Archive for September, 2009

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Getting a Vietnamese Visa for Vietnam’s Year of Tourism

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

For 2010, Vietnam is celebrating a National Year of Tourism. Actually, they are  kicking it off a little bit early, on October10, 2009,  according to this article on Bernama.com.

The kick-off celebration will include many exciting activities for Vietnamese citizens and travelers alike, including art performances, music performances like  Chinese traditional operettas and traditional folk songs, martial art exhibitions and calligraphy.

The celebration of the National Year of Tourism will continue on through 2010, of course.  According to the Vietnamese government’s tourism site, the entire country will be participating. Vietnam is also celebrating the 1,000-year anniversary of the founding of its capital, Hanoi, so many events will be held there. There will will an emphasis on environmentally-friendly tourism opportunities, a tour guide competition, an international gastronomy festival in Hanoi, and much more.

With the increased emphasis on tourism, now is a great time to go to Vietnam. However, do make sure to apply for your Vietnamese visa before you leave. Vietnam does not issue visas on arrival, and you can’t get in without one.

Compared to other countries, getting a Vietnamese visa is relatively simple. You do need the following documents:

  • Your US passport
  • A completed Vietnamese visa application
  • A recent passport photo

A private passport expediting company, like RushMyTravelVisa.com, can make getting a Vietnamese visa faster and easier.  RushMyTravelVisa streamlines the application process by providing you with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.

You’ll work with a trained visa specialist, who will review your documents to make sure everything is in order  before submitting it to the consulate. This ensures that your visa application is processed as quickly as possible.

Apply for your Vietnamese visa today!

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How To Get a Brazilian Visa In LA

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Right now, getting a Brazilian visa in LA is not an easy task.  Wait times have gone through the roof (at least 10 working days) as the consulate switches over to a new online application system.

With a backlog of applications to process, the Consulate is currently only allowing visa expediting services to submit one application per day. Even visa agencies are having difficulty getting Brazilian visa applications processed in a timely manner!

Even if you don’t live anywhere near LA, you could be affected. The Brazilian visa system is what’s called a jurisdictional system. That means that you can’t simply apply for a Brazilian visa at any Brazilian consulate.  You have to apply at the Brazilian consulate that services people in your area. The LA Consulate serves people who live in the following states:

  • California
  • Arizona
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Nevada
  • Utah
  • Wyoming

So, if you live in one of those states, how do you go about getting a visa? Well, basically you have two options: apply yourself, or go through a visa agency like RushMyTravelVisa.com.

If don’t live in or near LA, an expediting company is without a doubt your best choice. You see, the Brazilian consulate doesn’t take visa applications by mail. So, unless you use an expediter, either you or your family must travel to LA in person to submit the application.

Even if you live in LA, you’ll still find it difficult to get a Brazilian visa on your own. Visa applications are processed by appointment only, and they only set up appointments between 9am and 12pm.

Here’s yet another reason to go with a visa expediting company: the Brazilian application process is not at all straightforward, and if you make a mistake, you have to resubmit your paperwork all over again.  Expediting companies like RushMyTravelVisa  can review your application to catch mistakes before they hold up your visa.The current backlog means that the waiting period is long enough without having to go through it twice!

Since visa services are only able to process one visa per day, some companies have simply stopped offering Brazilian visas to people who live in the LA consulate’s jurisdiction.  Not RushMyTravelVisa.com!

We are still here to help travelers who need Brazilian visas in this jurisdiction. We’ll research your situation, help you with the application materials, and make sure that every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed before we take it to the consulate. Then, we’ll get your visa on its way to you as soon as we have it.

Trust us to make the visa application process as easy and fast as possible…apply for your Brazilian visa today!

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Getting a Russian Tourist Visa

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Moscow is a beautiful city with some interesting historic attractions, like the imposing fortress of the Kremlin and the iconic onion-shaped domes of  St. Basil’s Cathedral.  However, if you want to visit Moscow to see the sites, you will need to obtain a Russian tourist visa first.

This is not as easy as it sounds. Russia has a visa system that the US Department of State’s website calls “restrictive and complicated.”  Here’s a list of what you need to get a Russian tourist visa:

  • Your passport.
  • A completed visa application form
  • 1 passport photo
  • A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you’ll be in Russia.
  • A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hotel or travel agency  must be registered with the Russian government.
  • A hotel voucher from your hotel.

The Russian visa system can be difficult to navigate on your own. To make sure your vacation happens as planned, you might want to consider using a visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com.  We can research your situation and make sure you have all the required documents. We can also obtain a tourist invitation letter for you if one of is not provided by your travel agency.

Plus, we’ll provide you with a helpful checklist with clear, easy-to-follow instructions for filling out the paperwork and sending it in. Then, we’ll forward it to the appropriate Russian consulate for expedited processing.

By using an expediting company, you’ll get personal, professional help navigating Russia’s complex visa system.  With RushMyTravelVisa.com, you can spend less time on paperwork and more time preparing for your trip.

Apply for your Russian visa today!

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Get a Cambodian Visa To Experience the Magic of Angkor Wat

Friday, September 25th, 2009

One of the main tourist attractions in Cambodia is the ancient temple of Angkor Wat. The temple, built in the 1100’s by the Khmer king Suryavarman II, is an incredible work of architecture that rivals and even surpasses other, more well-known buildings.

Made out of stone, the temple towers over the surrounding landscape. It is richly decorated, both inside and out, with statues and bas-relief sculptures. Angkor Wat was built as a Hindi temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu. Then, later, in the 13th century, the new King Srindravarman changed the state religion of Cambodia from Hinduism to Buddhism and converted Angkor Wat into a Buddhist shrine.  However,  you don’t have to be Hindu or Buddhist to appreciate the temple’s monumental beauty and grandeur.

Over the past 20 years, restoration and conservation has been ongoing at the temple.  Tourism at the temple has boomed in recent years as well-according to Wikipedia, 561,000 tourists visited in  2004 and 677,000 visited in 2005. Angkor Wat is one of the defining features of the Cambodian landscape and is featured prominently on the country’s flag.

To visit Angkor Wat, you will need a passport and a Cambodian tourist visa.  You should definitely make sure that you have all your paperwork in order before you plan to leave. To get a Cambodian visa, you’ll need the following items:

  • A Cambodian visa application (available here).
  • A passport-sized photo
  • A US passport that will be valid for at least 6 months after you enter Cambodia.
  • A copy of your itinerary.

When applying for a Cambodian visa (or any foreign visa, for that matter), using an expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com can make the process go faster and more smoothly. You’ll get help from a professional visa specialist, a handy checklist to help you gather all of the necessary information, and help with the paperwork.

Apply for your Cambodian visa today!

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Getting a Brazilian Visa For a Business Trip

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America, and the tenth largest in the world, according to Wikipedia. As the Brazilian economy has boomed in recent years, business travel to Brazil has risen, too. In fact, according to the ICCA, the city of Sao Paulo is the 12th most popular city in the world for international business meetings.

To attend a business meeting or conference in Brazil, you need to get a Brazilian visa.  Brazil has very specific requirements for business applicants. Here’s a checklist of what you will need:

  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you plan to arrive in Brazil.
  • One passport-style photo.
  • A completed Brazilian visa application form.
  • A photocopy of your driver’s license.
  • A copy of your travel itinerary.
  • A business letter from your employer. The letter must state how long you have  worked at the company, how long you are staying in Brazil, and the purpose of the meeting or conference.
  • A business letter from the Brazilian company you are meeting with, describing what you will be doing in Brazil and how long you are expected to be there.
  • If attending a conference, an invitation and/or proof of registration.
  • You will also need a yellow fever vaccine certificate if you’ve been to any country where the disease is endemic in the past 90 days.
  • Payment of the appropriate visa fees.

To make applying for a Brazilian visa easier, use a private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com. We’ll research your specific situation and find out exactly what you need to get your visa. Then, we’ll give you detailed, easy-to-follow instructions and a handy checklist to use as you complete the paperwork. Finally, we’ll make sure everything is in order before we send your paperwork to the appropriate Brazilian consulate, providing you faster service by reducing the odds of your visa being delayed.

Apply for your Brazilian visa today!

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Getting a Visa for a Business Trip to India

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Over the past few years, India has become an increasingly popular place for American companies to do business.  That means that more and more Americans are traveling to India on business trips, to attend industry conferences or to meet personally with Indian partners.

If your company decides to send you on a business trip to India, you’ll need an Indian travel visa  before you leave.  Naturally, business travelers will need a business visa to enter the country. Here’s what you need to have to get one:

  • A completed Indian visa application form
  • Your US passport. Your passport must be valid for 6 months from the time you apply and have at least 2 blank pages.
  • 2 passport photos
  • A copy of your travel itinerary
  • A copy of your driver’s license
  • 2 business letters of responsibility, one from your company and one from the Indian company you will be meeting with. The business letters of responsibility must state the nature of your business and how long you plan to stay. Also, the Indian company must specify how long your visa needs to be valid for.
  • If you are traveling to India to attend a conference, you will need a conference invitation letter.

If you’re planning for a business trip, you have enough on your plate without having to worry about getting a visa. Let RushMyTravelVisa.com handle that part for you! We’ll research your situation and walk you through the visa application process.  You’ll work with a visa specialist to ensure that all of your paperwork is in order before it is submitted to the consulate, and you’ll get faster processing with fewer mistakes.

Apply for your Indian visa today!

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Getting a Chinese Visa For the Mid-Autumn Festival

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Dating back to at least 3,000 years ago, the  Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of China’s most ancient celebrations.  The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival to celebrate the fall equinox.

Traditionally, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by visiting   family members, drinking wine, eating sweet, round, fruit-flavored cakes called mooncakes, and playing under the light of the full moon.

According to Chinavoc.com, there are also special local activities, depending on what part of China you are in.  For example, in Guangzhou, a spectacular lantern display lights up the night.  In Zhejiang Province, people gather to watch the mighty Qian-tang River at high tide, since the high tide that occurs during the Mid-Autumn Festival is the fiercest high tide of the year.

This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on October 3rd. If you’d like to go, you’ll need a Chinese tourist visa (an L Visa). To get one, you must submit an application, your passport and a passport photo. You’ll also need a travel itinerary if you are leaving in the next 7 days.

At RushMyTravelVisa.com, we can help you put together all of the necessary paperwork to expedite your Chinese visa. You’ll work with a trained visa specialist and get a detailed checklist of everything that needs to be done in order for your application to be processed.

Ready to go? Apply for your Chinese visa with us today!

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Types of Ghanaian Visas

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Traveling to Ghana is definitely an adventure that requires planning ahead. One important step in preparing for a trip to Ghana is obtaining the correct type of travel visa.

Fortunately, determining what type of Ghanaian visa to apply for is pretty simple. Ghana’s visa classification system is straightforward, especially compared to some other countries.  Unless you are traveling to Ghana on official government business, you’ll need one of the following types of visas:

A tourist visa if you are a tourist or visiting friends or family.

A business visa if you traveling on business.

A student visa if you are going to Ghana to study.

Ghanaian visas can also be either single-entry or multiple-entry. A single entry visa is valid for 3 months and only allows you to enter and leave Ghana once. A multiple entry visa allows you to enter and leave more than once, and is valid for an entire year. If you need a multiple entry visa, you should submit a brief letter with your application explaining why it is necessary.

Choosing the right type of visa may be easy enough, but applications and paperwork can be confusing and intimidating. If you need a visa for Ghana, a visa expediting company can help you cut through the red tape.

When you work with RushMyTravel visa, you get detailed instructions, a helpful checklist and personal service from a professional visa specialist. This makes applying for a visa much less stressful and time-consuming, plus it reduces the chance of making a mistake that could delay your application.

Give yourself the VIP treatment-apply for a Ghanaian visa with us today!

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Types of Brazilian Visas

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Whether you’re going to Brazil to spend time on the beach, enjoy the nightlife in Rio de Janeiro or explore the Amazon rainforest, two items should be at the very top of your packing list: your passport and your visa.

All American citizens traveling to Brazil are required to carry the appropriate type of Brazilian travel visa.  There are quite a few different types of Brazilian visas, so make sure you apply for the right one!   To help you out, we’ve listed some common travel situations along with the corresponding types of visas.

Tourism

The first type of Brazilian visa is the tourist visa. Obviously, if you’re traveling to Brazil as a tourist, you’ll need one of these.  However, there are several other situations that also require a tourist visa.

For example, scientists and other members of academia need a tourist visa to attend conferences.  People competing in amateur competitions, like sports competitions, would also need a tourist visa. So would people going to Brazil to visit friends or family.

Temporary Visas

In addition to the tourist visa, Brazil’s visa system has several different types of temporary visas. This is where their system can get confusing. Here are some examples.

If you are a student, you’ll need a Temporary Visa I if you are an exchange student (undergrad level or below) and a Temporary Visa IV if you are in Brazil for graduate or post-graduate level studies.

Interns and other unpaid trainees need a Temporary Visa I.

If you are an athlete, you’ll need a Temporary Visa I if you’re an amateur in Brazil to train and a Temporary Visa III if you’re a professional athlete who is getting paid. (more…)

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Types of Bolivian Visas

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Each country has its own rules regarding visits from American citizens.  Bolivia requires that any American citizen traveling in to the country have the appropriate type of visa.

The type of visa you’ll get is based on the purpose of your trip.  Fortunately, Bolivia’s visa system is relatively straightforward.  Unless you are a diplomat on official business, there are three types of visas to choose from:

Tourist visas- Bolivian tourist visas are for people who want to visit Bolivia as tourists or who want to visit  friends or relatives.  Tourist visas are valid for a period of 5 years. During that 5 year period, you can visit Bolivia 3 times, but each visit can be no longer than 90 days.

Business visas- Bolivian business visas are for people entering Bolivia on business.  They are generally single-entry, and you can only stay for 30 days.

Employment visas- Bolivian employment visas are for people who plan to live and work in Bolivia.  A personal interview is required for an employment visa, which means you can’t apply through an expediting agency.

If you need a tourist visa, you can apply for one when you arrive in Bolivia. But should you? It’s much easier to already have your visa in hand before you leave-why risk getting held up at the airport unnecessarily? Plus, you have to pay the $135 fee in cash at the airport-they don’t take American Express (or Visa, or traveler’s checks, or any other form of payment).

By applying for a tourist visa ahead of time, you greatly increase your chances of a hassle-free entry into Bolivia.  At RushMyTravelVisa, we can help you with the visa paperwork and submit it to the appropriate consulate or embassy for you. This makes applying for a visa extremely simple, so you don’t have to take any more time out of your busy schedule than necessary.

Plus, using an expediting service can help prevent mistakes that could delay processing.

Apply for your Bolivian travel visa with us today!

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