Archive for the ‘Country-Specific Visas’ Category

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Ghana Visa Requirements to Enjoy Local Culture in Accra

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

Ecotourism may be the most common form of tourism is Ghana, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook the capital city, Accra. The city is busy, and like so many cities in the developing world, it will initially seem dirty to Western eyes. However, as Ghana resident Phil Paoletta wrote in this post for Matador Travel, you’re only cheating yourself if you go by your first impression:

“I’ve known some travelers to be put off by the haze of diesel fumes on Ring Road, or by the lack of sidewalks and the prevalence of open sewers. But don’t make your judgment in a day, or even a couple. Take your time, watch your step, and don’t be shy.”

Explore the city with an open mind, and you’ll find excellent food, music, shopping, and arts galore. Read the Matador post for some great recommendations.

Planning your Trip

American citizens need a visa to enter Ghana. Apply for your Ghana visa in advance, allowing enough time for it to arrive before your planned departure. You must include the following documents when you submit the application:

  • 4 copies of the Ghana visa application form. To avoid getting writer’s cramp, you can photocopy the application, BUT each form must have your original signature on it. Be sure to sign each copy individually.
  • A copy of your international yellow fever vaccine certificate. Keep the original-you will need to carry it with you to enter Ghana.
  • A copy of your round-trip plane tickets or your travel itinerary.
  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months and have a blank page in the back where the visa can be attached.

Single-Entry visas cost $50 and are valid for 3 months from the date they are issued, while multiple-entry visas cost $80.00. If you require expedited service, the Ghana Embassy charges an additional fee of $30.00.

Using RushMyTravelVisa greatly simplifies the process of getting a Ghana visa. We walk you step-by-step through the paperwork and expedite your visa with the Ghana embassy for the quickest processing available.

Apply for your Ghana visa today!

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Chinese Visa Requirements to Visit the Temple of Heaven

Sunday, June 5th, 2011

As if you needed another reason to get a Chinese visa, UNESCO has one more for you: This month’s featured World Heritage Site is located in Beijing and dates back to the Ming Dynasty. For almost 500 years starting in 1420, Chinese emperors worshiped at the Temple of Heaven, a staggeringly beautiful complex of temples and altars built according to Taoist principles. Here, the emperors performed prayers and ceremonies to ensure bountiful harvests and favorable weather for growing crops.

UNESCO calls it “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations.”

The Temple of Heaven stopped being used as such in 1911, when the ceremonies were forbidden by the Republic of China. However, the impressive altars and temples remained, surviving even after the complex was occupied by the Japanese in World War II. Now, it is a public park, and a popular place for Beijing residents to get some fresh air and exercise.

To visit the Temple of Heaven, you’ll need a Chinese visa for tourists, also known as an “L” visa. Here’s what you’ll need to get one:

  • A Chinese visa application
  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months. You’ll also need at least one blank page in the back.
  • A copy of your passport’s information page (the page with your name, date of birth, etc on it).
  • One passport photo glued or stapled to the application.
  • If you are leaving within the next 7 days, include a copy of your travel itinerary so that your Chinese visa can be expedited.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get your Chinese visa quickly and easily. We’ll walk you through the paperwork, step-by-step, then deliver your visa application to the Chinese Embassy for the fastest possible processing.

China visa requirements can be confusing, but don’t let that stop you. Apply for your Chinese visa with us today!

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Belarus Visa Requirements for Tourists

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Though the Soviet Union officially broke up in 1991, in many ways Belarus never left. The country’s economy is still primarily owned by the state, and while Belarus is technically a republic, the country has a reputation of being a place where political dissent is an activity that’s neither encouraged nor good for one’s health.

For all that, Belarus’ attractions beckon both city people and nature lovers alike. The cities thrive with excellent nightlife, and the natural parks are wild and impressive. Plus, there’s the Belarusian people themselves. Lonely Planet says that “while travelers will always be subject to curiosity, they’ll invariably also be on the receiving end of extremely warm hospitality” while in Belarus.

Before you can experience that hospitality for yourself, however, you’ll need a Belarus visa. Apply early, because you’ll need to have enough time to get your visa back before you travel. Belarus does not issue visas on arrival, so you’ll be out of luck if you don’t get yours ahead of time. Here are the documents you will need to apply:

  • 1 Belarus visa application form
  • 1 passport-sized photo of yourself
  • If you are going on an organized tour, submit a letter from the tour company verifying your reservation with them and your itinerary.
  • If you are traveling by yourself, you need a hotel reservation from an authorized Belarusian travel agency. The agency will give you an authorization number to write on the application form.
  • If you are a former Soviet/Belarusian, you will also need to prove how you lost your Soviet/Belarusian citizenship. Generally, you can use the documents you used to get your US citizenship.
  • Your US passport

RushMyTravelVisa can guide you through the Belarusian visa process. We’ll help you with the paperwork, answer any questions you might have, and expedite your paperwork so you get your visa ASAP.

Need a Belarus visa? Let us help!

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Ghana Visa Requirements to Surf and Swim in Akwidaa

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Located on Ghana’s scenic West Coast, the tiny fishing village of Akwidaa seems like an unlikely destination. However, this write-up on Matador Travel has me ready to fill out a Ghana visa application immediately.

Here’s how he describes the eco-lodge he stayed at and the surrounding area:

“For Peace Corps workers in West Africa, Green Turtle is Mecca. An untouched beach (one of the most swimmable in the region) lies between two fishing villages and backs up to a rainforest preserve. A ring of beach chalets surround a comfortable open-air bamboo pavilion, where an old fishing boat serves as the bar. The entire place has been built with locally sourced, sustainably harvested materials, solar panels provide electricity, and all of the toilets are composting.”

Plus, the best surfing spot in West Africa, Cape Three Points, is just a short walk away. Guided canoe trips are also available, and if you’re lucky enough to be there during turtle nesting season, you can watch female sea turtles come to shore to lay their eggs.

It’s sounds heavenly, honestly. Plus, the accommodations are reasonably priced and tourism is a boon to the local villagers.

To get there, you’ll need to apply for a Ghana visa ahead of time. The Ghana Embassy recommends submitting your application at least two weeks before you plan to leave, and preferably as early as a month in advance.

To get a tourist visa, first you’ll need 4 completed copies of the visa application form. You can photocopy the application, BUT each form must have your original signature on it. If you’d prefer not to get writer’s cramp from filling the same form out 4 different times, fill it out but don’t sign it, make 3 copies and then sign each one by hand. (more…)

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Should You Use an Agency to Get Your Vietnamese Visa?

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Getting a visa can be a complicated and confusing process. Some countries’ visas are relatively easy to apply for on your own, while others are so complicated that you’re almost guaranteed to be better off if you hire someone to do it for you. What if you’re going to Vietnam as a tourist? Should you use an agency to get your Vietnamese visa?

Lauren Quinn of MatadorTrips researched applying for a Vietnamese visa on her own. Here’s how she described the process:

“It’s a strange and confusing process for those of us native to countries of privilege. As an American, I’m used to walking up to a customs window, flashing a tourist-dollar smile, and getting my stamp.”

Although she considered dropping her passport off herself at the nearest Vietnamese embassy, she eventually decided to get a “Visa Approval Letter,” which allows you to get a visa on arrival. To get this letter, you have to contact a travel agency before you leave for Vietnam. One word of caution should you choose to go this route: Make sure you get in touch with a reputable agency. The US Department of State notes that “U.S. Citizens have reported unscrupulous travel agencies taking advantage of travelers and charging extremely high fees upon landing.”

A visa approval letter can be a good option if you’d prefer not to let your passport leave your possession. If you’d rather get the visa in advance and avoid any potential unpleasant surprises at the airport, applying through a visa agency can make the process much simpler and less confusing.

If you’d prefer to just go ahead and get the actual visa in advance, RushMyTravelVisa can help. We’ll walk you through the application process step by step, then expedite your paperwork with the right Vietnamese embassy or consulate for the shortest possible processing time.

Need a Vietnamese visa? We can help!

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Sri Lanka Visa Requirements to Change

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Now that the civil war is over, Sri Lanka is looking toward the future, and that means encouraging the growth of its tourism industry. With its lush forests and picture-perfect beaches, Sri Lanka’s potential is almost limitless. According to the BBC, some towns in Sri Lanka are in the process of building centers for adventure tourism, and the government is trying to attract more airlines to Colombo airport.

Their efforts already seem to be bearing fruit. Per the BBC, the country expects to see 700,000 tourists visit this year, and expects to host 2.5 million foreign visitors a year by 2016.

However, if you plan to be one of those tourists, keep your ears open for the latest visa requirements. Currently, there is no need for US citizens to get a visa ahead of time to visit Sri Lanka. However, officials plan to change the Sri Lankan visa system to require visitors to apply for visas in advance instead of at the airport.

The country’s Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa, spoke with the BBC to explain the new requirements:

“We have changed the on-arrival visa to an at-home visa. Now anybody can apply for a visa from home and they will receive it within 24 to 72 hours. There have been instances of visas being rejected at the airport, but now you get the response while you are at home, and there will be special facilities at the airport for those who arrive with the online visa.” (more…)

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Madagascar Visa Requirements for Tourists

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

Tucked away off the coast of Africa, Madagascar doesn’t make it on many American tourists’ life lists — at least not yet. That may change as the country more fully develops its eco-tourism industry, assuming logging companies and assorted other extractive industries don’t “harvest” all of Madagascar’s pristine rainforests first.

Right now, while it’s somewhat difficult to get around the country, there’s enough of a tourist infrastructure to make it doable as long as you’re willing to deal with occasional inconveniences like delayed flights and rough roads, and more than enough gorgeous wilderness and exotic wildlife to make it worth your while.

In a recent article, New York Times’ travel writer Jeffery Gettleman explained the charms of Madagascar:

“Cut off from the mainland 160 million years ago, Madagascar is host to some of the rarest and most unusual flora and fauna in the world. There are hissing cockroaches, giant jumping rats, pygmy chameleons, moths as big as dinner plates, along with various kinds of lemurs. You’ll see odd, wavy plants growing out of the desert that look as if they belong underwater. In fact, there is so much uncharted life here that scientists are constantly discovering more…And there are also beaches, really good ones.”

Lemurs, beaches and a pirate graveyard? I’m in!

Before you go to Madagascar, you’ll need to do 2 things (not counting making travel reservations, packing, etc). First, check your passport. It must have an expiration date that’s at least 6 months after you plan on entering the country, plus at least one blank page in the back. Before your trip, renew your passport or add passport pages as necessary.

Second, do yourself a favor and get a visa ahead of time. Madagascar visas are available at the airport, but you should expect substantial delays. Mr. Gettleman of the New York Times described an excruciating wait at passport control, and offered the following advice to fellow travelers: “Get the visa ahead of time, even though Madagascar gives free tourist visas at the airport. We saw other tourists who had done this; they breezed right through.”

For instructions on how to get a Madagascar tourist visa, check out the instructions at the Madagascar Embassy’s website. Keep in mind that you may have connections in other countries and that they may also require you to have a visa. RushMyTravelVisa can research your itinerary and assist you in getting any transit visas you may need for your trip.

Need help getting a visa? Contact our visa experts today!

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El Salvador Visa Requirements for Tourists

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

For decades, unrest and violence kept El Salvador in the shadows. But as conditions inside the country have improved, the government has made an effort to develop the tourist industry, and it is growing rapidly. Per Wikipedia:

“Last year tourism accounted for 4.6% of GDP; only 10 years ago, it accounted for 0.4%. In this same year tourism grew 4.5% worldwide. Comparatively, El Salvador saw an increase of 8.97%, from 1.15 million to 1.27 million tourists. This has led to revenue from tourism growing 35.9% from $634 million to $862 million. As a reference point, in 1996 tourism revenue was $44.2 million. “

El Salvador’s excellent beaches are great for surfing, swimming or just working on your tan. The cities have excellent nightlife, and if you just want to get away from it all, you can soak in peaceful hot springs, go hiking and more.

If you want to get to El Salvador before everyone else does, you need two things:

  • A valid passport
  • An El Salvador visa.

El Salvador visa requirements for tourists vary depending on how long you plan to enjoy the country’s excellent hospitality. For example, if you are staying less than 30 days, you have the choice of getting an El Salvador visa ahead of time or applying for a tourist card when you arrive at airport or the El Salvadorean border.

For longer stays, you should apply in advance for a visa. Here’s what you will need:

  • A completed visa application form
  • 2 passport photos
  • A copy of your round-trip ticket.

For stays of more than 30 days, you may be required to supply the following:

  • Evidence that you are employed in the US
  • Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself during your visit.

Additionally, El Salvador is party to the “Central America-4 (CA-4) Border Control Agreement,” which means that you don’t need to worry about a visa or tourist card when entering from the following countries: Guatemala, Honduras,or Nicaragua. The “Central America-4 (CA-4) Border Control Agreement” is kind of like a Schengen Agreement for Central America. As long as you enter one of the four countries legally, you can travel amongst all of them freely until the end of your authorized stay as determined by the immigration official you saw when you entered the first country.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you with your El Salvadoran visa, assisting you with the paperwork and expediting your application with the appropriate embassy or consulate. We can also help you with any other visa needs you may have.

Apply for your El Salvador visa today!

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Thailand Visa Requirements for Tourists

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Thailand’s popularity as a tourist destination has grown over the past decade, and tourism now makes up about 7% of the economy according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

There’s a lot to do in Thailand: enjoying delicious spicy curries, lounging on one of the country’s many pristine beaches, scuba diving, exploring ancient temples and much more.

Travel requirements to visit Thailand are fairly straightforward. You aren’t required to get any vaccinations to get into the country, but check with your doctor to see what he or she recommends. Of course, it should go without saying that you need a passport. Check the expiration date, as yours needs to be valid for at least 6 months after you enter the country.

What about visas? American citizens can get a visa stamp valid for 30 days when flying in to Thailand. If you enter by land, you’ll get a Thai visa stamp good for 15 days.

If you plan to remain in Thailand for more than that, you can also apply for a Thai visa valid for up to 60 days before you leave the US. Here’s what you will need to apply:

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

Depending on what your itinerary is like, you may need other visas as well, For example, if you will be stopping in other countries on your way to or from Thailand, you may need a transit visa for that country.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you determine which travel documents you need, help you with the necessary paperwork, and expedite your application. We’ll research your itinerary, walk you step by step through the application process, and then deliver your Thailand visa application to the Department of State for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Thailand visa with us today!

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Panama Visa Requirements for Tourists

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

With its pristine, quiet beaches, Panama is one of South America’s best-kept secrets. According to Gadling, only about a million tourists visited last year. However, as word gets out about everything the country has to offer tourists, that may soon change.

In fact, according to the New York Times, more and more Americans are even relocating to Panama to start their own businesses.

Despite the recent good press, for the time being Gadling says that “There’s just enough tourist infrastructure here to keep vacationers occupied — white water rafting, zipline excursions and fishing expeditions abound — but you’ll bypass the glut of chain restaurants, overpopulated coastlines and horrific traffic (outside of Panama City, of course) that typify so many other tropical destinations.”

Want to see Panama while it’s still relatively quiet? Depending on your travel plans, you might need to acquire a Panama visa beforehand. US citizens flying into Panama do not need a visa. Instead, they can purchase a tourist card at the airport. Fees for the card may be included as part of your airfare, so check with the airline. Cruise ship passengers only need a tourist card if they plan to get off the boat. In that case, the tourist card would be provided by the cruise line.

However, if you’re arriving by land, you’ll definitely need to apply for a Panama visa before you leave the states. Also, if your travel plans call for you to enter and exit the country more than once, you may choose to apply for your visa in advance so that you can get a multiple-entry visa issued.

Here’s what you need to get a Panama tourist visa:

  • A valid US passport
  • 1 completed Panama visa application
  • 1 passport photo
  • A copy of your itinerary.
  • A copy of your plane tickets (if you’re flying in)
  • A letter if invitation or a copy of your hotel reservation.
  • A copy of your bank statement.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get your Panama visa, as well as any other visas you’ll need for your trip. We can research your itinerary and help you with the paperwork, expediting your application so it can be processed as soon as possible.

Apply for your Panama visa today!

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