In a move which will delight business clients and oil workers, the Nigerian High Commission in Canada is once again offering fast processing of visa applications.
The usual processing time remains 7 working days, but the Nigerian consul will sign visas within 48 hours for an extra payment of $65.
This move will be greeted with open arms by people who need their passports for daily use, and cannot afford to be without for two weeks.
And remember, when applying for a Nigerian visa, you need a lot of documents! If all the documents are not in order, then the Nigerians will not be giving fast service.
Please click here for the Nigerian visa application form and detailed requirements list.
29 March 2010
10 March 2010
Dual Citizens Beware
The Canadian Government has issued the following warning about dual citizenship.
Dual citizenship occurs when a person is the citizen of more than one country. Canadian law permits dual citizenship: you can remain or become a citizen of another country and still be recognized as a Canadian.
But dual citizenship (also called dual nationality) is not legally recognized in all countries and can lead to serious difficulties for Canadians when they are in the country of their second citizenship. It can also create problems in third countries if there is any confusion over what citizenship was used to obtain entry.
There are also risks and problems associated with having more than one citizenship.
RECOGNITION: The most important of these is that your Canadian citizenship may not be recognized in the country of your second citizenship. The authorities of that country may not recognize Canada's right to provide you with consular assistance. There could also be problems in other countries, especially if you used the travel document of the country of your second citizenship to gain entry. In such circumstances, the local authorities could decide that Canada does not have the right to provide consular assistance.
MILITARY: Many countries still have compulsory military service. If you are a citizen, and you meet other conditions, you may be legally required to register for military service and to respond to call-up orders. This legal obligation may exist even if you do not reside in the country of your second citizenship. Your obligations could be enforced even if you're just visiting at some point in the future.
TAX: Taxation arrangements between countries are complex. If you hold dual citizenship, you may have obligations in both countries. These obligations should be discussed with your financial and/or legal advisers.
MARRIAGE: Canada recognizes the legality of marriages performed in other countries. However, marriages performed in Canada may not always be considered legal in other countries. Similarly, divorce and child custody documents issued by Canadian courts may not be recognized.
CHILD ABDUCTION: Many international child abductions involve parents and children who have dual citizenship. If the abducting parent carries a second passport, Canadian authorities may encounter difficulties in preventing the abduction. The Government of Canada cannot prevent another country from providing passport services to Canadian parents or children who are also citizens of that country. You or your lawyer can request that a foreign diplomatic or consular mission not provide passport services for your child. To do so, provide the mission with a written request, along with a certified copy of any court orders dealing with custody or foreign travel by your child. Inform the foreign diplomatic or consular mission that you have also sent a copy of your request to Consular Services of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa.
USE YOUR CANADIAN PASSPORT: The Canadian government strongly encourages you to use your Canadian passport when travelling abroad, especially when entering the country of your second citizenship. Note that you cannot use a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship instead of a Canadian passport to travel abroad.
Click here for details from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Dual citizenship occurs when a person is the citizen of more than one country. Canadian law permits dual citizenship: you can remain or become a citizen of another country and still be recognized as a Canadian.
But dual citizenship (also called dual nationality) is not legally recognized in all countries and can lead to serious difficulties for Canadians when they are in the country of their second citizenship. It can also create problems in third countries if there is any confusion over what citizenship was used to obtain entry.
There are also risks and problems associated with having more than one citizenship.
RECOGNITION: The most important of these is that your Canadian citizenship may not be recognized in the country of your second citizenship. The authorities of that country may not recognize Canada's right to provide you with consular assistance. There could also be problems in other countries, especially if you used the travel document of the country of your second citizenship to gain entry. In such circumstances, the local authorities could decide that Canada does not have the right to provide consular assistance.
MILITARY: Many countries still have compulsory military service. If you are a citizen, and you meet other conditions, you may be legally required to register for military service and to respond to call-up orders. This legal obligation may exist even if you do not reside in the country of your second citizenship. Your obligations could be enforced even if you're just visiting at some point in the future.
TAX: Taxation arrangements between countries are complex. If you hold dual citizenship, you may have obligations in both countries. These obligations should be discussed with your financial and/or legal advisers.
MARRIAGE: Canada recognizes the legality of marriages performed in other countries. However, marriages performed in Canada may not always be considered legal in other countries. Similarly, divorce and child custody documents issued by Canadian courts may not be recognized.
CHILD ABDUCTION: Many international child abductions involve parents and children who have dual citizenship. If the abducting parent carries a second passport, Canadian authorities may encounter difficulties in preventing the abduction. The Government of Canada cannot prevent another country from providing passport services to Canadian parents or children who are also citizens of that country. You or your lawyer can request that a foreign diplomatic or consular mission not provide passport services for your child. To do so, provide the mission with a written request, along with a certified copy of any court orders dealing with custody or foreign travel by your child. Inform the foreign diplomatic or consular mission that you have also sent a copy of your request to Consular Services of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa.
USE YOUR CANADIAN PASSPORT: The Canadian government strongly encourages you to use your Canadian passport when travelling abroad, especially when entering the country of your second citizenship. Note that you cannot use a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship instead of a Canadian passport to travel abroad.
Click here for details from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
09 March 2010
India Bans 2nd Entry Within 2 Months
The Indian Government has issued new rules about when a tourist can re-enter India on a multi-entry tourist visa.
As of 2010 anyone using a tourist visa must be out of India for at least two months before being allowed re-entry. This means that a person visiting south Asia on a multi-country itinerary cannot simply hop in and out of India regularly. They must leave India and remain out of India for at least two (2) months before they can legally re-enter the country.
The reason for what seems like a rather draconian policy change is in fact the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. These were apparently facilitated by two US citizens who used Indian multi-entry visas to come and go repeatedly while planning the attacks and providing logistics for the attackers.
Acording to Wikipedia "In October 2009, two Chicago men were arrested and charged by the FBI for involvement in terrorism abroad, David Coleman Headley (real name: Daood Sayed Gilani) and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Headley, a Pakistani-American, was charged in November 2009 with scouting locations for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Headley is reported to have posed as an American Jew and is believed to have links with terrorist outfits based in Bangladesh. In December 2009, the FBI charged Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, a retired major in the Pakistani army, for planning the terror attacks in association with Headley." "Indian investigators were surprised at how easily Headley had obtained a visa to enter India, a process that is extremely difficult for Pakistani nationals. Headley's U.S. passport, his new Christian sounding name, and the fact that the passport and his visa application made no mention of his prior name or nationality, made it easy for him to obtain an Indian visa from the Indian consulate in Chicago. He also falsely stated on his visa application that his father's name was William Headley and that his own name at birth was Headley, a claim that was difficult to refute since the U.S. passport, unlike the Indian one, does not provide the father's name, and does not require endorsements on name changes by the passport holder."
So the actions of some US citizens who probably helped the attackers while using tourist visas and repeatedly and quickly entering and re-entering India have led to the ending of quick re-entry for all tourists. This also explains why the Indian visa application form asks for details about parents and their nationalities at birth.
Lesson: when planning your Indian and South Asian itinerary, remember to have all of India done in one visit, then exit the region through another country.
As of 2010 anyone using a tourist visa must be out of India for at least two months before being allowed re-entry. This means that a person visiting south Asia on a multi-country itinerary cannot simply hop in and out of India regularly. They must leave India and remain out of India for at least two (2) months before they can legally re-enter the country.
The reason for what seems like a rather draconian policy change is in fact the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. These were apparently facilitated by two US citizens who used Indian multi-entry visas to come and go repeatedly while planning the attacks and providing logistics for the attackers.
Acording to Wikipedia "In October 2009, two Chicago men were arrested and charged by the FBI for involvement in terrorism abroad, David Coleman Headley (real name: Daood Sayed Gilani) and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Headley, a Pakistani-American, was charged in November 2009 with scouting locations for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Headley is reported to have posed as an American Jew and is believed to have links with terrorist outfits based in Bangladesh. In December 2009, the FBI charged Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, a retired major in the Pakistani army, for planning the terror attacks in association with Headley." "Indian investigators were surprised at how easily Headley had obtained a visa to enter India, a process that is extremely difficult for Pakistani nationals. Headley's U.S. passport, his new Christian sounding name, and the fact that the passport and his visa application made no mention of his prior name or nationality, made it easy for him to obtain an Indian visa from the Indian consulate in Chicago. He also falsely stated on his visa application that his father's name was William Headley and that his own name at birth was Headley, a claim that was difficult to refute since the U.S. passport, unlike the Indian one, does not provide the father's name, and does not require endorsements on name changes by the passport holder."
So the actions of some US citizens who probably helped the attackers while using tourist visas and repeatedly and quickly entering and re-entering India have led to the ending of quick re-entry for all tourists. This also explains why the Indian visa application form asks for details about parents and their nationalities at birth.
Lesson: when planning your Indian and South Asian itinerary, remember to have all of India done in one visit, then exit the region through another country.
VSC Charity in Cambodia
We at Visa Services Canada are pleased to support the Life & Hope Association in Siem Reap, Cambodia. LHA helps orphans and vulnerable children, and landmine victims.
VSC uses some of its profits to aid LHA in its good works.
Recently LHA had to take over a faultering orphanage on the edge of Siem Reap. I have personally been to this orphanage and know that LHA will continue the good works here.
The photo, taking in early March 2010, shows the orphans holding a thank you sign in recognition of the recent donation to the facility.
VSC uses some of its profits to aid LHA in its good works.
Recently LHA had to take over a faultering orphanage on the edge of Siem Reap. I have personally been to this orphanage and know that LHA will continue the good works here.
The photo, taking in early March 2010, shows the orphans holding a thank you sign in recognition of the recent donation to the facility.
10 February 2010
Cameroon visa scam at passport control
Today some past clients wrote to us with a story of their time in Cameroon. The following scam should be a warning to all travellers: make and keep copies of your passport and your visas.
"Our trip went very well, due in a large part to your efforts. Douala (Cameroon) went OK, but another entire set of bureaucrats in another city, Garoua, did not. They demanded that I surrender my passport to go to another room and when they returned they had peeled off the visa (revenue) stamp and told me the visa was not valid because it had no
stamp. I was able to produce a copy of the visa, provided by you, indicating that the stamp was there. That did seem to slow them down, but money seemed to be the lubrication required to get the wheels of government to move." J.H. 10 Feb 2010.
"Our trip went very well, due in a large part to your efforts. Douala (Cameroon) went OK, but another entire set of bureaucrats in another city, Garoua, did not. They demanded that I surrender my passport to go to another room and when they returned they had peeled off the visa (revenue) stamp and told me the visa was not valid because it had no
stamp. I was able to produce a copy of the visa, provided by you, indicating that the stamp was there. That did seem to slow them down, but money seemed to be the lubrication required to get the wheels of government to move." J.H. 10 Feb 2010.
05 February 2010
Panama visa update
The Embassy of Panama has just told me that they have now received official word from the immigration and passports directorate of Panama regarding Canadian passport holders. The great news is that they DO NOT require visas, despite the law requiring visas now that tourist cards have been abolished.
So as of now Canadian citizens, using Canadian passports, can freely enter Panama by airplane or cruise ship for a stay of up to 90 days, WITHOUT getting a visa.
So as of now Canadian citizens, using Canadian passports, can freely enter Panama by airplane or cruise ship for a stay of up to 90 days, WITHOUT getting a visa.
02 February 2010
PANAMA REQUIRES VISAS !
Canadians going to Panama by air or on a cruise ship are now required to have a visa in their passports prior to travel.
As of January 2010, Canadians have to get visas for Panama. This is due to a change in Panamanian law which was supposed to make tourist travel easier. Panama abolished the "Tourist Card" formerly available at airports and on cruise ships. However, Canada is on a list of countries whose citizens require either a tourist card or a visa. With the abolition of the tourist card, Canadians now must have a Panamanian "stamped visa".
Canadian citizens must apply for a visa with the proper visa application form; an original valid passport, plus a copy of the passport; a colour passport photo; a copy of the air ticket, or cruise ticket (booking confirmation form); a hotel reservation (not for people on a cruise); and a visa fee of US$35. Visas are issued in about a week.
Click here for the Panamanian stamped visa application form.
As of January 2010, Canadians have to get visas for Panama. This is due to a change in Panamanian law which was supposed to make tourist travel easier. Panama abolished the "Tourist Card" formerly available at airports and on cruise ships. However, Canada is on a list of countries whose citizens require either a tourist card or a visa. With the abolition of the tourist card, Canadians now must have a Panamanian "stamped visa".
Canadian citizens must apply for a visa with the proper visa application form; an original valid passport, plus a copy of the passport; a colour passport photo; a copy of the air ticket, or cruise ticket (booking confirmation form); a hotel reservation (not for people on a cruise); and a visa fee of US$35. Visas are issued in about a week.
Click here for the Panamanian stamped visa application form.
05 December 2009
Cambodia - please give generously
We at Visa Services Canada support a charity in Cambodia, and we want to share this charity with you in the hope you will help.
Every year VSC gives a few tonnes of rice to the LIFE AND HOPE ASSOCIATION. The rice is purchased locally in Cambodia, so the money goes to rice farmers and local producers, as well as the food going to needy locals.
The LIFE AND HOPE ASSOCIATION in Siem Reap (the home of Angkor Wat) Cambodia is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-political organization, established in 2005 by the Young Monks of Wat Damnak, Young Khmer Youths and generous friends. These people saw the urgent needs of orphans, vulnerable children, poor children, street Children, (also called Rubbish Children and beggar children) etc, who are living miserable lives. LHA is dedicated and committed to alleviate the poverty and ignorance of Cambodians and to encourage their equal treatment in Cambodian society by providing physical and moral support.
LHA works with several active villages in and surrounding the Siem Reap and Bakong District, with aim to alleviate poverty/difficulty of poor families, especially Cambodian Children by supporting them with basic needs such as foods, clothing, school supplies, health services, education, accommodation etc.
To see their organization and works, please visit their website here:
Life and Hope
Wat Damnak/LHA
LHA is run by the Venerable Hoeurn Somnieng. Somnieng (pronounced "som-nyang") is a 31 year old senior Buddhist monk who has become something of a celebrity. You can see him and the work of LHA on YouTube.com
If you are visiting Angkor Wat, and staying in Siem Reap, why not visit our monk, Somnieng, and have him show you what they do for the vulnerable and poor. LHA is located in Wat Damnak in Salakomreuk Commune, Siem Reap/Angkor. Practically, this means they are just the other side of the river from old town (the tourist centre) of Siem Reap. In fact, Somnieng is probably only a 15 minute walk away from your hotel. You can call Somnieng at Tel: (855)92 929 962, or email him at somnieng2002@yahoo.com
All of the money you give goes to the works of the charity. We at VSC have seen with our own eyes that the money is spent directly on the works and food, and not on the charity itself.
RICE
A tonne of rice, grown and bought locally in Siem Reap, costs about $250. This is distributed by the monks to needy families and vulnerable children. Without the provision of the basic food, many would starve, and none would go to school.
FOOD SUPPORT
LHA divided food support groups into two kinds:
1: Very poor children and disabled people, which costs $5 per month per person, and provides 17kg of rice, 2 bottles of soy sauce and 2 tins of canned fish.
2: Special very poor children who could not go to school at all without LHA support, which costs $18 per month. This includes 35–50kg of rice, 10 bottles of soy sauce, 10 tins of canned fish, 1kg of oil, 1kg of salt, and other items.
Maybe giving food or rice isn't your style of giving. Perhaps you think charity would be better directed to education or housing. LHA has a number of projects to suit every taste in giving.
HOUSING
$1000 buys a wooden-house, 4.5m x 5.30m, for unfortunate families. The family and the monks build the house in 2-3 days.
SCHOOLING
Send a child or adult to school. Education is the road out of poverty.
Childhood Education:
$40 a year (primary school children)
$75 a year (grade 7 – 9)
Adult Education:
$125 a year (grade 9 – 12)
$425 a year (University)
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Having the tools to go to school is important, and this cost $9 per year per child. It includes a school uniform, school bag, school-books, two pens, pencil, erasers, sharpener, pencil-case, drawing paper, colour pencils, ruler, and other items.
SEWING TRAINING CENTRE
Sewing is an extremely important aspect of the Cambodian economy, both formal and informal. Learning to sew can mean a person can secure a regular job, and will have a skill other than rice farming. LHA runs a training centre, and can always use sponsors, or even the money for a new sewing machine.
We at VSC urge you to give generously to LHA. They are really working hard to improve the lives of so many needy people who often live on less than $2. per day.
Ven. Hoeurn Somnieng, Executive Director
Life and Hope Association
Wat Damnak 0211 (Buddhist Temple)
Wat Damnak Village, Salakomreuk Commune
Siem Reap, Angkor Province, Cambodia
.
Every year VSC gives a few tonnes of rice to the LIFE AND HOPE ASSOCIATION. The rice is purchased locally in Cambodia, so the money goes to rice farmers and local producers, as well as the food going to needy locals.
The LIFE AND HOPE ASSOCIATION in Siem Reap (the home of Angkor Wat) Cambodia is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-political organization, established in 2005 by the Young Monks of Wat Damnak, Young Khmer Youths and generous friends. These people saw the urgent needs of orphans, vulnerable children, poor children, street Children, (also called Rubbish Children and beggar children) etc, who are living miserable lives. LHA is dedicated and committed to alleviate the poverty and ignorance of Cambodians and to encourage their equal treatment in Cambodian society by providing physical and moral support.
LHA works with several active villages in and surrounding the Siem Reap and Bakong District, with aim to alleviate poverty/difficulty of poor families, especially Cambodian Children by supporting them with basic needs such as foods, clothing, school supplies, health services, education, accommodation etc.
To see their organization and works, please visit their website here:
Life and Hope
Wat Damnak/LHA
LHA is run by the Venerable Hoeurn Somnieng. Somnieng (pronounced "som-nyang") is a 31 year old senior Buddhist monk who has become something of a celebrity. You can see him and the work of LHA on YouTube.com
If you are visiting Angkor Wat, and staying in Siem Reap, why not visit our monk, Somnieng, and have him show you what they do for the vulnerable and poor. LHA is located in Wat Damnak in Salakomreuk Commune, Siem Reap/Angkor. Practically, this means they are just the other side of the river from old town (the tourist centre) of Siem Reap. In fact, Somnieng is probably only a 15 minute walk away from your hotel. You can call Somnieng at Tel: (855)92 929 962, or email him at somnieng2002@yahoo.com
All of the money you give goes to the works of the charity. We at VSC have seen with our own eyes that the money is spent directly on the works and food, and not on the charity itself.
RICE
A tonne of rice, grown and bought locally in Siem Reap, costs about $250. This is distributed by the monks to needy families and vulnerable children. Without the provision of the basic food, many would starve, and none would go to school.
FOOD SUPPORT
LHA divided food support groups into two kinds:
1: Very poor children and disabled people, which costs $5 per month per person, and provides 17kg of rice, 2 bottles of soy sauce and 2 tins of canned fish.
2: Special very poor children who could not go to school at all without LHA support, which costs $18 per month. This includes 35–50kg of rice, 10 bottles of soy sauce, 10 tins of canned fish, 1kg of oil, 1kg of salt, and other items.
Maybe giving food or rice isn't your style of giving. Perhaps you think charity would be better directed to education or housing. LHA has a number of projects to suit every taste in giving.
HOUSING
$1000 buys a wooden-house, 4.5m x 5.30m, for unfortunate families. The family and the monks build the house in 2-3 days.
SCHOOLING
Send a child or adult to school. Education is the road out of poverty.
Childhood Education:
$40 a year (primary school children)
$75 a year (grade 7 – 9)
Adult Education:
$125 a year (grade 9 – 12)
$425 a year (University)
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Having the tools to go to school is important, and this cost $9 per year per child. It includes a school uniform, school bag, school-books, two pens, pencil, erasers, sharpener, pencil-case, drawing paper, colour pencils, ruler, and other items.
SEWING TRAINING CENTRE
Sewing is an extremely important aspect of the Cambodian economy, both formal and informal. Learning to sew can mean a person can secure a regular job, and will have a skill other than rice farming. LHA runs a training centre, and can always use sponsors, or even the money for a new sewing machine.
We at VSC urge you to give generously to LHA. They are really working hard to improve the lives of so many needy people who often live on less than $2. per day.
Ven. Hoeurn Somnieng, Executive Director
Life and Hope Association
Wat Damnak 0211 (Buddhist Temple)
Wat Damnak Village, Salakomreuk Commune
Siem Reap, Angkor Province, Cambodia
.
04 December 2009
KENYA CLOSED 16 Dec 2009 - 6 Jan 2010
The Kenyan High Commission in Ottawa will be closed for almost three weeks starting on Wednesday 16 December 2009. The visa office will re-open on Thursday 07 January 2010 for all your visa needs.
The Kenyans advise travellers to acquire their visas at the Nairobi International Airport upon arrival. This is safe as the temporary closure of the high commission is known at the airport.
The Kenyans advise travellers to acquire their visas at the Nairobi International Airport upon arrival. This is safe as the temporary closure of the high commission is known at the airport.
13 October 2009
New fee for Viet Nam
Basic tourist and business visas for Viet Nam just got a little more expensive.
As of today the Embassy of Viet Nam in Canada is charging $93 for a simple visa, good for a single entry.
The prices for other visas remain the same as before.
Click here for visas to Viet Nam.
As of today the Embassy of Viet Nam in Canada is charging $93 for a simple visa, good for a single entry.
The prices for other visas remain the same as before.
Click here for visas to Viet Nam.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
