In as little as 5 years, though, that may change. As part of its strategic plan to encourage tourism in member countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is trying to introduce one travel visa to rule them all: a Schengen-like visa that would allow tourists to travel effortlessly between countries such as Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.

Stuart McDonald of TravelFish.org told the Inquirer Global Nation that visa regulations in these countries are a source of confusion for many would-be travelers: “One of the most common questions that we see on travelfish.org is people asking visa questions: What kind of visa can I get? How long is it valid for? What does it cost? The rules change all the time and it introduces a level of uncertainty and confusion that the industry can do without.”

A common visa for all of Southeast Asia would undoubtedly be a good thing for tourism, but don’t expect it to happen immediately. In its strategic plan, even Asean itself noted that there are many obstacles to overcome first: “The establishment of such a visa will not likely occur in the next five years due to barriers of technology, political issues, concerns of sovereignty and security and the different visa systems in the member states.”

Until that day arrives, here’s a rundown of the visa regulations from several of the most popular Southeast Asian countries:

Thailand Visa Requirements for Tourists

Indonesian Visa Requirements for Tourists

Cambodian Visa Requirements for Tourists

Laos Visa Requirements for Tourists

Vietnam Visa Requirements for Tourists

In the meantime, RushMyTravelVisa is here to help you get the visas you need to travel. For assistance and answers to your travel visa questions, contact us today!

However, as Gadling notes, the rules have changed and travelers to Azerbaijan need to take note:

“Then, in the middle of October, Azerbaijan suddenly changed its visa regime, requiring visitors to obtain visas at the country’s embassies in advance. This requirement is not particularly annoying for tourists, who usually have time to drop their passports off at embassies prior to travel, but it’s a huge hassle for business travelers who often need to travel at the drop of a hat.”

The US Department of State further clarifies the new rules: “With limited exceptions, (diplomatic or official government travelers, or persons with invitations from high-ranking officials of the Government of Azerbaijan) you cannot get a visa at the airport. Nor can you get a visa at the land borders with Georgia and Russia.”

You can apply for your Azerbaijan visa at an Azerbaijani embassy. If you’re applying as a tourist, you will need the following documents:

• 1 completed visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• A tourist voucher from a hotel in Azerbaijan with a confirmation number.

The default tourist visa for visitors to Azerbaijan is a single-entry visa. If you need multiple entries, you will also need a letter of invitation from someone in the country.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get an Azerbaijan visa before you travel. We’ll walk you through the paperwork and deliver your application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest processing available.

Apply for your Azerbaijan visa today!

This article on Phuketwan.com provides a cautionary tale to illustrate the point: An American tourist who called herself “Nick” was arrested earlier this month for overstaying her Thai visa. Apparently, the overstay was discovered when she went on a “visa run” to the Thai border, with the intention of getting a new visa issued when she re-entered the country.

Per Phuket Wan, the visa run did not go as planned:

Precise circumstances of the case are being clarified, but it appears the woman either misunderstood the conditions of her permission to stay in Thailand or failed to realise there was a 500 baht a day penalty for overstaying. As a result, she was arrested by Immigration officials when she attempted a one-day ”visa run” from Phuket to Ranong and was unable to pay the overstay fine.

“Nick” is currently in jail in Bangkok. Not how you want your holiday to end!

If you enter Thailand by air, you can automatically stay up to 3o days, with no need to apply for a visa in advance. If you enter by land, you get 15 days. Also, if you opt to come to Thailand without applying ahead of time for a visa, you are limited to spending 90 days in any given 6 month period in the country. For longer stays, you can get a Thai visa at an embassy before your trip that will be good for 60 days and can be extended if necessary.

To get one, here’s what you’ll need:

• Your US passport
• A completed 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 get your Thai visa, as well as any other visas you need for your trip. We’ll research your travel needs and help you get the appropriate expedited travel visas in hand before you leave.

Apply for your Thai visa today!

• Libya
• Sudan
• Lebanon
• Syria
• Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait
• Yemen
• Iran

For this reason, most travel guides recommend making Israel the last stop on your Middle East tour. You can also ask the Israel customs officials to stamp a detachable sheet of paper inside of your passport rather than the passport itself. In most cases, they will comply, but the US Department of State advises that making this request means that you “may face additional, often time-consuming, and probing questioning by immigration and border authorities, or may even be denied entry into Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza.”

You do have another option: applying for a second passport. US citizens are able to get a duplicate valid passport with authorization from the State Department. The second passport is valid for only two years, but if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s a good investment anyway because it makes applying for travel visas much less of a headache.

No matter where you’re going, RushMyTravelVisa makes it easy to determine exactly what documents you’ll need. We’ll research your itinerary and walk you through the application process, helping you avoid common mistakes and ensuring that you get your travel visas as quickly as possible.

Let us help you get the travel visas you need today!

Nileguidance notes that Russia has a particular incentive to try to speed up negotiations at the moment: a new business park that Russia would love to staff with skilled workers from across Europe. According to this article on a Russian news site, Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian envoy to the EU, brought up the issue in a video conference last May:

“We believe the process of reaching this goal [the introduction of visa-free regime] should be accelerated…”Seven years have passed and it is time to move from the long-term goal to something more concrete,” Chizhov said.

NileGuidance notes that while some European heads of state of supportive of the proposal, obstacles remain:

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is supportive of the proposal, but says that there is hesitation among EU members, primarily from Eastern European countries, stating that it’s “probably connected to these countries history during the era of the Soviet Union.” Among other supporters is Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, saying, “it is necessary to find a solution to the visa issue as soon as possible. We’ve dragged this out for too long.”

If Russian visa requirements get lifted for EU citizens, that will be good news for them. However, American citizens will still have to go through the Russian visa process before leaving the US- no such plans are in the works for us.

If you’re planning to visit Russia as a tourist, see Tourist Requirements for a Getting a Russian Visa.

If you’re planning to go on a business trip, see Obtaining a Russian Business Visa

If you’re just passing through Russia on the way to somewhere else, guess what? You still need a visa. See Russian Transit Visa Requirements for details.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you apply for your Russian visa, walking you through the paperwork to prevent common mistakes that could hold up your application. Then, we’ll deliver your visa application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Russian visa today!

]]> http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2010/09/soon-eu-citizens-may-not-need-a-russian-visa/feed/ 0 http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2010/01/do-i-need-shots-to-visit-africa/ http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2010/01/do-i-need-shots-to-visit-africa/#comments Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:42:04 +0000 admin http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/?p=305 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
20. Gabon- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
21. The Gambia- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
22. Ghana- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
23. Guinea- International vaccination record (WHO card) including a current International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
24. Guinea-Bissau- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
25. Kenya- None
26. Lesotho- Visas not required for US citizens staying less than 180 days, but you still need an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever to enter.
27. Liberia- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
28. Libya- Ask the embassy you plan to apply at about what is required.
29. Madagascar- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required if you have been in an infected area in the past 6 months.
30. Malawi- None.
31. Mali- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
32. Mauritania-International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
33. Mauritius- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required if you are arriving from an area where the disease is present.
34. Morocco- None
35. Mozambique- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.  Have it with you when you arrive or you’ll be charged $50 for a shot in the airport.
36. Namibia- None
37. Niger- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
38. Nigeria- None
39. Rwanda- Visas aren’t required for Americans staying less than 90 days, but  an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required to enter the country.
40. Sao Tome and Principe- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
41. Senegal- Us citizens don’t need a visa to stay less than 90 days, but they do need to present an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever to enter the country. Also, if you have recently traveled to an area where meningitis is present, bring proof of a meningitis vaccine as well.
42. Seychelles- None
43. Sierra Leone- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
44. Somalia- None
45. South Africa- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required if you are arriving from an area where yellow fever is present.
46. Sudan- None
47. Swaziland- None
48. Tanzania-International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
49. Togo- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
50. Tunisia- None
51. Uganda- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
52. Zambia- None
53. Zimbabwe- None

Visa requirements are always changing, so make sure to check with the embassy or consulate for each country you plan to visit so that you know what is expected of you. Or, RushMyTravelVisa will be happy research the visa requirements for your itinerary for you and assist you in expediting the application process. Contact us today!

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.

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.
• Brazil- If your backpacking trip includes time in Brazil, you need a visa and you need to apply in advance (as in, before you leave the US).  For more on getting a Brazilian tourist visa, see Getting a Brazilian Travel Visa To Visit Iguazu Falls.
• Chile-American citizens can get a 90-day visa on the border. You will, however, need a valid passport.
• Columbia- You don’t need a visa for stays under 60 days, but you do need a passport and you must cross into Columbia at an official border crossing. You may also need to show proof of scheduled departure from Columbia, such as a plane ticket out of the country.
• Ecuador-  No visa required for stays of less than 90 days.
• Guyana- No visa is required for stays of 30 days or less.
• Paraguay-You do need a visa to enter Paraguay, and you need to apply in advance at an embassy or consulate.
• Uruguay-No visa required for stays of less than 90 days.
• Peru-No visa required.
• Suriname- You do need a visa, and you must obtain it in advance, not at the border.
• Venezuela- You need a visa or a tourist card to enter Venezuela.

As you can see, planning ahead is important if you want your South American backpacking trip to go smoothly. At RushMyTravelVisa, we can help you research what visas are required for your trip, and help you submit all of the required visa application forms.

Apply for your travel visa today!

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!

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!