Mexico borders. During the weeklong passport sting, customs officers seized 107 fraudulently obtained / counterfeit passports and visas at the following five ports of entry: San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico and the Andrade border crossings.
People are trying more and more creative ways to cross the US - Mexico Border.
Between June 7th and June 13th, “Operation Goalkeeper” targeted individuals attempting to present stolen, lost, counterfeit or altered passports to illegally enter the United States.
The passport security team consisted of officers from various agencies including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Customs and Border Protection and the United States Attorney’s Office.
In all, Customs and Border Protection officers stopped 47 violators with counterfeit or altered passports and visas. There were an additional 60 impostors who were carrying genuine passports that belonged to different people.
As a result of the passport sting operation, the United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting a total of 39 cases of passport and visa fraud. Another 60 individuals were instead deported to Mexico and will never be eligible for lawful entry into the United States. (That won’t prevent them from trying again when the security is not as tight.)
To me, it seems mind blowing that on a weekly basis they were able to catch over 100 perpetrators of passport fraud. It makes one wonder how many violators were not caught, just how many individuals are here illegally and how many more will be crossing our borders without valid passports in the near future. More importantly, what is the effect that this has on our society?
If you are interested in obtaining a valid US Passport or US Passport Card, 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: Operation Goalkeeper, passport fraud, passport initiative, passport security, passport sting, passports, rush passport, US passport, US Passport Card, valid passports, visas
Posted in Latest Passport News | 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 »
Friday, June 18th, 2010
Earlier this month, through Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh launched plans for the long-anticipated machine readable passports (MRPs) and visas. The move is aimed at meeting the demands of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Just two months after the international deadline set by the ICAO, the Bangladeshi government assigned the Malaysia-based IRIS Corporation Barhad to begin production on the machine-readable passports and visas.
Due to security concerns, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had suggested that all countries of the world introduce machine readable passports and machine readable visas by April 1, 2010.
The plan is for manually processed passports to be rendered obsolete starting in 2011. Under the worldwide initiative, immigration officials all over the globe would no longer accept manually processed passports.
The current system in Bangladesh presents a security risk. Since passports are written by hand and photos are manually glued into the passport books, it provides an atmosphere where the manual passports are easy to forge. In addition, the absence of a comprehensive national passport database allows the opportunity for fraud and error as in some cases; there is more than one passport in the name of the same person. This is a $75 million project in which the over 6 million Bangladeshi passports will be gradually rolled out over a three-year period.
If you are interested in traveling to Bangladesh, 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: Bangladesh passport, Bangladeshi passport, machine readable passport, machine readable visas, MRPs, passport, passports, rush passport, Visa, visas
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services | Comments Off
Saturday, April 17th, 2010
Canada and Mexico had a recent fallout over visas, but it seems that their rocky past is behind them amidst news of a Canadian special invitation-only program being offered to Mexican business travellers.
Those participating in this program will have the ability to get their visa requests processed within 24 hours. This ruling does not effect passport requests.
Canada and Mexico are vital to eachother’s trading as they are among eachother’s greatest trade partners. Canada hopes that welcoming Mexican travellers to do business together will help fuel the economic recovery of both nations.
This new view expresses a different tone than the Canadian government portrayed last year, when it announced that Mexicans visiting Canada would require visas. This requirement was also put into effect for citizens of the Czech Republic, causing backlash from both countries.
The reason for the new rule was to squelch the influx of Mexican and Czech Republic refugee applications to Canada. Experts maintained that the move created a ”visa war” that had the potential to damage trade relations between Canada and several areas of the world.
Of course, Mexico retaliated, stating that it would require visas of all Canadian diplomats, while wisely making Canadian tourists exempt from this requirement. Economic reasons swayed Mexico to make the tourist exemption.
Now the Canadian government has done a 180 degree turn and established a new program at their visa office in Mexico City designed to assist employees of Mexican companies who frequently travel to Canada.
This new initiative is by invitation only as businesses with vital connections to Canada will be authorized by the Canadian Embassy. In order to gain invites, businesses will need to maintain positive track records of sending employees to Canada and having them return without incident. Over 100 companies have already been invited to take advantage of this program. This program is patterned after a similar program that proved to be successful when it was instituted in New Delhi, India in 2008.
Let’s hope that this step in the right direction for Canadian-Mexican relations helps to boost the economies of both nations.
From a United States perspective, keep in mind, US passports are necessary to travel to Canada as well as Mexico.
Tags: 24 hours, Canada Visa, Canadian, Canadian Embassy, Czech Republic, Mexican visa, visas
Posted in Latest Passport News, Visa | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
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!
Tags: Australia, Canada, citizens, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, passport, Passport holders, Qatar, United Kingdom, United States, valid visas, visa services, visas
Posted in Latest Passport News, Visa | Comments Off
