Posted By vipblogger ~ 10th August 2012
Peru is a developing country with an expanding tourism sector. A wide variety of tourist facilities and services is available, with quality varying according to price and location. Peru is the fifth-most populous country in Latin America (after Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina). Most Peruvians are either Spanish-speaking mestizos–a term that usually refers to a mixture of indigenous and European/Caucasian–or Amerindians, largely Quechua-speaking indigenous people.
United States passport holders traveling to Peru as a tourist and staying less than 90 days are not required to have a visa. If your travel plans exceed a stay of 90 days or if your purpose of travel is for business then a visa will need to be obtained prior to departure. The following documents are required to obtain a Peruvian Visa.
• One Signed United States Passport with a remaining validity of no less than six months.
• One blank visa page.
• Two 2×2 passport type photographs. (The consulate will not accept photos of the applicant wearing glasses)
• One CD disk with one of the above photos in color downloaded on it as a JPEG File. The photo must be the same photograph submitted with the application.
• Two completed original applications. Your signature must not touch any lines and must be floating within the signature box.
• A digital print of your right index in BLACK ink only is required to be placed in the Digital Print Box on the application.
• Application and signatures must be in black ink.
• One company letter of guarantee written in Spanish.
• Your original airline tickets. Copies and or an E-Ticket are not permissible.
• One letter of invitation written in Spanish.
• One original police clearance letter
• Consulate fee of $30.00
VIP Services is available to assist you with obtaining your visa prior to your departure. Please visit us at www.vippassports.com to begin the process today. You may also contact us at 1-800-856-8472 to speak with one of our Visa advisors.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 3rd August 2012
The Chinese Embassy in D.C. and the Chinese Consulates in the United States have been changing the visa instructions as well as the processing times on a daily basis, it is recommended that you NOT purchase non-refundable or non-changeable airline tickets until the visa has been issued and the passport is in hand.
When applying for a visa to The Peoples Republic of China the following is required:
• One Valid United States Passport with a minimum of six months remaining validity and with at least one blank visa page. If you are requesting anything other than a single or double entry visa, your passport must have at least 18 months remaining validity.
• One 2×2 Color passport type photograph with a white background.
• One typed and completed application. The application may not contain any blank spaces. If a question does not apply to you please indicate it by placing an N/A.
• One copy of your airline ticket and travel itinerary or a copy of the E-ticket confirmation with your travel itinerary.
• One of the following will be required to be submitted with the application:
o Copy of hotel confirmation
o Copy of the invitation letter from tourist group duly authorized by the official tourism group in China.
o Copy of the invitation letter issued by companies, corporations, institutions and or individuals in China. If the invitation letter is issued by an individual in China please also have them send a copy of their Chinese Passport and or Chinese identification.
• Consulate fee:
o $140.00 – Regular Processing
o $160.00 – (2-3 Working Days)
o $170.00 – (1 Working Day)
When typing your application please note that the Consulate will reject your request if the application has been altered in any way (white out, scratch outs, etc.).
VIP Passport and Visa Services can assist you with obtaining your visa. We work closely with the consulates and are available to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today at www.vippasports.com or call us a 1-800-856-8472.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 30th July 2012
The Schengen Visa has made traveling between its 25 member countries (22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier and less bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries on the same trip. The Schengen visa is a “visitor visa”. It is issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering Europe.
There are 25 countries in the Schengen territory. They are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
A Schengen Visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen Space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country.
VIP Services is available to assist you with obtaining your visa prior to your departure. Please visit us at www.vippassports.com to begin the process today. You may also contact us at 1-800-856-8472 to speak with one of our Visa advisors.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 30th July 2012
Congratulations are in order; you’ve finally decided to travel to a destination that requires a United States Passport. You’ve gone through the necessary steps required by the Department of State and applied for your passport, patiently waited to receive your United States Passport it is finally in your possession. Before you race to the airport however, you must sign your passport. This is a simple procedure, but there are few things to keep in mind, including using the right kind of pen and making sure that you sign your passport with the same type of signature as your name is printed on your United States Passport.
When you open your United States Passport you will find your personal information printed along with your picture. At the bottom of this page is a line for you to sign your name. Use a Black ink felt-tip, roller ball or calligraphy pen when signing your name. It is not recommended that you use a ballpoint pen. Your signature should be in your full name exactly as you signed your United States Passport application. It is important that your signature match and is not abbreviated in anyway. If you have a child that is too small to write his name, sign his name for him and put mother or father in parenthesis next to it.
VIP Passport and Visa Services can assist you with obtaining your United States Passport. We work closely with the Department of State and are available to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today at www.vippasports.com or call us at 1-800-856-8472.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 23rd July 2012
Peru is a developing country with an expanding tourism sector. A wide variety of tourist facilities and services is available, with quality varying according to price and location. Peru is the fifth-most populous country in Latin America (after Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina). Most Peruvians are either Spanish-speaking mestizos–a term that usually refers to a mixture of indigenous and European/Caucasian–or Amerindians, largely Quechua-speaking indigenous people.
United States passport holders traveling to Peru as a tourist and staying less than 90 days are not required to have a visa. If your travel plans exceed a stay of 90 days or if your purpose of travel is for business then a visa will need to be obtained prior to departure. The following documents are required to obtain a Peruvian Visa.
• One Signed United States Passport with a remaining validity of no less than six months.
• One blank visa page.
• Two 2×2 passport type photographs. (The consulate will not accept photos of the applicant wearing glasses)
• One CD disk with one of the above photos in color downloaded on it as a JPEG File. The photo must be the same photograph submitted with the application.
• Two completed original applications. Your signature must not touch any lines and must be floating within the signature box.
• A digital print of your right index in BLACK ink only is required to be placed in the Digital Print Box on the application.
• Application and signatures must be in black ink.
• One company letter of guarantee written in Spanish.
• Your original airline tickets. Copies and or an E-Ticket are not permissible.
• One letter of invitation written in Spanish.
• One original police clearance letter
• Consulate fee of $30.00
VIP Services is available to assist you with obtaining your visa prior to your departure. Please visit us at www.vippassports.com to begin the process today. You may also contact us at 1-800-856-8472 to speak with one of our Visa advisors.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 19th July 2012
The Chinese Embassy in D.C. and the Chinese Consulates in the United States have been changing the visa instructions as well as the processing times on a daily basis, it is recommended that you NOT purchase non-refundable or non-changeable airline tickets until the visa has been issued and the passport is in hand.
When applying for a visa to The Peoples Republic of China the following is required:
• One Valid United States Passport with a minimum of six months remaining validity and with at least one blank visa page. If you are requesting anything other than a single or double entry visa, your passport must have at least 18 months remaining validity.
• One 2×2 Color passport type photograph with a white background.
• One typed and completed application. The application may not contain any blank spaces. If a question does not apply to you please indicate it by placing an N/A.
• One copy of your airline ticket and travel itinerary or a copy of the E-ticket confirmation with your travel itinerary.
• One of the following will be required to be submitted with the application:
o Copy of hotel confirmation
o Copy of the invitation letter from tourist group duly authorized by the official tourism group in China.
o Copy of the invitation letter issued by companies, corporations, institutions and or individuals in China. If the invitation letter is issued by an individual in China please also have them send a copy of their Chinese Passport and or Chinese identification.
• Consulate fee:
o $140.00 – Regular Processing
o $160.00 – (2-3 Working Days)
o $170.00 – (1 Working Day)
When typing your application please note that the Consulate will reject your request if the application has been altered in any way (white out, scratch outs, etc.).
VIP Passport and Visa Services can assist you with obtaining your visa. We work closely with the consulates and are available to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today at www.vippasports.com or call us a 1-800-856-8472.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 14th July 2012
United States passport booklets are necessary for all air travel outside of the United States. There are five types of passports issued to qualifying applicants.
A Regular United States Passport is dark blue in color. This passport is issuable to all citizens and non-citizen nationals. Periods of validity: for those age 16 or over, generally ten years from the date of issue; for those 15 and younger, generally five years from the date of issue.
An Official United States Passport is brown in color and is issued to citizen-employees of the United States assigned overseas, either permanently or temporarily, and their eligible dependents, and to members of Congress who travel abroad on official business. Period of validity: generally five years from the date of issue.
A Diplomatic United States Passport is black in color and is issued to American diplomats accredited overseas and their eligible dependents, and to citizens who reside in the United States and travel abroad for diplomatic work. Period of validity: generally five years from the date of issue.
A Reentry United States Passport is blue-green in color and is not a full passport but is issued to a permanent resident alien in lieu of a passport. The reentry permit guarantees them permission to reenter the US and is usually valid for a period of 2 years.
An Emergency United States Passport is issued to citizens overseas, in urgent circumstances. Period of validity: generally one year from the date of issue. An emergency passport may be exchanged for a full-term passport.
VIP Passport and Visa Services can assist you with obtaining your Regular United States Passport and is available to answer any questions. Please contact us at 1-800-856-8472 or visit us at www.vippassports.com.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 9th July 2012
Azerbaijan is a constitutional republic with a developing economy. Western-style amenities are found in the capital, Baku, but infrastructure and access to goods and services outside the city, while improving, are less well-developed. Azerbaijan combines the heritage of two venerable civilizations–the Seljuk Turks of the 11th century and the ancient Persians. Its name is thought to be derived from the Persian phrase “Land of Fire,” referring both to its petroleum deposits, known since ancient times, and to its status as a former center of the Zoroastrian faith. The Azerbaijani Republic borders the Iranian provinces of East and West Azerbaijan, which are predominantly populated by ethnic Azeris.
If you’re planning on visiting Azerbaijan for business purposes the following is required:
• Signed United States Passport with at least one month of validity beyond your intended stay
• One blank visa page
• Two 2×2 passport type photographs
• One completed application
• Company Letter of Guarantee
• An official invitation provided by the host, obtained from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan or a letter of invitiation from the host company along with a copy of their Charter and State Registration Certificate
• One copy of the travel itinerary
• Embassy processing/outsourcing fee of $20.00
• Consulate Fee:
o $140.00 – Single Entry with a stay of up to 90 DAYS
o $140.00 – Double Entry with a stay of up to 90 DAYS
o $140.00 – Multiple Entry with a stay of up to 90 DAYS
Your visa will be valid for the exact dates indicated on the completed application and invitation or hotel confirmation. These dates should be the same. The length of stay and the number of entries are issued at the discretion of the issuing visa officer. The Embassy of The Republic of Azerbaijan advises that the laws of The Republic of Azerbaijan prohibit visiting the occupied territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the seven adjacent districts without consent of the Azerbaijan authorities. It is illegal to travel to these regions without a special permit and visa issued by the authorities of The Republic of Azerbaijan.
VIP Services is available to assist you with obtaining your visa prior to your departure. Please visit us at www.vippassports.com to begin the process today. You may also contact us at 1-800-856-8472 to speak with one of our Visa advisors.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 6th July 2012
Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since July 1, 1997, has a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and foreign policy, and retains its own currency, laws, and border controls. It is composed of three geographic areas: the New Territories, Kowloon Peninsula, and Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong SAR is cosmopolitan and highly developed.
A visa is not required if you are staying less than ninety days however if your plans exceed that time the following is required to obtain a visa:
• Valid United States Passport with a minimum of Six Months validity
• Two 2×2 passport type photographs
• Two completed applications (a copied application is accepted)
• A copy of your travel itinerary (double entry visas must be represented on your itinerary)
• Consulate fee:
o $30.00 – Single Entry (regular processing time)
o $50.00 – Single Entry (next day processing time)
o $60.00 – Single Entry (same day processing time)
o $40.00 – Double Entry (regular processing time)
o $60.00 – Double Entry (next day processing time)
o $70.00 – Double Entry (same day processing time)
It is at the Consulates discretion on the validity, duration of stay and the number of entries the visa will be issued. . VIP Services is available to assist you with obtaining your visa prior to your departure. Please visit us at www.vippassports.com to begin the process today. You may also contact us at 1-800-856-8472 to speak with one of our Visa advisors.
Posted By vipblogger ~ 28th June 2012
The Travel.State.Gov has issued the current warnings for travel.
Afghanistan: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan. The security threat to all U.S. citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Afghanistan issued December 1, 2011, to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security risks, including kidnapping and insurgent attacks.
No part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, either targeted or random, against U.S. and other Western nationals at any time. Remnants of the former Taliban regime and the al-Qaida terrorist network, as well as other groups hostile to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) military operations, remain active. Afghan authorities have a limited ability to maintain order and ensure the security of Afghan citizens and foreign visitors. Travel in all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe due to military combat operations, landmines, banditry, armed rivalry between political and tribal groups, and the possibility of insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The security situation remains volatile and unpredictable throughout the country.
There is an ongoing and increased risk of kidnapping and assassination of U.S. citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) employees throughout the country. In August 2011, two German aid workers were kidnapped while on a hiking trip in Parwan province; they were found dead a few weeks later. In September 2011,a U.S. citizen civilian working with the U.S. military in Kabul was kidnapped from a power plant by insurgents and later killed. Ten people, including three employees working for the UN Refugee Agency, were killed on October 31, 2011, in a complex suicide bombing attack outside a UN compound in Kandahar. In May 2012, a British and a Kenyan aid worker, along with two Afghan counterparts, were kidnapped in Badakhshan Province while riding on horseback to deliver medical supplies to a remote village; they were freed 10 days later in a NATO rescue operation.
Riots and incidents of civil disturbance can and do occur, often without warning. U.S. citizens should avoid rallies and demonstrations; even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. On April 1, 2011, following Friday prayers in Mazar-e-Sharif, a crowd of worshippers became incensed over reports of a Koran burning in the United States. Several Afghan protesters and United Nations foreign security staff died in the ensuing riot. Following the unintentional mishandling of Korans by U.S. service members at Bagram Air Force base on February 21, 2012, violent demonstrations occurred in several locations throughout Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of two U.S. service members during a protest outside of a military base in Nangarhar Province. Two additional U.S. service members were killed inside Kabul’s Ministry of Interior during a shooting that was likely attributable to the mishandling of Korans.
Kabul and its suburbs are also considered at high risk for militant attacks, including rocket attacks, vehicle-borne IEDs, direct-fire attacks and suicide bombings. More than 18 such attacks were reported in Kabul City from January to June 2012, and many additional attacks were thwarted by Afghan and coalition forces. Recent incidents include a suicide attack against the Intercontinental Hotel in June 2011, in which U.S. citizens were critically injured, and an August 2011 attack against the British Council. Insurgents also carried out a complex sustained attack against multiple targets in Kabul on September 13, 2011, which included the U.S. Embassy and ISAF headquarters, and again on April 15, 2012, targeting the U.S. and neighbouring embassies as well as ISAF headquarters and the Afghan Parliament. Dozens of Afghans and one U.S. citizen lost their lives in suicide bombings in Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif on December 6, 2011 (the Ashura holiday). Insurgents have also targeted the offices, convoys, and individual implementing partners of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Kabul-Jalalabad Road (commonly called Jalalabad Road) and the Kabul to Bagram Road are highly restricted for Embassy employees. On May 2, 2012, insurgents with vehicle-borne explosives and suicide vests targeted Green Village, a compound on Jalalabad Road in Kabul that houses primarily international security contractors; several guards and local school children were killed at the gates of the compound as a result of explosions. In late October 2011, asuicide bomber rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into an armored NATO bus on a busy thoroughfare in Kabul, killing 17 people including U.S. citizen contractors working with the military. On June 22, 2012, insurgents attacked Spozhmai Hotel west of Kabul City. This attack resulted in the deaths of a number of Afghan civilians, and others being taken hostage. No U.S. citizens were involved in this incident.
Buildings or compounds that lack robust security measures in comparison to neighboring facilities may be viewed as targets of opportunity by insurgents. Three suicide bombers attacked a guesthouse used by foreigners in Kunduz Province on August 2, 2011, killing four Afghan security guards.
Ambushes, robberies, and violent crime can add to the insecurity in many areas of the country. U.S. citizens involved in property or business disputes — a common legal problem in Afghanistan — have reported that their adversaries in the disputes have threatened their lives. U.S. citizens who find themselves in such situations should not assume that either local law enforcement or the U.S. Embassy will be able to assist them in resolving these disputes.
From time to time, depending on current security conditions, the U.S. Embassy places areas frequented by foreigners off limits to its personnel. Potential target areas include key national or international government establishments, international organizations and other locations with expatriate personnel, and public areas popular with the expatriate community such as restaurants and hotels. Private U.S. citizens are strongly urged to heed these restrictions as well. We encourage U.S. citizens to obtain the latest information by frequently consulting the Embassy’s travel advisory website.
The U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is limited, particularly for those persons outside the capital. U.S. citizens who choose to visit or remain in Afghanistan despite this Travel Warning are encouraged to enroll with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul through the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to obtain updated information on travel and security within Afghanistan. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy. Enrollment makes it easier for the Embassy to contact U.S. citizens in case of an emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at Great Masood Road between Radio Afghanistan and the Ministry of Public Health (the road is also known as Bebe Mahro or Airport Road) in Kabul. The Embassy phone numbers are 93-(0)700-108-001 and 93-(0)700-108-002. For after-hours, life-or-limb emergencies involving U.S. citizens, the Consular Section can be reached at 93-(0)700-201-908; please direct routine consular correspondence to KabulACS@state.gov.
Nigeria: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, and continues to recommend that U.S. citizens avoid all but essential travel to the following states because of the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano states. The Department also warns against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy. Violent crime remains a problem throughout the country and is perpetrated by both individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms. Based on safety and security risk assessments, travel by U.S. officials to all northern Nigerian states (in addition to those listed above) must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission as being mission-essential. U.S. citizens should be aware that in light of the continuing violence, extremists may expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to the country’s southern states. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated February 29, 2012, to update information on the continued violent activities in the country.
Haiti: The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Haiti about the security situation in Haiti. This replaces the Travel Warning dated August 8, 2011, to update information regarding the crime level, the prevalence of cholera, lack of adequate infrastructure – particularly in medical facilities – seasonal severe inclement weather, and limited police protection. The United Nations’ Stabilization Force for Haiti (MINUSTAH) remains in Haiti.
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution when visiting Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of Americans safely visit Haiti each year, but the poor state of Haiti’s emergency response network should be carefully considered when planning travel. Travelers to Haiti are encouraged to use organizations that have solid infrastructure, evacuation, and medical support options in place.
Somalia: The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Somalia and recommends that you avoid all travel to Somalia. This replaces the Travel Warning dated August 19, 2011, to update information on security concerns.
There is no U.S. Embassy or other U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia. Consequently, the U.S. government is not in a position to assist or effectively provide services to U.S. citizens in Somalia. In light of the serious security threats, the U.S. government recommends that you avoid all travel to Somalia.
The security situation inside Somalia remains unstable and potentially dangerous. Terrorist operatives and armed groups in Somalia have demonstrated their intent to attack air operations at Mogadishu International Airport. Kidnapping, murder, illegal roadblocks, banditry, and other violent incidents and threats to U.S. citizens and other foreigners can occur in any region. Inter-clan and inter-factional fighting flares up with little or no warning. Unpredictable armed conflicts among rival militias are prevalent in southern Somalia, particularly in and around Mogadishu. This has resulted in the deaths of countless Somali nationals and the displacement of more than one million people.
Philippines: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the Philippines, in particular to the Sulu Archipelago and the island of Mindanao. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated January 5, 2012, and reflects continuing threats in those areas due to terrorist and insurgent activities.
U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago, due to the high threat of kidnapping of international travelers and violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there.
U.S. citizens should exercise extreme caution if traveling to the island of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. Throughout Mindanao, criminal groups have clashed sporadically with the Philippine Armed Forces, particularly in rural areas, and terrorist groups have kidnapped international travelers and carried out bombings that have resulted in injuries and deaths. In Cotabato City, and in the Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces, the government maintains a state of emergency that compels a greater police presence in those areas.
VIP Passport and Visa Services can assist you with obtaining your visa. We work closely with the consulates and are available to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today at www.vippasports.com or call us a 1-800-856-8472.
