Archive for the ‘Visa Processing’ Category

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North Korea Visa Update: North Korea To Allow US Tourists Year-Round

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

The relationship between North Korea and the US may not be particularly cordial, but the cash-strapped country is thirsty for American tourist dollars, especially since South Korea’s Hyundai group stopped running cross-border tours in 2008.

According to Reuters, to encourage US tourists to come visit North Korea, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has agreed to let Americans in year-round. Previously, tourists from the US were only allowed in from August to October for the Arirang Mass Games.

However, just because American citizens are being allowed to cross the border, that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to move around freely. Americans are restricted to staying in hotels reserved for foreigners , and cannot stay more than 4 nights. Expect to spend your trip being escorted around by official “guides,” and don’t expect any conversations that you have while you are there to be private. Big Brother is watching…you will be spied upon!

US tourists are allowed in North Korea only as part of organized tour groups. Koryo Tours, located in China,  is one of the main companies that arranges such tours.

To travel to to North Korea, US citizens must have valid passports and a North Korean visa.

Here’s what you will need to get a North Korean visa:

  • 1 passport photo with a white background
  • A  copy of the 1st page of your passport
  • 1 North Korean visa  application  form. On the form,  make sure to give  “tourism” as your reason for traveling.

Us citizens may apply for North Korean visas at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, China.  It usually only takes a day to get your visa issued, but you should probably contact the Permanent Representative of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations first to see if your visa application is likely to be accepted. Here is his contact information:

The Permanent Representative of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations
820 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 972-3105
Fax: (212) 972-3154

The company that you arrange your tour with may also be able to help you with your visa, and may request that you forward your details several weeks in advance of your trip.

If you are entering North Korea via China, you also need a multiple-entry Chinese tourist visa. See Chinese Tourist Visa Requirements for details.

Due to the fact that the US has no North Korean Embassy, we can’t expedite a North Korean visa application for you. However, we can help expedite your visa to China, as well as helping you apply for other visas you may need for your trip.

Contact us about your travel visa needs today!

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Indian Visa Requirements

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

American citizens traveling to India are required to have both a valid passport and an Indian visa.  India won’t issue a visa for you at the airport, so it is crucial to gather all of the necessary documents and submit your visa application well before you plan to depart.

Indian visa requirements vary depending on what type of visa you are applying for (for more information, see Types of Indian Visas). Here are the requirements for the two most common types of visas, tourist visas and business visas.

Indian Visa Requirements for Tourists.

If you are going to India as a tourist, you will need the following documents:

  • Your valid US passport
  • 2 recent passport-sized photos
  • A completed Indian visa application form. To ensure that your visa application is approved, make sure that you write neatly and that you do not make any mistakes on the application.  Make sure that you enter in “tourism” in the section that asks you to state why you are traveling to India.
  • A photocopy of your plane tickets or your itinerary.
  • A legible copy of your driver’s license.

Indian Visa Requirements for Business Trips

If you are traveling to India on a business trip, you also need the following:

  • 2 business letters of responsibility. One must be from your employer, and the other must be from the Indian company you will be meeting with. The letter should describe the nature of your business and the length of your trip, as well as how long your visa needs to be valid for.
  • A conference invitation letter, if you are going for a conference.

India has what’s called a jurisdictional visa system, so you have to sent your application into the appropriate consulate. Jurisdictions are based on your home address, which is why you must send in a copy of your driver’s license or a utility bill.

RushMyTravelVisa makes it quick and easy to apply for an Indian visa by assisting you with the application and then forwarding it to the appropriate embassy or consulate based on your jurisdiction. Our expedited visa service provides you with the shortest possible processing times.

Apply for your Indian visa today!

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Can You Still Use A Visa After Your Passport Has Expired?

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

Many countries issue visas that are good for a number of years.  That means that it’s entirely possible to end up with a visa that expires after your passport. What happens if your passport is expired but your visa is still valid?

The answer depends on the type of visa in question and the country that issued it.  However, in most cases, you can use a valid visa even if your passport is expired.  You do need to renew your passport, though.

When you renew your passport, you can usually do one of two things. The first option is to carry the old passport with your visa in it along with your new passport. However, when you travel, you’ll have to be very careful to keep track of both passports. If you lose your new passport, you’ll be stuck trying to get a new one in a foreign country. If you lose your old passport, you will have to get a new visa.

However, some countries offer an additional option, allowing you to apply to have your visa transferred to the new passport. The advantage of going this route is that you only have to keep track of one passport on your trip. The disadvantage is that you’ll have to send in both the old passport and the new passport to get the visa transferred, and you need to make sure to send them in well before your trip.

Each country is different-before you try to travel, make sure to double-check what the requirements are in your specific situation.  RushMyTravelVisa can help-we’ll research the requirements of the country that issued your visa, and we can help you get it transferred.  Or, if you need to apply for a new visa, we can help you with that.

Apply for your visa with us today!

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Obtaining a Russian Business Visa

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Over the past few years, Russia’s economy has grown by leaps and bounds. In 2008, according to the CIA World Factbook, Russia’s GDP was $2.266 trillion, the 7th  highest in the world. As Russia’s economy grows, business travel to Russia is increasing. This article from BCD Travel notes that in 2006, “Russian business travel volume grew to USD $13 billon — a 17 percent increase over 2005 numbers.”

Unfortunately, just because business travel to Russia is becoming increasingly common, that doesn’t make it easy to get a Russian business visa. Business travelers and tourists alike are caught up in a visa system that the US Department of State has called “restrictive and complicated.”

If you have a business trip to Russia, here’s what you need to get a Russian visa:

    • A valid US passport.
    • A completed Russian visa application form.
    • One passport  photo
    • A copy of your official invitaton letter from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The company you will be doing business with in Russia should procure this letter for you, sending the original to the embassy and a copy to you to be submitted with your visa application.
    • A letter from your own company signed by your boss.

    Note:  While some countries provide visas that are effective for 30 days, 60 days or longer, Russia’s visas are issued only for the time you plan to spend in Russia. That means that your letter of invitation must have the exact dates that you plan to spend in Russia on business, and those dates should also match the dates you put on your visa application.

    If your visa expires before you leave, a number of very bad things could happen. You could be fined, and in all likelihood you will be detained while the Russian government issues you a new visa-a process which could take up to 20 days. Not fun!

    RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you navigate the Russian visa system. We’ll research your travel needs, assist you with the paperwork and help you avoid common errors that could ruin your trip.

    Save yourself a headache-let us help you with your Russian visa application!

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    Getting a Ghanaian Visa For An Ecotourism Adventure

    Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

    Ghana may not seem like an obvious vacation choice, but tourism in the country is gradually increasing thanks to the efforts of the government and local conservation groups.

    According to the National Conservation Research Centre, tourism makes up 4.5% of Ghana’s Gross National Product. The government of Ghana wants to attract more tourists, enough to make tourism Ghana’s principal source of foreign exchange income.

    Most tourists come to Ghana for the wildlife-Ghana has successfully created a variety of local ecotourism models to encourage both tourism and conservation. Eco-tourism works because it rewards local communities for conservation with a source of income.

    In Ghana, prime ecotourism attractions include the Boabeng-Fierna monkey sanctuary, where black and white colobus monkeys and mona monkeys, considered sacred by local tribes, roam undisturbed. Another popular place is Kakum National Park and Assin Attadanso Resource Reserve, which is filled with wildlife including butterflies, parrots, elephants, primates and red riverhog.

    If you decide to go on an ecotourism adventure in Ghana, you will need a Ghanaian tourist visa.  To get a visa for Ghana, here’s what you’ll need:

    • 4 completed copies of a visa application form. Each form must have your original signature on it, so if you decide to save time by photocopying the completed application, make sure you do so before you sign it. Then, sign each copy individually.
    • International yellow fever vaccine certificate (you don’t have to send the original, you can send a copy).
    • A copy of your round-trip plane tickets or your itinerary.

    A private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com can make getting a Ghanaian visa easier and faster. With RushMyTravelVisa.com, you’ll get personal attention from a trained visa specialist and help understanding and completing the paperwork.  Then, we’ll submit your visa to the appropriate consulate for you for the fastest possible processing.

    Apply for your Ghanaian visa today!

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    Getting an Indian Visa To See The Taj Mahal

    Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

    The Taj Mahal is one of India’s most famous tourist attractions, and with good reason.  It rivals the Egyptian pyramids for the title of the largest and most elaborate tomb ever built!

    The story of the Taj Mahal is also a love story. The building was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his third and favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.  According to Wikipedia, the Emperor renamed his wife “Mumtaz Mahal” after their marriage-the name means “jewel of the palace.”

    When she died giving birth to their 14th child, the emperor was inconsolable, and ordered the Taj Mahal built as a tomb.  The immense white marble building with its familiar onion-shaped dome is unforgettable, and its grandeur assures that the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lives on even today.

    If you want to visit the Taj Mahal, you will need an Indian tourist visa.  Here’s what you need to apply:

    • A valid US passport
    • 2 identical passport photos
    • A completed Indian visa application form. India is strict about the form-your writing must be legible and there must not be any typos. Also, when you fill out the form, if you are traveling to India as a tourist you must write “tourism” on the form where it asks you the purpose of your visit. If you write  anything else (for example, “to visit family” or “to see the Taj Mahal),” the form will be declined.
    • A copy of your itinerary or round trip plane tickets.
    • India’s visa system is “jurisdictional,” which means that you have to submit your Indian visa application to the right consulate, based on your home address. So, you’ll need a clear copy of your driver’s license or a utility bill for proof of residence.

    A private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com makes it easy to get a visa to go to India.  You’ll get help with the paperwork and a handy checklist that tells you exactly what you need to apply. Then, we’ll forward your application to the appropriate consulate for you.

    Apply for your Indian visa today!

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    Getting a Chinese Visa for a Business Trip

    Sunday, October 4th, 2009

    Did you know that one-fifth of the world’s population resides in China? According to Wikipedia, China also has either the third or second largest economy in the world, also (depending on how you calculate it). It is also one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

    With China’s role in the global economy rapidly increasing,  more and more Americans are traveling to China on business.  If you have a business trip to China on the horizon, you need to make sure you have the proper paperwork: a valid US passport and a Chinese business visa.

    To get a Chinese visa for a business trip, you will need the following documents:

    • Your US Passport
    • A completed application form
    • 1 passport photo
    • If you’re going on a business trip, you must fill out the part of the visa application that asks you to describe who is inviting you to China.
    • A business letter from the US company you represent
    • A business letter from the Chinese company you will be doing business with.
    • For rush processing (necessary if you need your visa within the next 7 days), you will need a copy of your itinerary showing that your departure is scheduled within the next 7 days.
    • You do not need an itinerary if you are applying for a Chinese visa with regular processing.

    To make the application process as simple and painless as possible, apply using a visa expediting service like RushMyTravelVisa.com. With RushMyTravelVisa, you’ll work one-on-one with a knowledgeable,  professional visa specialist.

    You’ll get help completing the paperwork plus a handy checklist that shows exactly what you need to apply for the visa, reducing the chance of mistakes.

    Don’t risk a business travel disaster-apply for your Chinese visa with us today!

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    Getting a Bolivian Visa for an Ecotourism Trip

    Friday, October 2nd, 2009

    Bolivia is not the most well-known tourist destination in South America, but that may be slowly changing as tourists discover its incredible ecotourism potential. In fact, one of Bolivia’ richest resources is its biodiversity.

    Currently, Bolivia’s natural parks encompass 15.6% of the country, according to the BBC. Just one of those parks, Madidi National Park, is said to contain 11% of the world’s plant and animal species.

    Ecotourism is also providing new economic opportunities for native Bolivian tribes.  For example, as this article in the Latin American Herald Tribune notes, the Tacana tribe runs a hostel for visitors along a river near Madidi National Park.

    So, ecotourism not only helps the environment, it also helps local people. In the Latin American Herald Tribune article,  Nicolas Janco, an agent with a Bolivian tourist agency located near Madidi, says ,“Tourism is an engine that is helping us greatly to improve our quality of life. Especially for the Tacana.”

    Of course, to take an ecotourism trip to Bolivia, you will need a Bolivian visa. Here’s what it takes to get a Bolivian tourism visa: (more…)

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    Getting a Brazilian Travel Visa To See Iguazu Falls

    Thursday, October 1st, 2009

    Do you think Niagara Falls is spectacular? Deep in the heart of South America, there is a waterfall that makes the mighty Niagara look like a mere trickle of water in comparison.

    Iguazu Fals is located on the border between Brazil and Argentina. According to Wikipedia, an ancient native legend says that the falls were formed by a jealous god who wanted to marry a human woman.  The problem? She was already in love, so she and her lover fled down the river in a canoe. To cut off the pair’s escape, the god sliced the river into pieces, creating the waterfalls.

    How much bigger is Iguazu Falls than Niagara Falls? Here are some statistics:

    The peak surface area of the water flowing over  Iguazu Falls is 1.3 million square feet. The peak surface area of the water flowing over Niagara is 600,000 square feet.  At peak flow, water gushes over Niagara Falls at a rate of 2,800 cubic feet per second. However, when Iguazu Falls is at peak flow, water roars over the falls at a rate of 6,500 cubic feet per second.

    When you compare the two, it is not hard to understand why Eleanor Roosevelt supposedly greeted the sight of Iguazu Falls by exclaiming “Poor Niagara!”

    To get to the Argentinian side of the falls, all you need is your passport. However, if you want to see the Brazilian side, as well, you’ll need to get a Brazilian tourist visa.  Brazil’s visa system can be complicated and tough to navigate, even tourists. To get you started, here’s a list of what you’ll need: (more…)

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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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