Archive for November, 2009

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Apply For a Kazakhstan Visa

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

When you think about Kazakhstan, the first thing that comes it mind is most likely the title character of the movie Borat. However, if you were to actually travel to Kazakhstan, you might be surprised. The country has a growing economy, an educated populace (according to Wikipedia, the literacy rate is 99.5%) and is far from the cultural backwater portrayed in the movie.

Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world, and visitors can look forward to seeing many different types of scenery, including mountains, steppes, grasslands and deserts.  Community ecotourism programs are available, so you can stay with local villagers and get a feel for the community. (Again, please try to forget Borat. People aren’t really like that here.)

You can also indulge in kumis, a drink made from fermented mare’s milk that is popular here. Hey…don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

If you’re more of the urban type, Kazakhstan’s main cities, Astana and Almaty, are interesting cities with a lot to offer the traveler, including shopping, museums, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Of course, to travel to Kazakhstan, you will need a passport and a Kazakhstan visa.  Here’s what you need to have to apply for a Kazakhstan tourist visa:

  • One visa application form
  • 1 passport photo
  • A  cover letter explaining what you are planning to do in Kazakhstan and when you plan to be there. If you are staying for 30 days or less, you can write the letter yourself. However, if you are staying 30 days or more, your host to needs to get an invitation letter for you issued by the Kazakhstan department of foreign affairs.

Another item to consider is whether or not you will need a transit visa if your flight itinerary takes you through a third country. For example, you need a Russian transit visa just to change planes in Russia!

RushMyTravelVisa.com will be happy to research the visa requirements for your entire trip.  We can also help you with the paperwork for any required visas and expedite your visa processing.

Let us help you apply for your Kazakhstan visa!

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Get a Paraguay Tourist Visa To Check Out Asunción

Friday, November 13th, 2009

When it comes to tourism, Paraguay has long gotten a bad rap. The country is known as South America’s “empty quarter.” Writer PJ O’Rourke once observed that “Paraguay is nowhere and famous for nothing.”

So, what does Paraguay have to offer tourists? As it turns out, lots.  Even PJ O’Rourke ended up falling in love with the country during a brief press visit to cover the local elections.

A trip to Paraguay would not be complete without a visit to the country’s capital. Paraguay’s capital city is called  “La Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción,” but you can call it “Asuncion” for short.  Once a Spanish colonial hub, the city features attractive colonial architecture and plazas,  plus a lovely botanical garden and a modern art museum.

From Asuncion, you can also make day trips to nearby towns like Itauguá, which is famous for the delicate spiderweb lace that is produced there. Or, go hang out on the white sand beaches of Lago Ypacaraí. Or, head south to visit the ruins of the old Jesuit missions.

To get to Paraguay, you will need both a passport and a visa. You must apply for your Paraguay visa before you leave the US.  Once you have obtained your passport, here is what you will need to submit to get the visa:

  • 2 Paraguay visa application forms
  • 2 passport photos
  • 2 copies of the pages of your passport that have your photos and identifying information on them.
  • 2 copies of your round-trip airline tickets or itinerary.

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you expedite your Paraguay visa. When you apply for a visa through us, you’ll work with a professional visa specialist, who will help understand all the paperwork and assemble to appropriate documents. Then, we will forward your application to Paraguayan Embassy for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Paraguay visa today!

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Getting a São Tomé e Príncipe Visa

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

You’ve probably never heard of São Tomé e Príncipe, a small island nation off the coast of Africa. However, if you’re looking for a quiet, clean beach, it’s hard to do much better than this tropical paradise.

São Tomé e Príncipe was once a Portuguese colony.  In the 19th and 2oth centuries, the Portuguese imported  slaves to grow sugar, coffee and cocoa-so much cocoa, in fact, that they became known as the “chocolate islands.”

The islands, located in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Gabon, became independent in 1975.  However, cocoa is still their top export.  The islands are also packed with biodiversity. In fact, they are home to 983 different plant species and many different types of animals, as well.  Visitors to São Tomé e Príncipe  get to sample excellent coffee and chocolate, explore amazing jungles and enjoy the hospitality of the local people.

How can you get to this island paradise before the rest of the world discovers it?  You’ll need your passport, of course, as well as a  visa.

You can get a São Tomé e Príncipe visa on arrival, or in the US. No matter where you get it, you will need the following documents:

  • A São Tomé e Príncipe visa application form
  • A passport photo
  • An International Certificate of Yellow Fever Vaccination
  • Your US passport, which must have at least 2 blank visa pages, not including pages 22, 23 or 24.

If your passport is valid but you don’t have enough pages, you can add extra pages before your trip.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you expedite a São Tomé e Príncipe visa if you prefer to apply in advance.  We can also help with visas for any other countries you might decide to visit along the way.

When you work with us, you get to work with a visa specialist who will research your visa needs, get  helpful instructions that make it easy to fill out the required paperwork, and get the fastest possible service.

Apply for your São Tomé e Príncipe visa today!

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Getting a Tajikistan Visa For An Outdoor Adventure

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

You may never have heard of the tiny Asian country of Tajikistan, or perhaps heard of it only in passing. However, if outdoor adventures are your thing, you may be hearing a lot more about it in the future.  A little over a decade after the country exited a brutal civil war, Tajikistan is finally being discovered by tourists.

According to this post on Gadling, Tajikistan’s main attraction is its rugged, natural beauty. The backcountry is sparsely populated, so if you like solitude, Tajikistan might be the destination for you. There are also lots of opportunities to ride horses (or camels, if that’s your thing) and to climb mountains.

However, if you want to travel to Tajikistan, you will need to apply for a Tajikistan visa first. If you don’t have a visa, you will more than likely find yourself deported.  Visas should be obtained before you leave the US, as you won’t be able to get one when you arrive in the airport.

Here’s what you need to get a Tajikistan visa:

  • 2 visa application forms
  • 2 passport photos
  • A  cover letter addressed to the Tajikistan  Embassy requesting a tourist visa. Alternately, if you have been invited to Tajikistan by a Tajik citizen or you are traveling with an organized tour group, the person/organization inviting you needs to provide you with a visa support letter.  Your letter  needs to include the dates you will be entering and leaving and a  summary of your planned activities while in Tajikistan.
  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months.

If you are planning to travel to Tajikistan, why not let RushMyTravelVisa help you obtain the necessary visas? Our visa specialists will research the visa requirements for your trip and help you with the paperwork. Then, we forward your application to the appropriate embassy for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Tajikistan visa today!

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How to Get a Bhutan Visa

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Bhutan is an intriguing country. Located between Tibet and India, this isolated country does not get many Western visitors. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing worth seeing.  Bhutan is blessed with gorgeous, often mountainous scenery and a rich traditional culture.

Bhutan has not shied away from embracing modern technology, but development has been slow, with growth planned to conserve the environment and protect the country’s cultural and spiritual traditions.  In fact, according to Wikipedia,  in 1987 Bhutan’s king responded to criticism about the pace of development by saying “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.”

Are people really happier in Bhutan? Why not go and see for yourself? To get to Bhutan, you will need a US passport and a visa. Bhutan does not issue visas unless you have booked a trip with a licensed tour operator in Bhutan.

As a foreigner, you are required to pay a fee of $200 per day ($165 if you go during January, June or July), but this includes meals, accommodations and travel expenses.

Your tour operator should be able to help you get a Bhutan visa. The actual visa itself is issued on arrival, but you must apply beforehand. Before you leave, you will receive a Bhutan visa clearance number that you can use to book airline tickets on Bhutan’s national airline, Druk Air.

There are no direct flights from the US to Bhutan, so odds are you’ll have a layover in a nearby country, such as India.  Because of Bhutan’s unique visa process, a private visa expediting company can’t help you get a Bhutan visa. However, if you need a visa for a neighboring country, we will be more than happy to expedite it for you.

Need help getting a visa?  Contact us today!

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Getting a Qatar Tourist Visa

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Tourism is a growing industry in Qatar, a wealthy, oil-rich nation in the Middle East.  According to the Qatari Embassy website,  the development of more tourist facilities was prompted by “the firm policy adopted by HH the Emir, HH the Heir Apparent and the government to open up to the outside world.”

Qatar’s attractions include spectacular markets, interesting historical sites, and Khor Al Udeid. Also known as the Inland Sea, Khor Al Udeid is a spectacular field of white towering sand dunes that surrounds a channel ending in an inland lake.  There is no road  that leads to Khor Al Udeid, so you’ll have to arrange a tour in an off-road vehicle.

To enter Qatar, US citizens need both a passport and a Qatar visa.  If you enter Qatar through the airport (which all tourists are required to do), you can purchase a visa upon arrival.

However, applying for your Qatar visa ahead of time may be the better choice.  According to the US Department of State’s website, “U.S.-citizen travelers will be able to clear Qatari immigration more quickly and be granted a longer stay in country by obtaining visas prior to arrival.”

Whether you decide to apply in advance or to wait around and get your visa when you arrive, you will need the following documents to apply for a Qatar visa:

  • One Qatar visa application form
  • Two passport photos
  • A copy of your airline tickets showing return or onward travel (you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay in Qatar)
  • A letter stating the reason for your visit.
  • 2 copies of the identification pages of y0ur passport.

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you obtain a Qatar visa in the US. We make applying for a visa easy by helping you with the paperwork and submitting your application for you the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your visa with us today!

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Visas for Mountain-Climbing in Cameroon

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Mt. Cameroon is the  tallest mountain in West Africa. The still-active volcano soars 13,500 above sea level. Occasionally, it erupts. According to the Cameroon Consulate to Australia, the last major eruption happened in March of 1999. The volcano also erupted in 1982, interrupting the filming of the movie Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan.

Tourists can climb Mt Cameroon with the help of guides and porters.  To schedule a trip, you should contact the Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organization office:

The Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organisation
P.O.Box 60 Buea S.W.P.
Email: mountceo@iccnet2000.com

What’s it like to climb Mount Cameroon? For a detailed description of a climb with some excellent pictures, check out Ann Bowker’s description of her climb up the mountain a few years ago.

Also, as you plan your trip, bear in mind that it’s a tradition to bring a message in a bottle to leave at the top (although if you follow Leave No Trace guidelines, you may want to disregard that tradition). Finally, the Cameroon consulate  advises climbers to “beware of stone-throwing monkeys.” Sheesh…and I thought the squirrels in my front yard that like to hurl acorns were a problem!

In addition to food, water, sleeping gear and perhaps a helmet to guard against rocks to the head, you will also need a Cameroon visa to make the climb.

Here’s what you’ll need to apply for a Cameroon visa:

  • 2 Cameroon visa application forms
  • 2 passport photos
  • Your yellow fever vaccine certificate
  • A copy of your itinerary
  • A copy of a recent bank statement or someone, either at home or in Cameroon, who is willing to vouch for you and provide financial support if needed.

You should have your Cameroon visa in hand before you leave the US. RushMyTravelVisa.com  can help you fill out the paperwork for expedited visa service.

Apply for your Cameroon visa with us today!

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Stalk Bengal Tigers With a Bangladesh Visa

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

“Tyger, tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night…” William Blake

Bangladesh is a small country located on the border between India and Burma (Myanmar). The country is relatively poor and the population is dense, but it is still an interesting place to visit. The Sundarbans  (the name means “beautiful forest) is one of the chief attractions.

The Sundarbans is a large mangrove forest. Bangladesh shares the Sunderbans with India, but the majority of the forest  (6000 square kilometers out of 10,000) is on the Bangladeshi side of the border.

The forest is deep, dark and wet-1/3 of it is covered in water. The Ganges river dolphin swims in the fresh water, and other, less friendly creatures lurk on land. The Sundarbans is one of the last remaining strongholds of the Bengal tiger in the wild.  An estimated 500 or so tigers stalk through the forest.  Be careful-they are especially aggressive towards humans, even for tigers.

Wikipedia notes that “humans are only a supplement to the tiger’s diet; they do not provide a primary food source.” Comforting thought, eh? Still, tigers in the Sunarbans kill between 50 and 250 people each year.

To visit Bangladesh, American citizens must obtain a Bangladesh visa. Here’s what you’ll need to get one:

  • Your US passport
  • 1 Bangladesh visa application  form
  • 1 passport photo
  • Roundtrip airline tickets or itinerary. If you are traveling by land, you’ll need a letter explaining when and where you will be entering and leaving the country.

RushMyTravelVisa can research the visa requirements for your trip and help you obtain all of the necessary documents. To apply for your Bangladesh visa, contact us today!

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Swimming with Whale Sharks at Ko Tao- How to Get a Thailand Visa

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

The  island of Ko Tao in Thailand is a scuba diver’s paradise. Blessed with crystal-clear waters and surrounded by colorful coral reefs, Ko Tao has plenty of opportunities for beginner divers to stick their fins in, so to speak, and enough magic to wow even experienced divers.

Ko Tao is also one of the cheapest places in the world to get your open-water dive certification.  If you want to stay dry, there are plenty of other activities available, ranging from rock climbing to just lounging on the beach. However, the real magic is in the water.

Diving at Ko Tao gives you the opportunity to encounter a variety of ocean creatures. Sea turtles, stingrays, fish and even the elusive whale shark all make their home off the cost of Ko Tao. The enormous but gentle whale shark is the prime attraction, but don’t get your heart set on seeing one-whale shark sightings are somewhat infrequent, even here.

If you want to test your luck, the best dive spot for whale sharks off Ko Tao is Chumphon Pinnacle. Even if you don’t see one of these gentle beauties, you’ll still have a wonderful time!

To learn more about the island and see pictures of what Ko Tao looks like for yourself, check out this excellent post from Wayfaring Travel Guide.

Ready to jump in? As you plan your trip, take a moment to make sure you understand Thailand’s visa system.  Americans entering Thailand don’t need a visa for stays of less than 30 days. However, if you’re taking a few months off to travel in Thailand and surrounding countries, you might want to stay more than 30 days.

In that case you can apply for a 60-day Thailand visa before you leave. To submit your application, you’ll need the following documents:

  • Your US passport
  • A completed Thailand visa application
  • 2 passport photos
  • A copy of your round-trip ticket
  • A copy of a bank statement showing a balance of   $500 per person or $1000 per family.

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you research the visa requirements for your next international trip.  Our visa specialists can also help you with the paperwork and submit your application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible service.

Traveling to Thailand?  Apply for your visa today!

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Visiting Instanbul (Not Constantinople)- Do You Need a Turkish Visa?

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Located on the border between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the city where East meets West. This ancient city has served as the capital for the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire and the Ottoman Empire. However, currently Turkey’s capital city is located in Ankara.

Although not the capital of Turkey, Istanbul is the country’s largest city with 12.6 million people.  The city literally straddles the Bosphorus strait, with one part on the European side and the other on the Asian side.

Tourism is a major part of Istanbul’s economy. People flock here from across the globe, drawn by the city’s rich history, stunning architecture and fabulous Mediterranean beaches.

This post, by Two Drifters, gives a wonderful description of what it’s like to visit the city. No matter when you go or what you’re interested in doing, you should get a warm welcome.   To quote the Two Drifters:

Any tourist is warmly welcomed to Istanbul, from hotel owners and concierges, to the taxi drivers, to the café and restaurant staff. The locals love their country, the culture and their football, and are keen to show the world just how Istanbul is.

To travel to Istanbul, you’ll need a valid passport and a Turkish visa. The only exception is if you are on  a cruise ship that stops in Istanbul for the day.  In that case, you don’t have to apply for a visa unless you are spending the night on shore.

To apply for a Turkish visa, you’ll need a visa application and your US passport. If you’re just going as a tourist, you can get avisa sticker good for 90 days when you arrive in Turkey. If you are on an official or diplomatic trip, however, you need to apply for your visa in advance.

If you have an international trip planned, RushMyTravelVisa.com will be happy to help you understand what type of documentation you need and apply for any necessary visas.

Let us help you plan your next trip!

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