Russian Visa Service Level Changes

Russia is about to change visa processing times and prices for the second time this year. The Russian consular officials told me the embassy is about to replace the current levels of service and prices with only two prices and two service levels. There will continue to be regular service for $75, but it will take up to three weeks to issue a visa. There will be fast service, but it will take up to three days. Same day and next day service will no longer be available. So get your requests in early for any Russian travel.

Long live the Queen

Cunard has just announced details of their new build, the upcoming "Queen Elizabeth". To enter service on 12 October 2010, the QE New inaugural season will feature six very different inaugural cruises. Although hardened for the North Atlantic, the new ship is not a replacement of the QE2 in that it is not a true ocean liner. That role has already been taken by the Queen Mary 2. Instead, the QE New will be a cruise ship, and will undertake cruise itineraries from Southampton and the Caribbean, and potentially world cruises.
* The first voyage will be to the same destination as the QE2 inaugural in 1969: the Canary Islands. This is a 13 day cruise from Southampton on 12 October 2010 will call at Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Seville (Cadiz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) and Madeira (Funchal).
* Mediterranean Premiere - a 14 day cruise to Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Cartagena and Gibraltar, on 25 October 2010.
* Aegean Introduction - an 18 day cruise to Venice, the Yugoslavian coast, Greece, Turkey and Malta, on 8 November 2010.
* Gallic Debut - a 5 day voyage to Holland, Belgium and France on 26 November 2010.
* Iberian Discovery - 13 day cruise to Spain and Portugal, the Canaries and Madiera on 1 December 2010.
* Festive Debut - a 22 day voyage across the mid-Atlantic to the Caribbean on 14 December 2010.
The QE New will feature 71% of the cabins having balconies, and 85% having at least a window. There is a large demand for upper-end cabins, and Cunard continues the tradition of devoting a substantial portion of the ship (12%) to Grill class cabins. The six top suites will be named after knighted former Cunard commodores. Grill passengers will dine in the two private dining rooms around the funnel on top of the ship.
The QE New is already under construction at Fincantieri's Monfalcone Yards in Italy. It will be 294m long and 32.3m wide: being about the same dimension as the QE2, and able to transit the current Panama Canal. However, it will be substantially larger inside at 90400 tons (a space, not weight, measurement). There are 12 public decks, with accomodation for 2092 passengers. This gives the ship a respectable passenger space ratio of 45, or one of the higher in the industry.

Slow Brazilians

With the good news from Russia recently, we had been hoping for more great things from some of the slower visa countries. But our hopes were dashed when Brazil recently announced they were lengthening the application process at their embassy in Ottawa.
In the past the Brazilian embassy would process a visa application in eight (8) working days. A few weeks ago that became ten (10) working days, or two full weeks.
Times at the consulates remain high, and can run to over three working weeks for residents of Western Canada. Prices remain 50% higher than last year.
Click here for Brazilian visa details and forms.

Fast Russians

Horray! Horray! Good news and glad tidings! The Russian Govenment has relented and is once again offering fast visa service for Canadian passports. They announced today that Canadian citizens would be able to get the same fast service as any other national as of tomorrow, Friday 20 February 2009.
In June 2008 the Russian Government retaliated against Canada for slow visa issuance out of our embassy in Moscow with new rules which penalized Canadian passport holders seeking Russian visas. Overnight it became a 15 working day wait for a visa, with no appeal and no opportunity to pay extra for faster service.
The official stratement of the Russian Embassy in Canada this morning is as follows:
"Consular offices of the Russian Federation desirous to meet the wishes of representatives of Canadian businesses and society interested in promoting bilateral relations will abandon the implemented on base of reciprocity fixed period of 15 business days for processing of the visa applications of Canadian citizens set earlier. From this date on Canadian citizens will have opportunity to get Russian visas under [earlier] conditions. It means that respecting all Russian regulations with regard of visa application documents visas can be obtained on expedited basis with extra fees for rush processing applicable."
So we are back to the old system of fees and are glad to announce our Canadian customers can once again enjoy fast visa service despite the bumblings of the government in Ottawa.

Visa fraud against immigrants

The saddest part of my job is dealing with people, generally from the third world, and usually from conflict zones, who are seeking to immigrate to Canada to live or to work. It is sad not because they are seeking a new and better life, but because so many fall prey to unscrupulous fake immigration advisors and consultants. These shady businesses often promise visas and work in exchange for substantial payments to "government" offices. Just this past weekend I helped a man in Iraq who had fallen prey not to one scam, but to several at once. His letter to me asked for help, as he was now starting to realize he was not being dealt with fairly, and was probably defruaded. His letter outlined in some detail the names and often fake addresses of various persons and fake government offices. He believed he had been offered a job in a big name chain hotel in Canada at US$4000. per month plus room and board and flight. This is a common scam. He was even told to send more documents to Nav Canada, and to transfer money to the Canadian government in Cape Verde (Africa). Another awful scam is to set up email address including ".gc". Since only the Canadian government can use a .gc designation after the @ symbol, immigration scammers are putting the .gc text before the @ symbol to make unsuspecting people think the scammer works for the government of Canada. Below I have reproduced the letter I sent to him. I have removed some names, and deleted some of the reference footnotes and web addresses. However, you will get the idea. Let it be a sobering lesson.

Dear (name withheld):
* There is no such thing as an official agent representing Immigration Canada who can be hired by a visa seeker. There is no need for you to pay a representative to assist with the Canadian visa process. If you choose to hire a visa consultant, your application will not be given special attention by the government, and it will not be processed faster, and a visa is not guaranteed. Beware of representatives who claim that you will get a visa, obtain citizenship or benefit from special treatment from the Canadian government by using their services.
* According to the government of Canada: "You do not need to hire an immigration representative. It is up to you. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not. If you choose to hire a representative, your application will not be given special attention by the immigration officer. Your representative also cannot guarantee that your application will be approved. All the forms and information that you need to apply for a visa are available for free on this website. If you follow the instructions in the application guide, you can complete the application forms and submit them on your own."
* If you want to immigrate to Canada, then you can apply directly to the Canadian Government at the Canadian Embassy in Jordan (for Iraq) (see address below).
* The so-called "Canadian Immigration Bureau" is NOT a government office. It is a private company. It cannot actually get a visa for you. It can only give advice. It does not issue visas for Canada.
* The website Fraudwatchers has posted a notice about fake hotel job schemes.
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5332
* Hotels in Canada are not telling people to get tourist visas to come as workers. This is a scam to get money from you.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/notice-fraud.asp
* NAV CANADA is a government agency responsible for airplane navigation and air traffic control. It is not now, and has never been, responsible for visas or any immigration issues. The Canadian government does NOT receive visa applications through Nav Canada. Do not send anything to a Nav Canada address. Nav Canada is currently warning people about a fraud scheme which uses the Nav Canada name.
* No one has to pay for a Canadian visa through Cape Verde. This is nothing but a scam. The Canadian government does not take money in Cape Verde. Canada does not even have an embassy in Cape Verde. So you have probably lost your US$500. Payments are to be made only as follows: "paid to the order of The Receiver General for Canada".
* Here are the real prices charged by the Canadian government in Jordan for visa services:
Temporary Resident Visa - Single Entry $75.00
Temporary Resident Visa - Multiple Entries $150.00
Work Permit $150.00
Permanent Resident Travel Document $50.00
* The lawyer you contacted is a registered member of the Quebec Bar. This means he is legally entitled to practice law in Quebec, and is therefore a legitimate lawyer. (Name withheld) does not work for the Canadian government. He is a private immigration lawyer. The job of such lawyers, legal in Canada, is to help people fill in visa application forms with the correct information for a fee. With your written permission, they can also be your representative acting on your behalf to the Canadian government. (Law firm name) is a legitimate business. It is not the government. The law firm is a visa adviser. Its website states the company provides representation and advice to foreign nationals who are looking to obtain a Canada visa and enter Canada on a permanent or temporary basis.
* The address you have for Mr. (name withheld) in North York is not a government office. As it is not a government office, it does not issue visas. Only the Canadian embassy in Jordan can issue a visa to an Iraqi or Jordanian.
* The Government of Canada will not deal with non-authorized representatives who charge a fee for their service.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/representative/rep-who.asp
* The Canadian embassy in Jordan, as well as Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) (the official Canadian government agency responsible for immigration), are warning people about immigration fraud. This is fraud by persons and companies who seem to promise a quick or easy way to Canada.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/notice-fraud.asp
* According to the Canadian government there are controls and limitations on immigration representatives. You can complain against such people or companies here if you feel you were not told the truth.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/representative/complaints.asp
* There is only one real way for someone in Iraq and Jordan to apply for a visa. The link below is for the Canadian embassy immigration section in Jordan.
* If you really want to know if you have a visa, which you probably do not, then contact the Canadian embassy in Jordan. This is the ONLY office which can issue a visa to people in Iraq and Jordan. Below is the real government contact information. Write or telephone or fax or email asking about your case. You have a reference number (reference removed), but I doubt it is real.
* If you actually have a visa appointment at the Canadian embassy in Jordan, then you may really have an application being processed. Please contact the embassy at the address in Jordan to confirm your appointment with a consular officer of the government of Canada.
* We wish you well on your journey.

Where in the world are you going?

One of the best travel tools available today is satellite imagery. Years ago satellite photos of the earth costs hundreds of dollars per image, and were usually of low resolution, so you paid a lot for a photograph in which nothing smaller than a house was visible.
Those days are gone, and thanks to various satellite image providers, you can see any place you want to travel, and do so for free.
One of the best services is provided by google. Their website googlemaps.com gives you access to thousands of images of every spot of land on earth.
This is a great trip planning tool, and a wonderful way to do research about your upcoming trip.
By using googlemaps you can actually see your airport or hotel or tourist destination from space, and often with a resolution so high you can make out animals in the zoo!
I frequently use googlemaps to help my customers discover more efficient ways and means of travel. It has also helped me locate border crossings and small island resorts.
Cruise passengers always find this useful, as they can see their cruise terminal in relation to the city. By looking at the photos, you may discover your ship docks beside something important, and you can walk rather than pay money to be driven across the street!
Try it out by looking for your house, or look for the Great Pyramids at Giza beside Cairo, or the Sydney Opera House, or Red Square in Moscow.
Googe Maps

Singapore to Southampton & New York

Now is the time to take off a month and sail from Singapore to Southampton on the new Cunarder, the Queen Victoria, or all the way to New York on the grand ocean liner Queen Mary 2.
The most exciting segment of the 2009 world cruise of the Queen Victoria departs Singapore on 19 March 2009, and arrives in Southampton on 20 April, after a 32 day voyage around India, up to Dubai, through the Suez Canal, into Turkey and Greece, through the Mediterranean, and our into the Atlantic up to Southampton.
When Cunard began selling the voyage, the lowest price was US$7315 for an inside (no window) cabin. With the voyage soon upon us, and unfilled space, Cunard just announced a dramatic drop in price. The same cabin can now be had for only US$4199. This comes to $131 per day.
At the same time, the Queen Mary 2 is completing her third world cruise, and offers a segment from Singapore to New York for an amazingly low price. Taking only 31 days, the QM2 will follow roughly the same route as the QV, but carry on across the Atlantic to New York for only US$2899, or only $94 per day. The Mary leaves Singapore on 14 March, docking in New York on 14 April 2009. That is less than the price of a good hotel room, and includes room service.
Honestly, it is nearly impossible to get that many destinations for that low a price, and be housed and fed for a month, all while ending up right back in North America.

Bangkok & Mumbai Travel Situation

This past week has not been the best of times to fly into either Mumbai or Bangkok airports.
Thailand's capital city has been struck by airport paralysis as angry pro-democracy demonstrators invaded the airports and shut down commercial service to one of Asia's most popular cities.
The deadly attacks in central Mumbai last week did not target the airport, but have disrupted life and caused fear amongst the travelling public.
These airports are now open for scheduled international air traffic. You can safely use these airports for tourism and business travel. However, various international airlines, such as Air Canada, are willing to make changes to tickets to both cities in light of the current situations. Check with your airline or travel agent if you are still concerned.
Canadians do not need a visa to visit Thailand.
India absolutely requires Canadians to have a visa before travel. Click here for an Indian visa.

The Queen is Dead

This morning Cunard's venerable ocean liner QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 arrived at the port of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates: its final stop on a forty-year voyage.
Launched in 1967 and in service in 1969, the ocean liner has sailed the equivalent of thirteen round trips to the moon. She has carried over two million passengers. She has even been to war: ferrying troops to the Falklands/Malvinas in 1982.
I had the pleasure of being on her last true round-the-world cruise in 2007, and can truly say I will miss this ship and all who sailed on her.
The QE2 now becomes an attraction in Dubai, and will be turned into a hotel, convention centre, and museum. So if you did not have the pleasure and privilege of sailing on her, you can now visit her in a climate more welcoming than the cold North Atlantic!
Now the excitement builds as we anxiously await news of the replacement Queen Elizabeth, or as I call her, "the QE New".

World Toilet Day

Today is international World Toilet Day. The day is meant to bring attention to the single greatest health issue on the planet: sanitation. With close to 80 per cent of all disease being caused by fecal matter, the problems of access to toilets is a global one.
It is estimated that 2.6 Billion people do not have access to sanitation facilities. This means about 40 per cent of the world’s population lives their lives literally surrounded by excrement. This does not mean they do not have a toilet as we know it, but that they do not even have a bucket or the knowledge of sanitation measures.
Now imagine if somehow all people had access to toilets. All of a sudden we would cut the prevalence of disease by billions of cases per year. Medical and drug costs would drop. People would be healthier.
Now what does this have to do with travel? Well, as travellers seek more exotic locations, they are faced with more places without enhanced or even basic sanitation means. Let’s face it: having to go to the bathroom in some places in Africa and Asia is a trying experience for us soft Canadians. As a seasoned traveller I recommend you always carry a small roll of toilet paper on your person whilst travelling. And let’s be truthful here: it can be very useful not just in a village in Cambodia, but also in an airport boarding lounge. Before travel to an exotic location, I collect the ends of regular toilet paper rolls. The last bit of the roll is small and convenient to carry. Removing the cardboard tube helps. Put it in a zip-lock bag if it might get wet.
To learn more about world Toilet Day, visit the World Toilet Organization (WTO) by clicking here.
And wash your hands.