31 March 2015

Dual-Citizens --- Canada-USA

Many Canadians, formerly from the USA, worry about the legality of dual-nationality.

Never fear! It is perfectly legal to be a citizen of both Canada and the USA at the same time.

The US Embassy in Canada confirms this to be true.

The US laws against dual-citizenship were repealed during the Eisenhower and Johnson regimes.

US law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality.

Based on the U.S. Department of State regulation on dual citizenship (7 FAM 1162), the Supreme Court of the United States has stated that dual citizenship is a "status long recognized in the law" and that "a person
may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The mere fact he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not without more mean that he renounces the other", (Kawakita v. U.S., 343 U.S. 717) (1952). In Schneider v. Rusk 377 U.S. 163 (1964), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a naturalized U.S. citizen has the right to return to his native country and to resume his former citizenship, and also to remain a U.S. citizen even if he never returns to the United States.

So get BOTH PASSPORTS. It never hurts to have a back-up passport.

Parental Authorizations

Lots of people travel with Children, and it is getting tougher to do so. Many families have parents with different names, and often only one parent is traveling with a child. Often one parent has a different name than the child. So there is no obvious connection between the two persons. For these and other reasons, it is strongly recommended that you have a notarized authorization letter.

Foreign Affairs Canada suggests the following model letter which may be amended to meet the specific situation and requirements of the applicant.

Simply take this text and personalize it to meet your family needs. Ensure you provide copies of the passports of both parents, and a long-form birth certificate of the child showing the names of both parents.

To Whom It May Concern
I (We), (full name(s) of custodial and/or non-custodial parent(s)/legal guardian(s)), am (are) the (lawful custodial parent and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s)) of Child’s full name: Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY):
Place of birth:
Canadian passport number:
Date of issuance of Canadian passport (DD/MM/YYYY):
Place of issuance of Canadian passport:

(child’s full name), has my (our) consent to travel with
Full name of accompanying person:
Canadian or foreign passport number:
Date of issuance of passport (DD/MM/YYYY):
Place of issuance of passport:
to visit (name of foreign country) during the period of  (dates of travel: departure and return).
During that period, (child’s full name) will be residing with  (name of person where child will be residing in foreign country) at the following address:
Number/street address and apartment number:
City, province/state, country:
Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence):
Any questions regarding this consent letter can be directed to the undersigned at:
Number/street address and apartment number:
City, province/state, country: 
Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence): 
Signature(s):   Date:
(Full name(s) and signature(s) of custodial parent, and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s))
Signed before me, (name of witness),
this (date) at (name of location).
Signature:  (name of witness)
NOTARY SEAL by a lawyer in Canada.

30 March 2015

Indonesia Price Rise

The Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa announced a small price increase for both tourist and business visas: from the old $55. to the new $65 per single-entry visa.

Canadian tourists can still get a visa-on-arrival at most Indonesian international airports.

Click here for Indonesian visa forms.

24 March 2015

Viet Visa Price Change

As of Wednesday 01 April 2015 the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam will begin charging for all visa services in US DOLLARS only.

We as your service provider will pay the Viet embassy on your behalf in US$. You still pay only in Canadian $ for the visa and the service.

This change will not have any effect on you as a client or visa seeker.

We will inform you on our company website and on this blog as soon as the new prices are available. We are hoping the price may drop slightly.

Click here for Viet visa forms.

20 March 2015

New Russian Vouchers

This week was tough in Moscow.

The Russian government wiped out four hundred visa voucher companies by ending their official registrations three months early and not giving them a chance to re-register in the normal fashion.

This does not hurt Canadians but it does mean that we have to change the number of our Russian voucher supplier.

As already reflected on our forms and manual, all Russian tourist vouchers will be issued by "OOO ATLANTA" of 3/4 Pyatnitskaya Street, Moscow, 115035. Telephone +7-495-225-5012.

The new ministry reference number, always necessary for any document, is #014449.

Click here for Russian visa forms, prices, and a helpful manual.

19 March 2015

Brazil - Possible Slow Down in Computer

The Brazilian government informs Canadians that between 21 - 30 March 2015, due to adjustments on computer services in the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil headquarters in Brasilia (which manages the Brazilian Consular Network abroad) some consular services may be totally or partially affected. Therefore, the issuance of passports, vital certificates, visas, emails and other services could be impaired. Under those circumstances, whenever it is possible, the government recommends that applicants apply BEFORE these dates

Please expect disruptions to the computer system for those nine days.

Click here for Brazil visa forms and manual.

Russian Fees Increased

The Russian visa office has increased their fees by ten dollars for every type of visa and for every speed of service. Nothing else changed. It is business as usual.

Despite the tensions over the Russian war in Ukraine and western sanctions against Russia, there is no problem for Canadians seeking Russian tourist or business visas.

Click here for the Russian forms and manual.

New Forms for Gabon

The Embassy of Gabon in Canada has introduced new forms, and new photo requirements. At least the prices remain the same.

Applicants still have to fill in and sign three (3) forms, and provide three (3) identical photos.

The new photo size is exactly 35mm by 45mm. No deviation is allowed. Ensure the photographer prints the photos the right size. Do not cut the photos.

Click here for the new Gabon forms.

Egypt Makes Visas Mandatory

The Government of Egypt has ended visa-on-arrival as of 15 May 2015.

All persons MUST have a valid Egyptian visa glued into their passport PRIOR to travel to Egypt.

You can no longer just buy the visa at the airport in Egypt.

If you attempt to board a flight without a visa in hand the airline is legally allowed to deny you boarding until you are properly documented (ie. have a visa in your passport).

Click here for Egypt visas.

10 March 2015

New Chinese Visa Prices

Effective immediately the government of China is issuing TEN-YEAR MULTIPLE-ENTRY visas to most Canadians, and new fees apply to this new visa.

China visas will be valid for the remaining life of the Canadian passport. This means that a person using a new ten-year passport could get a ten-year visa.

There are new prices for this new feature.

Effective today there are only three prices instead of the previous twelve.
Fast service $247.18
Express service $203.93
Regular service $145.20

Click here for Chinese visa forms and prices and instructions.

09 March 2015

China TEN YEAR Visas

Effective immediately the government of China is issuing TEN-YEAR MULTIPLE-ENTRY visas to qualified Canadian business and tourist visa seekers.

Canadians who qualify for a multi-entry visa will no longer be limited to the old one-year visa. The new plan is that the visa will be valid for the remaining life of the passport. This means that a person using a new ten-year passport could get a ten-year visa.

Please note that you still need either official permission for a multi-entry visa, or must prove that you have held a Chinese visa previously by supplying your previous Chinese visa and old passport.

Click here for Chinese visa forms and prices and instructions.