Archive for December, 2009

Apply for a Passport – The Caribbean Awaits!

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

 

There’s one thing you have to pack if you want to relax on dreamlike beaches and swim in crystal clear waters every day—your passport. The Caribbean remains the dream destination of choice for thousands of Americans every year.

A passport application to the Caribbean is easy. The passport requirements are not strict because the Caribbean is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. With over 7,000 islands making up the Caribbean, the main problem is not the passport application itself, but where to go!

With such fantastic destinations as Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua, it’s impossible to do everything (unless you happen to be a millionaire). So here are a few ideas for things to do in the Caribbean during your vacation that could help you to make up your mind.

 

1. Dive with Sharks, Bahamas

It’s not everyone’s first-choice activity, but diving with sharks will certainly provide you with a few stories to tell on your return home. If you head to the Bahamas there are plenty of tours offering diving with reef sharks. You’ll need to be a proficient scuba diver, but if you’re brave enough this is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have as a tourist in the Caribbean.

 

2. Hike to the Highest Point in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico

Head up to the heights with a trip to Pico del Toro, the highest point in the Caribbean, which is located in the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. You can hike all the way to the top where you will be treated to some truly incredible views of the rainforest below. This is not your average beach activity, so come prepared, but the reward at the top will be worth it.

 

3. Follow in Bob Marley’s Footsteps, Jamaica

Any fan of Bob Marley should not miss this opportunity to visit all of the most important places in the reggae legend’s life. Places that tourists can visit include his birthplace, Mt Zion Rock, and Nine Mile Village. You’ll also receive an education about the Rastafarian religion along the way.

 

4. Take a Ride on a Gondola, Dominica

This is one of the best things you can do as a tourist during your trip to the Caribbean. Located at Morne Trois Pitons National Park, you can enjoy a half-hour ride on a hanging gondola traveling over the top of the rainforest. You’ll get an unrivalled view of the canopy below and an experienced guide to explain all the things that you will see.

 

Get Your Passport and Get Going

If any of these experiences get you excited then you know what to do: apply for your passport today and going! The passport requirements for the Caribbean are not as strict as for other areas of the world, but you still need to make sure you have your passport before leaving home. The passport application is easy and you can get an expedited passport service if you want to receive it even quicker. Just check out the service we provide and choose the one you want!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Passport FAQ's, Tourist Attractions | No Comments »


US Passport Requirements to go to Canada

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

As of June 1, 2009, everyone from the US arriving in Canada by air, land and sea will need a US passport to enter.

We recommend that you apply for your passport now and if you need it in a rush, apply for your us passport with passportsandvisas.com.  Canada is a favorite destination for many American tourists, canada passport borderbut making the journey used to be a lot simpler. As the rules regarding passports and travel requirements have recently changed, here’s a guide to what you do and don’t need now when heading across the border.

The Old Rules

 

Before June 2009, the only time that you needed to carry a passport with you when visiting Canada was if you were traveling by plane. If traveling by boat or car then you only needed to take proof of citizenship and picture ID.

The New Rules

 

Nothing has changed if you are flying to Canada from the United States as you will still need your passport. However, if you are crossing the border by land or sea then you will now require either a passport or a passport card. This may be annoying for all those people who have crossed many times in the past without needing a passport, but there is not much that can be done about it.

This is all part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), an agreement existing between the United States and a number of other countries including Canada and Mexico. The measure was due to come into force in 2008, but in the end it was put back to 2009. Increased security issues are partly to blame, and as a result if you don’t take your passport or passport card with you then you won’t be leaving the country.

The Passport Card

 

The passport card is a new piece of documentation that was introduced in 2008. It is a small, wallet-sized card that carries all the necessary information on it to cross the border into other countries in the WHTI. It is more convenient and cheaper than a passport, so if you only want to travel to Canada then you could just get one of these.

Exception to the Rule

 

There is currently one exception to the rule of taking a passport with you on a trip to Canada. Children under the age of 16 traveling by boat or vehicle do not need their passports to cross the border, and all they need is to present an original or certified copy of his or her birth certificate. If they are traveling by plane then the same rules apply, but otherwise they will be free from the restrictions in place for everyone else.

Why Canada?

 

Canada is a fantastic place to spend a vacation, and is hugely popular with American tourists. Possible things to see and do include:

• A trip to the CN Tower in Toronto, which at 1,815.4 feet tall has stunning views over the city and Lake Ontario

• The Canadian side of Niagara Falls, known as Horseshoe Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world

• A trip to Old Québec, walking the cobbled streets and admiring the 17th century architecture

Get your Passport Now

Need to get a passport or passport card to visit Canada? Don’t get caught out by the new rules. You can expedite your passport application with us at Passports and Visas.com and receive it within as little as one day. We also offer a number of other services including renewals, replacements, and children’s passports, which you can also expedite, so whatever you need let us arrange it for you.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Passport FAQ's, Passport Processing | No Comments »


Department of State and Embassies closed Friday January 1

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

The Department of State and Embassies closed will be closed on January 1, 2010.  Additionally, most Embassies and the Passport Agency will have limited ability to assist on New Years Eve, December 31.

Posted in Embassy Holidays | No Comments »


How Do I Renew My US Passport?

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

 

Many are asking how do I renew my US Passport with the recent law changes Passport Renewal.  Renewing your passport really isn’t as tricky as some people think it is. It can often seem confusing, and with all those forms to fill in it’s easy to panic and end up making a mistake, which will lead to further delays.

But with a little bit of help, getting your passport renewed really isn’t that difficult.

 

Why Renew?

Why would you want to renew your US passport? Any travel outside of the United States will require you to have a passport in your possession. Even if you’re just hopping across the border to Canada or Mexico for a few days, there are no exceptions. Everyone needs a passport.

If your old US passport has expired then you will certainly need to renew it. However, there are occasions when your passport has not expired but you will still need to get it renewed.

For example, if you are heading to a country that requires a certain time period of validity on your passport before it expires, which could be six months or more, then you will need to renew your passport if it expires within this time.

Also, if you’re going away for a long trip and your passport will become invalid during the time you are away, you will again have to renew your passport before you leave.

 

Passport Renewal Service

Your best option is always to go with a company that provides a dedicated US passport renewal service. You can often find a number of different levels of service, depending on what you need. For example, if you need a passport very quickly then you can get it in as little as 24 hours. Or if there is no rush you could opt for a standard 10-day service.

Whatever option you choose, a passport renewal service will make the process as simple as possible so there’s no chance of making a mistake. It involves filling in an application form and sending it together with two passport photos, a letter of authorization, and order form, and a few other details. You can find the complete list of everything you need to get your passport in the time specified.

Then just send it all in via FedEx and your passport renewal service will do the rest, so your passport will arrive in the allotted time.

 

Get it Faster

If you need your passport renewed fast by an expediting service, it’s always best to leave it to the experts. Save time and hassle and make sure you get your passport renewed in time for your trip, wherever you’re heading.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Passport FAQ's, Passport Processing | 1 Comment »


How to Get a Passport Fast

Friday, December 11th, 2009

How do you get a Passport Fast?

It’s everyone’s vacation nightmare: you’ve been planning your vacation for weeks or months, you’ve been dreaming about sandy beaches, hot sun, relaxing days by the pool … but you’ve got so carried away with it all that you’ve forgotten the most important thing of all: your passport.

What do you do? How do you get your US passport sorted out fast? Luckily there’s a way that’s quick and easy.

Same Day Passport Service

With a same day passport application service, you can get your passport within 24 hours. It seems impossible, especially when you visit the US Department of State Web site and find out there’s an average wait of six weeks. But with a private passport application service you can get your US passport delivered on the same-day with ease.

Why Bother Going Fast?

There are many reasons why you may need to arrange a passport application fast.

Perhaps a business meeting has just come up out of the blue and it’s hugely important that you attend, but after buying your flight and booking your accommodation you realize that your passport expired a few weeks ago.

Sometimes even the most careful planners can get caught. Even if you have your passport ready and you’ve checked and double checked that it is still valid for a few months, you might find out at the last moment that the country you’re visiting requires at least six months validity on your passport or they won’t let you get a visa.

Most people start to panic when they find they need a passport immediately, and some give up all hope of ever making the trip.

But with a same day fast passport expediting service you just have to fill in a few forms online, send the required documents, pay the fee, and your US passport will get delivered straight away.

Streamlined Process

When you go with a passport expediting service your passport application is handled by a dedicated team who streamline the whole process. That means you’ll bypass all the restrictions that come with applying for your passport in the standard way.

When you apply for a passport with an expediting service, you get the same passport but just a lot quicker. It makes your life easier and means you never have to worry about missing your vacation or important trip ever again.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Passport FAQ's, Passport Processing | 1 Comment »