The election is long over, and the Angolan Embassy in Canada has re-opened. Visa issuance has begun again and everything is operating as normal for Angola.
Click here for Angola visa forms.
21 September 2012
CHINA CLOSED
The Embassy of the People's Republic of CHINA will be closed the following days:
1, 2, 3, 4 October 2012 for the national holidays.
China will not process any rush service visas between Friday 28 September and Friday 05 October 2012.
People needing rush service must apply early next week or after 08 October.
Click here for Chinese visa forms.
1, 2, 3, 4 October 2012 for the national holidays.
China will not process any rush service visas between Friday 28 September and Friday 05 October 2012.
People needing rush service must apply early next week or after 08 October.
Click here for Chinese visa forms.
07 September 2012
IRAN-CANADA RELATIONS HIT BOTTOM
Canadian-Iranian relations hit a new low today when Ottawa announced it was in effect withdrawing recognition of the Tehran government, closing the Canadian Embassy in Iran, and withdrawing the remaining diplomats. Canada further isolated Tehran by expelling all Iranian diplomats from the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa. The Iranians must leave Canada within 5 days.
This move follows the earlier action on 29 April 2012 when Ottawa closed the Canadian visa office in Tehran and shifted all visa processing for Iranian nationals to the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Ottawa said it was a cost-saving measure, while Tehran said it was a hostile act. Both are correct.
Here is the full statement from the Canadian government:
“Canada has closed its embassy in Iran, effective immediately, and declared personae non gratae all remaining Iranian diplomats in Canada.
Canada’s position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.
The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups, requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.
Moreover, the Iranian regime has shown blatant disregard for the Vienna Convention and its guarantee of protection for diplomatic personnel. Under the circumstances, Canada can no longer maintain a diplomatic presence in Iran. Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians, and their safety is our number one priority.
Diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran have been suspended. All Canadian diplomatic staff have left Iran, and Iranian diplomats in Ottawa have been instructed to leave within five days.
Canadians in Iran seeking routine consular and passport services should contact the Embassy of Canada in Ankara, Turkey, or any other Canadian mission. Those who require urgent assistance should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, by calling collect at 613-996-8885 or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.
Canada has updated its Travel Reports and Warnings to advise Canadians to avoid all travel to Iran. Canadians who have Iranian nationality are warned in particular that the Iranian regime does not recognize the principle of dual nationality. By doing so, Iran makes it virtually impossible for Government of Canada officials to provide consular assistance to Iranian-Canadians in difficulty.”
This means it has now become virtually impossible for Canadians to acquire visas for travel to Iran.
Many will rightly wonder if this is a step along the path to Canadian support for an Israeli attack against Iran. The extereme pro-Israel stance by Harper has alienated several close allies and has even gone further than even the normally blind USA in support for a regime which routinely commits crimes against humanity in the occupied territories. But to say that Iran is the biggest threat to peace on the planet is bizarre even for the current government in Ottawa.
This move follows the earlier action on 29 April 2012 when Ottawa closed the Canadian visa office in Tehran and shifted all visa processing for Iranian nationals to the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Ottawa said it was a cost-saving measure, while Tehran said it was a hostile act. Both are correct.
Here is the full statement from the Canadian government:
“Canada has closed its embassy in Iran, effective immediately, and declared personae non gratae all remaining Iranian diplomats in Canada.
Canada’s position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.
The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups, requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.
Moreover, the Iranian regime has shown blatant disregard for the Vienna Convention and its guarantee of protection for diplomatic personnel. Under the circumstances, Canada can no longer maintain a diplomatic presence in Iran. Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians, and their safety is our number one priority.
Diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran have been suspended. All Canadian diplomatic staff have left Iran, and Iranian diplomats in Ottawa have been instructed to leave within five days.
Canadians in Iran seeking routine consular and passport services should contact the Embassy of Canada in Ankara, Turkey, or any other Canadian mission. Those who require urgent assistance should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, by calling collect at 613-996-8885 or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.
Canada has updated its Travel Reports and Warnings to advise Canadians to avoid all travel to Iran. Canadians who have Iranian nationality are warned in particular that the Iranian regime does not recognize the principle of dual nationality. By doing so, Iran makes it virtually impossible for Government of Canada officials to provide consular assistance to Iranian-Canadians in difficulty.”
This means it has now become virtually impossible for Canadians to acquire visas for travel to Iran.
Many will rightly wonder if this is a step along the path to Canadian support for an Israeli attack against Iran. The extereme pro-Israel stance by Harper has alienated several close allies and has even gone further than even the normally blind USA in support for a regime which routinely commits crimes against humanity in the occupied territories. But to say that Iran is the biggest threat to peace on the planet is bizarre even for the current government in Ottawa.
06 September 2012
ANGOLA STILL CLOSED
Despite the election being over, the Angolan Embassy in Canada remains largely closed. This is odd as many other Angolan embassies have re-opened and are issuing visas.
The remaining staff member at the Angolan Embassy in Canada told me this morning that they will have full staff and start processing visas on/after 17 September 2012.
No visas will be issued until at least 05 October at the earliest at this point.
Click here for Angola visa forms.
The remaining staff member at the Angolan Embassy in Canada told me this morning that they will have full staff and start processing visas on/after 17 September 2012.
No visas will be issued until at least 05 October at the earliest at this point.
Click here for Angola visa forms.
CHINA REQUIRES HOTEL BOOKING
As of today the Chinese Embassy in Canada is requiring all tourists to provide proof of hotel bookings directly from the Chinese hotel or hostel or cruise ship. This means the booking form or letter must come from the hotel in China. You can no longer use a print-out from a western travel agent or a western hotel booking website. The document must come from China.
Click here for Chinese visa forms.
Click here for Chinese visa forms.
09 August 2012
NEW PRICES
We are sad to report that due to increasing courier costs we have had to raise the return shipping fee by $2. In addition, we now have to charge for money orders. This is a flat $6.50 fee charged only if the embassy requires payment by money order. By prior arrangement you may send a money order to cover the embassy fees, but we do not recommend this. These revised fees came into effect as of 01 August 2012. We regret any inconveneince, as our prices have been stable for the past five years.
GERMAN VISAS ISSUED BY AUSTRIA
Effective 16 August 2012, the German Embassy in Ottawa will no longer accept applications for Schengen visas. As of that date, applicants previously served by the German Embassy should submit their application to the visa office of the Embassy of Austria in Ottawa.
Non-Canadians seeking Schengen visas for Germany will now have to apply in person at the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa.
23 July 2012
ANGOLAN FRIDAYS
Later in August the Angolan Embassy will be dramatically changing their service delivery times. The processing times will remain roughly the same as before.
The big change is that all visas will be handed over only on FRIDAY at noon.
Yes, Angola will store all visas, even those completed on Monday, until the end of the week when they will hand out everything all at once.
How this will work in practice remains to be seen. However, oil company workers should prepare to be in Ottawa on Fridays to pick up their passports and then to catch the Friday night flight to Heathrow (AC888).
Click here for Angolan visa forms.
The big change is that all visas will be handed over only on FRIDAY at noon.
Yes, Angola will store all visas, even those completed on Monday, until the end of the week when they will hand out everything all at once.
How this will work in practice remains to be seen. However, oil company workers should prepare to be in Ottawa on Fridays to pick up their passports and then to catch the Friday night flight to Heathrow (AC888).
Click here for Angolan visa forms.
19 July 2012
LIFE AND HOPE ASSOCIATION
We at Visa Services Canada are pleased to support the Life & Hope Association in Siem Reap (the home of Angkor Wat), Cambodia. LHA helps orphans and vulnerable children, and landmine victims.
Every year VSC gives a few tonnes of rice to the Life & 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 LHA 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.
LHA, as well as running a food programme and a sewing school and a mine victim village, also runs an orphanage on the edge of Siem Reap. I have personally been to this orphanage and know that LHA will continue the good works here.
Click here to help LHA help Cambodians who are living on less than $2 per day.
Every year VSC gives a few tonnes of rice to the Life & 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 LHA 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.
LHA, as well as running a food programme and a sewing school and a mine victim village, also runs an orphanage on the edge of Siem Reap. I have personally been to this orphanage and know that LHA will continue the good works here.
Click here to help LHA help Cambodians who are living on less than $2 per day.
RAMADAN AND SLOWER SERVICE
We extend greatings to our Muslim customers on the occassion of Ramadan.
Please note that due to the fasting and other religeous requirements of the faith, many embassies will have shorter working hours. This means visas will be delayed during Ramadan which runs for the next few weeks.
Please budget extra processing time when applying for a visa at any Muslim or Arab country during the Ramadan period.
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