Canadian Passport Requirements – Ensure That You Can Travel to the USA on Time

January 21st, 2011 admin


I’ve just found a great deal on a trip to Miami, what documents do I need to have in order to travel?

This is a common questions that I am presented with. It is important to consider the requirements before booking an international trip of any kind: you would hate to miss your vacation due to being turned away at the airport!

You will need a passport. As of January 2007, Canadians flying into the USA require passports. You are still allowed to travel by car, train or bus without a passport, but by January 2008 these travelers require passports as well. I recommend getting a passport now if you have travel plans of any kind. Your passport should be valid until at least six (6) months after your return to Canada.

How do I get a passport, and how long does it take?

This depends on your situation, if you have a Canadian passport issued after January 2002 there is a new simplified process to obtain a new passport. Canadian Citizens applying for their first passport, or renewing a passport issued before 2002 have a more complicated application to submit. If you are a Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) of Canada, you are not allowed to apply for a Canadian Passport, and must follow a different process altogether.

All application forms/ instructions are available at your local post office. Be sure to check with Passport Canada for unique situations (my passport was stolen!), updates and office locations for applying in person.

Simplified Passport Renewal

If you are an adult looking to renew a passport that was issued after January 31 2002, and you do not need to change your name, replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport, you may be able to take advantage of the new simplified passport application. This option is available only to those that are residing in Canada and were 16 years of age or older and residing in Canada when the previous passport was issued.

This application allows you to skip the Guarantor process, and avoid submitting proof of identity, as well your birth certificate or citizenship card. You must submit the application form, two (2) new photographs, a processing fee of $87, and your previous passport.
Passports applied for in person can be ready in as little as two (2) weeks. Passports applied for by mail will take at least six (6) weeks.

Standard Passport Application

For those who do not have an adult passport issued after January 31, 2002, you must use the full application. This could be your first passport application, you were under 16 when your last passport was issued or you are residing outside of Canada.

For these applications you need to have a guarantor, but new rules allow almost everyone to have access to someone that can sign for them. Many Canadians by virtue of holding a passport themselves can now act as guarantors. You will be required to submit the application form, a fee of $87, proof of identity (ie. Driver’s Licence), two (2) photographs and original proof of citizenship.

Like the Simplified Application, passports applied for in person can be ready in as little as two (2) weeks, six (6) weeks by mail.

What if I am a Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) of Canada, not a Citizen?

You will need to ensure that you have a valid Permanent Resident (PR) Card. This is required to return to Canada after your trip. If you are unsure of the procedure to obtain a PR Card, you should get in touch with an Immigration Specialist like myself, or Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Generally PR Cards take about 6-8 weeks to process.

You will also need to carry a valid passport from your Country of Citizenship. If this passport is not current you will need to contact that country’s embassy or consulate in Canada to apply. Be aware that the length of time, fees, and the amount of documentation required varies greatly country to country. Some will be able to renew an existing passport the same day, others will find that it takes several months and involves a lot of supporting documents.

Depending on the passport you carry, you may need a visa in order to enter the United States. The United States does not view Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residence in the same way. The American authorities will treat you as a Citizen of the country whose passport you are carrying. Be sure to check out this requirement several months before you want to travel: American visas often take weeks or months to arrange.

Common Mistakes

When making an application of any type ensure that it is signed! Make sure you have included everything asked for on the checklist including the fee.
If your passport applications requires you to provide original proof of citizenship, make sure you know where your Birth Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship is! Passport Canada will not accept your current Canadian Passport as proof of citizenship. If you need to replace a Birth Certificate or Citizenship document, be sure to apply well ahead of time!

Be sure to carefully read all instructions from Passport Canada before applying.

By: Christopher Daw

About the Author:
Christopher Daw is a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. He operates a consulting agency based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. For any questions or concerns about Canadian Citizenship, Immigration, Residency or PR status, please visit http://www.dawimmigration.com Copyright Christopher Daw © 2007. All rights reserved.



Affordable Winter Travel Ideas to Escape the Cold

January 20th, 2011 admin


As someone who has lived in northerly climates for much of my life, I know well that feeling that sets in around late January or early February. You reach that upsetting point where you can hardly remember what warm weather feels like, and just the idea of a 70 degree day is enough to send you into one of those hour-long daydreams that can really get in the way of one’s productivity. Personally, I find that winter is much easier if I can escape to a warmer climate at least once during the harsh winter months. If you can afford it, it can help keep your energy up as you wait for those first achingly glorious warm April days.

That’s why I’m offering these affordable winter travel ideas. In today’s economy, many of us can’t afford the luxury Hawaii or Bahamas vacation. But if you just want to relax and enjoy yourself while escaping the blustery winds of the north, there are plenty of things you can do.

South America: Don’t forget that the winter months for us are summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Yes, South America is a very broad category, but there are so many parts of the continent that are perfect. Air travel is relatively cheap, and countries like Chile, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, and Brazil are quite affordable for people from the U.S. Personally, I love Buenos Aires for my city enjoyment, but I also love the diverse natural landscapes of Chile. If you’ve never been to South America, try it out. Many North Americans are surprised by what a warm, beautiful, and welcoming continent it is.

Southern Europe: Many parts of Europe aren’t exactly cheap, but there are actually many southern portions of the continent that make great affordable winter travel ideas. Spain and Portugal are relatively cheap, as are many Mediterranean islands and the southern portions of Italy. And then there are beautiful, historic Greece and Turkey. All of these areas are warm, affordable, and full of everything you could want as a traveler.

Africa: If you’ve never explored the diverse natural climates of Africa, now may be the time to get started. Practically the entire continent is warm year-round, and the people in the most well-traveled parts of Africa are famously welcoming and kind to outsiders from all over the world.

Caribbean and Mexico: Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are within just a few hundred miles of the southern U.S., but many of us never get to see them. If you’re looking for affordable winter travel ideas, look into places like Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico. U.S. dollars can go quite a long way in places like this, and there are more than enough tourist amenities to keep you happy and comfortable during your stay.

Thailand: Thailand stays warm year round, and it is most comfortable during the winter months. It’s an increasingly popular destination for Australian and East Asian travelers who want both beautiful beaches and exciting modern cities like Bangkok, but there are often some very good deals for flights from the U.S. They don’t come around every day, though, so you have to snatch them up when you find them.

By: Caterina Christakos

About the Author:
Caterina Christakos is a published author and product reviewer. Read her latest reviews of aquage transforming paste and other aquage hair products.



US Immigration Visa Guide

January 20th, 2011 admin


New US Immigration Visas are very flexible and available to the people living in other nations. The U.S. Immigration visa allows a person who desires to travel to the United States of America from any country as a non-immigrant or immigrant should apply for entry permission at a Consulate outside the United States.

Few years back the process of getting immigration visas are lengthy and requires substantial paperwork. Applications are submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and then the foreign nations must attend an interview at an U.S. consulate. It takes so much time for processing and can take several months; mistakes in applications can result in even delays for years.

Today situation has changed, getting US immigration visas become much easier and so many are using electronic forms to get visas from consulate. Actually there are various types of visas available to foreign nations who enter in to United States. According to new rules and regulations the U.S. immigration visas are divided in to two types 1) Nonimmigrant visas 2) Immigrant visas.

Nonimmigrant visas are mainly useful for non U.S nations, who desire to study, work, visit or travel through the United States of America. Nonimmigrant visas are further divided into 4 types 1) Work visas
2) Visitor Visas 3) Student Visas 4) Family Visas.

Work visas are most popular temporary work permit to enter in to United States for specialty occupation.
It includes H1B,E3,TN,L1,E1,E2,I,O,P,R,H2B. Visitor visa is for foreign individuals who can demonstrates their business and travel temporarily in the U.S. B1, B2 and Visa waiver program comes under this category. Student visas are mainly for foreign nations who want to study in U.S. Universities or colleges. Family visas (K and V) are available to those who plan to marry a U.S. citizen.

Immigrant visas provide permanent resident status (Green Card) which allows foreign nationals to reside permanently, work and travel in the U.S.

By: Ranjeeth A

About the Author:
Immigrationforum.com is a good immigration discussion site and is growing strong. For additional information on U.S. immigration visas visit [http://www.immigrationforum.com]

Immigration Forum [http://www.immigrationforum.com]



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