Archive for the ‘Government Regulations’ Category

Do I Need Shots to Visit Africa?

Friday, January 1st, 2010

One of the more unpleasant aspects of international travel is making sure you are vaccinated against diseases that might be present where you are traveling. Of course, as unpleasant as it is to your arms stuck full of holes, it is a thousand times worse to get seriously ill overseas.

Also, some countries won’t let you get a visa if you don’t have the appropriate vaccinations. For example, yellow fever vaccinations are often required for travelers visiting countries where the disease, which causes flu-like symptoms and sometimes fatal liver damage, is present.

This guide will show you what shots you need to get a visa for each country in Africa. However, please talk to your doctor before your trip in case there are vaccinations that aren’t required but that you should get anyway.

Visa Vaccination Requirements for Countries In Africa

  1. Algeria- None
  2. Angola- International Certificate of Vaccination  for yellow fever
  3. Benin- International Certificate of Vaccination  for yellow fever (The US Department of State advises you to bring the certificate with you to Benin, also).
  4. Botswana- No vaccination requirements, but they advise travelers to get malaria shots.
  5. Burkina Faso- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is not required to get a visa but IS required to enter the country.
  6. Burundi- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever (also, bring it with you to get into the country).
  7. Cameroon- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
  8. Cape Verde- Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are entering from areas in Africa or the Americas where yellow fever is endemic.
  9. Central African Republic- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required for everyone.
  10. Chad- None.
  11. Comoros- None.
  12. Republic of Congo- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required to enter the country.
  13. Democratic Republic of the Congo- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
  14. Cote d’Ivoire- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever (bring it with you to the airport or you’ll have to get vaccinated upon arrival)
  15. Djibouti- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
  16. Egypt-  None
  17. Equatorial Guinea- Visas aren’t required for US citizens in most cases, but you do need an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever to enter the country.
  18. Eritrea- None
  19. Ethiopia- None (more…)

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Do You Need a Moldovan Visa?

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

Moldova borders on Ukraine and Romania. Although it is a beautiful country, it is primarily known for its wine. Moldavia has too many vineyards to name-360,000 acres worth, according to Wikipedia. For centuries, winemaking has been one of the primary occupations of Moldavian citizens, and many families still make wine based on ancient family recipes, using their own strains of grapes.

One of the main tourist activities in Moldova is going on winery tours.  You get an “up close and personal” glimpse of the wine-making process, and of course, you get a chance to sample the goods.

Leif Patterson visited several wineries in Moldova and wrote a report on his blog, Killing Batteries.
Here’s what he had to say about the trip:

“It’s a wine-drinkers once-in-a-lifetime experience, bordering on Eden. Even wine morons like me will be in awe.”

If you want to visit Moldova, you will definitely need a passport. However, you may or may not need a Moldovan visa. For example, you do not need a visa if you are  a citizen of the United States, EU member states, Canada, Switzerland, and Japan.

US citizens can stay in Moldova up to 90 days without a visa. If you are a US permanent resident but still a citizen of another country, however, you might need a visa. RushMyTravelVisa.com can research your travel itinerary and may be able to help you apply for a Moldovan visa, depending on whether or not you are required to appear in person for an interview.

If you do need to apply for a Moldovan visa, here’s what you need:

  • A copy of your hotel reservations and itinerary.
  • 1 application
  • 1 passport photo
  • A  copy of your green card (if a US permanent resident)
  • Your passport

Even if you don’t need a Moldovan visa, you may need a visa to visit other nearby countries on your itinerary.  Contact us today and let us help you get the documentation you need for your trip.

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Getting Visas To Go Backpacking In South America

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Europe has long been a favorite destination for backpackers, but what if  you’d like to get off the beaten path? Adventurous backpackers might want to consider backpacking in South America.

For example, STA Travel is chronicling the journeys of Melanie, a 24-year -old from B0ston who plans to spend four months traveling through 6 different countries.  The first of series, this article discusses the basics of planning for a South American backpacking trip.

This article, from the Aquinian, describes a student’s  journey through Uruguay, Boliva, and Peru.  It is a great description of the ups and downs of life on the road in South America.

There’s so much to see…rainforests, mountains, beaches, and towering ancient cities like Macchu Picchu are just a start.

However, before you go, you need to make sure you know which countries require visas and what you need to do to get them.  Here’s a handy list to help you plan your trip:

  • Argentina- No visa required for US citizens staying less than 90 days.
  • Bolivia- A visa is required for US citizens to enter Bolivia. You can apply at the border, but make sure you have all of the necessary documents in hand.  For requirements, see Getting a Bolivian Visa For an Ecotourism Adventure. (more…)

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Schengen Countries: Do You Need a Travel Visa?

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The Schengen Agreement is an agreement between 24  countries in Europe. It is designed to encourage travel between member countries by eliminating border checkpoints between them.  This means that if you enter one Schengen country, you have up to 90 days of continuous travel in all Schengen countries.

The 24 Schengen countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

What does this mean to you? Well, if you are an American citizen traveling to any of these countries for business or tourism and you plan on staying less than 90 days, you don’t need a travel visa at all-just your passport. The US Department of State notes that if you are traveling to a Schengen country for a different reason (like to study or for employment), you should check with the country you are staying with to see if you need a visa or not.

If you are a legal permanent resident of the US, however, your situation may be more complicated.  Whether or not you will need a travel visa depends on your country of origin.  RushMyTravelVisa.com will be happy to help research your travel visa needs.

If you need a visa and don’t have to appear in person for an interview, we may be able to expedite your visa for you.  Contact us today!

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Why You Should Apply for An Express Visa: What Happens If You Try To Travel Without One

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Picture this: you’ve planning a trip to another country for months. You have your hotel booked, your itinerary planned out, and your passport. You’re completely ready to go-or are you? Did you remember to check and see if you needed a visa? What happens if you don’t have the necessary visas when it’s time to leave?

If you need a visa and you don’t have one, your wisest course of action would be to apply for an express visa to make sure that you have it in hand before your plane leaves. If you try to leave without the visa, a couple of things could happen:

  • You may be able to apply for a visa when you arrive in the foreign country. However, only certain countries will allow this option. Many will not. Plus, who wants to spend time filling out visa applications after a long international flight? And what if you don’t have everything you need to apply in your suitcase? If you’re going to try applying for a visa upon arrival, you need to find  out what the country’s procedures are and make sure you pack everything you need. Really, even if the country you’re flying to allows visas on arrival, it’s much, much safer to get your visa before you step on the plane.
  • If you don’t have your visa paperwork in order, you might not be allowed on your international flight at all, especially if the country you are flying to does not allow foreigners to apply for visas in the airport.

When you apply for an express visa with RushMyTravelVisa, we make it a priority to get you the necessary documents as quickly as possible. You’ll work with a professional visa specialist and receive a detailed checklist to minimize the chance of delays in processing your express visa application.

See how easy getting a visa can be: Apply for your express visa today!

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Do You Need a Travel Visa?

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

How do you know if you need a travel visa, anyway? That can be a hard question to answer, since each country has different entry rules for different situations.  Some countries have agreements with the US that exempt US citizens from having to apply for a visa in certain circumstances.  Other countries require a travel visa for anyone who enters the country. How can you find out which rules apply to you? And if you do need a visa, how can you find out what type of visa to apply for?

One helpful source of information is the US State Department’s Country-Specific information page. This page lists helpful information for Americans traveling abroad, including basic information about visa requirements.

If you need more information about visa requirements,  you can also contact the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting. A complete list of foreign embassies and consulates in the United States can be found here.

Perhaps the easiest way to learn about the visa requirements for the country you are visiting is to use RushMyTravelVisa.com. Our website is set up to allow you to select the country you are visiting and get a breakdown of its visa requirements. If you don’t need a visa to travel there, we will let you know to ensure that you don’t place an order for something you don’t need. If you do need a visa, we’ll let you know what type  you need.

After you order your travel visa, you’ll also work with a professional visa specialist to help ensure that you are applying for the correct type of visa and that you have all the paperwork in order before your application goes to the appropriate embassy or consulate.  We’ll also provide you with a checklist, to help ensure that you have everything you need before you send the application in to us.

Do you need a travel visa? Find out today!

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