Russia Begins Visa Outsourcing

by Summer Jenkins, Director of Brand Development

Russia’s new visa outsourcing system is now in effect, and the transition to outsourcing has been relatively smooth.  The outsourcing offices in Washington and Houston have been in operation since mid-April, and the offices in New York and San Francisco will open tomorrow, May 2, after the International Labor Day holiday.

In Washington and Houston, we have seen a slight slowdown in the processing times as the new outsourcing offices get up to speed.  We are continuously updating the processing speeds listed on our website and our visa instruction PDFs, so our clients can be assured that the visa processing speeds we publish are as accurate as possible.  Our instructions also include the most up-to-date consular fees, which include the outsourcing surcharge.

The only other change to the visa processing due to outsourcing will affect only those travelers who choose to fill out the online visa application on their own.  Toward the end of the application, the applicant must select the location where the application will be lodged, and must now select the option that says “ILS” (for example, “ILS Washington” instead of just “Washington.”)  However, travelers who take advantage of G3’s Concierge Level Service won’t have to worry about this – a G3 expert will fill out the Russian visa application online, and will make sure that this and all other details are correct.

If you have any questions, or would like to request Concierge Level Service for Russia, please contact our Russia team at CLS@g3visas.com or Russia@g3visas.com.

Country in Focus: Hong Kong
Although Hong Kong was returned to the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China in 1997, it  has retained a limited autonomy over the administration of the territory.  It has a different system of customs and immigration, including visas, and also has an elected assembly separate from the centralized Chinese government in Beijing.  Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions (the other is Macau) that operate under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems.”  Hong Kong maintains its own currency and retains English as an official language, in addition to Chinese.  Another holdover from Hong Kong’s days as a British Crown Colony is that cars are driven British-style, on the left!

US citizens do not need a visa to visit Hong Kong for business or tourist trips, even though a visa is required for mainland China.  Because visas aren’t required for US citizens, if you will be visiting both Hong Kong and mainland China on your trip, it is recommended not to list Hong Kong as a destination on your Chinese visa application.   Please note that because of it’s relative autonomy, travel between mainland China and Hong Kong is considered to be crossing an international border, so if you will be traveling from mainland China to Hong Kong and then back into mainland China, you must have a double-entry visa.

Many non-US citizens do require visas to enter Hong Kong.  Hong Kong visas are applied for at Consulates of the People’s Republic of China, but the visa requirements are different and a special visa application is required.  G3 can assist with both Chinese visas and Hong Kong visas; if you would like more information, please email our Country Information Coordinator at China@g3visas.com.

Consular Updates
Brazil - Consular fees for visas have been increased to correspond to the increased visa fees charged by the US government.

China - All Chinese consulates are becoming increasingly strict in their enforcement of the requirement that all questions on the visa application must be answered.  Every space must be filled in, even if the answer is “none” or N/A.”  One section of the application that frequently raises questions is the family members section.  All applicants must list at least one family member, even if they do not live with the applicant.

Algeria - Consular fees for visas have been increased to correspond to the increased visa fees charged by the US government.

Argentina - Business visa applicants must now submit an original letter of invitation from the Argentinean company to be visited.  The letter must be in Spanish, and must be notarized in Argentina.

Belarus - Consular fees for visas have been increased to correspond to the increased visa fees charged by the US government.

Taiwan - A new online visa application was released on April 9.  G3′s visa instructions include a link to complete the application online, which must be printed out, signed, and submitted with all other requirements.

Embassy and Consulate Closures for May
May 1: International Labor Day - Many embassies closed, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Belarus, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Russia, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
May 2: Bolivia closed.
May 3: Bolivia closed.
May 4: Bolivia, Ethiopia and Kyrgyzstan closed.
May 7:  Belarus, Lebanon, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria  and Thailand closed.
May 8: Russia and Thailand closed.
May 9: Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan closed.
May 14: Cambodia and Liberia closed.
May 15: Cambodia and Paraguay closed.
May 17: D.R. Congo closed.
May 18: Turkmenistan and Turkey closed.
May 21: Cameroon closed.
May 22: Yemen closed.
May 24: Eritrea closed.
May 25: Jordan and Lebanon closed.
May 28: Memorial Day – All G3 Offices and US Passport Offices closed.  Most embassies closed. 
May 29: Nigeria closed.

Further embassy closures are possible; not all embassies announce their closure schedules in advance. For updated embassy closures calendars, please see www.g3visas.com or our Facebook page.

by Summer Jenkins, Director of Brand Development

Russia Begins Visa Outsourcing
The Russian Embassy in Washington, DC announced on April 2nd that they will begin visa outsourcing on Tuesday, April 10.  The visa outsourcing, similar to the outsourcing programs already used by India and Algeria, will impact only the DC embassy for now.  All other consulates will begin outsourcing later this spring.

The Embassy has provided very few details, but we anticipate that the only change that will be noticed by travelers is an increase in the consular fee to cover the outsourcing fees.  G3 will continue to provide all visa services as normal, including Concierge Level Service and official business and tourist invitations.  As more information becomes available, we will post it on our Facebook page and on the Breaking News section of our home page.

Country in Focus: Switzerland
by Timothy Bennett, Director of Corporate Relationships and Concierge Level Services

Lately, we have been getting lots of questions on the requirements for US citizens entering Switzerland.  Switzerland does not require a visa for US citizens for a stay of less than 90 days.  However,  it is important to note that the traveler can only stay in Switzerland for a total of 90 days within a 180 day period without a visa.   US citizens who intend to stay in Switzerland for more than three consecutive months will need authorization from the cantonal authorities and a visa from the responsible Swiss visa desk.

Citizens of many other nations, including China, India and Russia, must have a visa in order to enter Switzerland.  Switzerland joined the Schengen visa scheme on December 12, 2008, so any traveler holding a valid  visa issued by another Schengen member nation may use that visa to enter Switzerland. To apply for a visa to Switzerland, the traveler’s passport must have been issued within the last ten years and must have at least two empty pages. A complete application must be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General at least 15 days before the intended visit and cannot be lodged earlier than three months before the start of the intended visit. Most consulates require the applicant must appear in person to submit a visa request, but G3 is able to submit applications on behalf of residents of the Chicago consulate’s jursidiction (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI.) Additional information on visas for Switzerland is available on the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs website.

Consular Updates
India - All Indian consulates have imposed new regulations about the signing of visa applications for minors under age 18.  If the child is too young to sign, both signature boxes (on pages 1 and 2 of the application) should have the child’s thumbprint and both parents’ signatures.   If the child is able to write, both signature boxes should have the child’s signature and both parents’ signatures.

Japan - As of April 1, a new visa application is required for Japan.  Visa fees have also been increased.

Libya - All business letters submitted in support of Libyan visa applications must now be addressed to “Mr. Saleh A. Bufrnina, Head of Consular Section, Embassy of Libya.”

Nigeria - Consular fees for visas have been increased by $10.

Embassy and Consulate Closures for April
April 2: Vietnam closed.
April 4: Angola closed.
April 5:  India closed (Chicago only; other consulates will be open).
April 6: Good Friday - Many embassies closed, including Brazil and India.   Thailand, Myanmar, and Mozambique closed.
April 9: Philippines closed.
April 13: Theravadin Buddhist New Year  – Thailand, Cambodia and Laos closed. Orthodox Good Friday - Ethiopia closed, additional closures likely. Bangladesh closed.
April 16: Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar closed.
April 17: Laos, Myanmar and Syria closed.
April 18: Afghanistan, Myanmar and Zimbabwe closed.
April 19: Myanmar closed.
April 20: Myanmar closed.
April 23: Vietnam and Turkey closed.
April 24: Armenia and Niger closed.
April 26: Tanzania closed.
April 27: Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Togo closed.
April 30: Vietnam closed.

Further embassy closures are possible; not all embassies announce their closure schedules in advance. For updated embassy closures calendars, please see www.g3visas.com or ourFacebook page.

It’s that time of year again, this Sunday March 11th at 2:00 am it’s time to spring forward! And when it comes to traveling, most of us are aware that there will be some time change to deal with—which is how jet lag got its name. But at certain times of year—specifically spring and fall—the time change can be a bit more confusing than usual.

Most places in the world “spring ahead” and “fall back,” time wise that is. But not always on the same day. For example, virtually all of Europe will begin Daylight Savings Time (DST) on March 25th, 2012, which is 2 weeks later than March 11th, when we do it here in North America.

For example, in Mexico (except for the 10 municipalities that boarder the US and observe DST, their time change is March 11th), Cuba,  New Zealand and Australia the time change will occur April 1st, and in Israel the “spring forward” date is March 30th, 2012. And Chile (Santiago) is even later, DST doesn’t go into effect until April 29th! And even when you’re traveling within the USA it can be a problem because Hawaii and Arizona don’t change their clocks at all (after DST this Sunday Arizona will be 3 hours behind New York’s EST).

To avoid unnecessary confusion, you can check online before you go at worldtimezone.com, call your concierge, or the local embassy of the country you’ll be visiting. Especially if you’re traveling on business, you don’t want to run the risk of missing a flight or arriving at your first appointment an hour early—or even worse, an hour late!

NEW ONLINE APPLICATION FOR INDIA

by Mirissa R. Spears, Country Information Coordinator for India

The Government of India’s new online visa application is now in use at the Indian Consulates in Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco and Houston. We anticipate that the consulate in Chicago, the last one still using the older version of the application, will soon switch over to the new application as well.  The transition to the new visa application has proved to be relatively seamless, with only minor hiccups with the Indian Consulates throughout each jurisdiction.

Although the information requested on the new application remains largely the same, the printed application looks quite different from the old one. One critical change on the new application is that it now requires the applicant to provide two original signatures, one on the top of the first page and one at the bottom of the second page. The Indian Government has also introduced several new questions on the visa application, including questions on the applicant’s religion and educational background.  Applicants must also provide details of any previously issued Indian visas.  G3′s “Guide to the Online Indian Application,” included in all of our visa instruction PDFs, has been revised to provide clarification on the new questions.

G3′s Concierge Level Service Associates are here to answer any questions regarding the new India visa application and would be more than happy in assisting with the completion of the visa application. For more information, please contact CLS@g3visas.com.

United Kingdom Passport Processing Update
As of March 7, the U.K. Embassy in Washington, DC will no longer accept any passport applications that are delivered in person by the applicant or by a professional service like G3.  All applications must be submitted by mail.  As the Embassy in Washington processes all U.K. passport applications for residents of the United States and Bermuda, G3 will no longer be able to assist with U.K. passport requests.

This change is consistent with the U.K.’s trend toward service consolidation and increased security measures that began after September 11, 2001.

Consular Updates
Brazil - The Braziilian Consulate in Hartford now requires a copy of a recent bank statement for all tourist applicants.  This affects applicants residing in Connecticut and Rhode Island only.

Bahrain - Visas are no longer available upon arrival in Bahrain, but must be obtained in advance of travel.  The E-visa system for Bahrain is not functioning, so the only way to obtain a visa at the moment is to apply through the Bahrain Embassy in Washington, DC.

Pakistan - The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC is now taking four weeks to process visa applications.  As visa issuance is dependent on the embassy receiving approval from Islamabad, processing times for some applicants may be longer than four weeks.

Papua New Guinea - Consular fees for tourist visas have been increased; fees for business visas remain the same.

South Sudan - The visa process for South Sudan has been changed.  The Embassy now issues entry permits valid for one entry at no cost, and the traveler must pay a fee of $100 upon arrival.  A new visa application has also been released as of March 1.

Taiwan - As of March 1, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a new online visa application, which can be completed online and printed out for submission to a Taiwan representative office.  Until further notice, either the online application or the older paper application may be used.  Taiwan has also discontinued same-day visa processing.

Embassy and Consulate Closures for March
March 1: Paraguay and South Korea closed.
March 2: Ethiopia and Myanmar closed.
March 6:  Ghana closed.
March 7: Thailand closed.
March 8: International Women’s Day - Many embassies closed, including Russia, Armenia, Angola and Laos.  Syria closed.
March 9: Russia closed.
March 15:  Belarus closed.
March 20: Turkmenistan closed.
March 21: Navruz (Persian New Year) - Many embassies closed, including Iran, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. South Africa closed.
March 22: Kazakhstan and Tajikistan closed.
March 23: Tajikistan closed.
March 26: Bangladesh and Mali closed.
March 27: Myanmar closed.
March 29: Madagascar closed.

Further embassy closures are possible; not all embassies announce their closure schedules in advance. For updated embassy closures calendars, please see www.g3visas.com or our Facebook page.

Questions?  Ask Us!
Do you have any questions about visas or passports that you’d like us to answer?  Email them to newsletter@g3visas.com, and we’ll make sure your question is answered, and you may see your question featured in a future edition of G3 Global Insight!

New Year Brings New Changes for India

by Mirissa R. Spears, Country Information Coordinator for India

The Indian Government will be introducing a new visa application in the United States over the next several weeks. It has been confirmed that the old application will continue to be accepted for up to two weeks after the new visa application has been introduced in each location. One major change will include a revised online application that is currently being utilized worldwide in over 30 countries. We anticipate major delays in processing speeds across the board once all locations have been introduced to the new visa application.

The Government of India has opened a new Honorary Consulate to serve the Southeast.  The new Consulate is located in Atlanta, Georgia; Georgia is the 10^th largest exporter to India among US states.  In addition to Georgia, the office will serve states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the US Virgin Islands and the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Consulate has a temporary location and is currently awaiting approval from its home government in New Delhi and the US State Department on a pending contract for its permanent space. It is expected that this Honorary Consulate will be upgraded to Consulate General status later this year, at which point it begin issuing visas.  We will continue to provide detailed information as it becomes available.

China Enforcing New Regulations

As of February 1, the Chinese government is enforcing strict new visa regulations.  Same-day visa service has been discontinued, though applicants may still appear in person in extremely urgent cases to request same-day processing.  G3 is still able to process visas in 24 hours.

The Chinese Embassy will also be enforcing consular jurisdiction, meaning that applicants must apply at the consulate that has jurisdiction over their state of residence.  With our nationwide network of offices, G3 is able to assist residents of every state to get their Chinese visas quickly and easily.  If you have any questions, or would like to request the appropriate visa instructions, please email China@g3visas.com.

Passport Cards Available Online
The U.S. State Department is currently running a test and allowing holders of valid passport books to apply online for passport cards.  Travelers can apply at U.S.Passport Cards, and the cards will be issued without having to submit the passport book.  The test period will run through mid-April.

Passport cards are valid for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean only.  All international air travel requires a passport book.

Consular Updates
Azerbaijan - The Embassy of Azerbaijan has released a new visa application.

Belarus - Visa fees for Belarus have been increased.

Cameroon - Gun permit regulations have been changed.  Hunters may now import only one gun to Cameroon instead of two.  The Embassy of Cameroon is also taking an extended period of time to issue gun permits, up to one month or more.

Democratic Republic of Congo - As of February 1, the Embassy has discontinued rush processing.  The fastest visa processing currently available is three business days.

Iran - The visa process for Iran requires the visa section to request approval from Tehran.  We have been seeing a slowdown in the time it takes for the approvals to be issued; in some cases, the approvals have taken more than eight weeks.

Niger - Visa fees for Niger have been increased.

Turkey - Visa fees for Turkey have increased by a few dollars due to currency fluctuations.

Embassy and Consulate Closures for February
February 3:  Mozambique and Sao Tome closed. Mawlid Al-Nabi (birthday of the Prophet Mohammed) – many embassies closed, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Jordan.
February 6:  Burundi closed.
February 9: Lebanon closed.
February 10: Cameroon closed.
February 13:  Myanmar closed
February 15: Afghanistan closed.
February 17: Gambia closed.
February 20: Washington’s Birthday - All US Passport offices closed. Most embassies closed, including Brazil, China, India and Vietnam.  All G3 offices open.
February 21: Bangladesh closed.
February 23: Russia closed.
February 28: Egypt and Taiwan closed.

Further embassy closures are possible; not all embassies announce their closure schedules in advance. For updated embassy closures calendars, please see www.g3visas.com or our Facebook page.

Questions?  Ask Us! Do you have any questions about visas or passports that you’d like us to answer?  Email them to newsletter@g3visas.com, and we’ll make sure your question is answered, and you may see your question featured in a future edition of G3 Global Insight!

When it comes to passport advice, I turn to G3 Visas and Passports. Communications Director Summer Jenkins advises what how to  avoid complications before you travel.

Your tickets are purchased, your bags are packed, you’ve checked to see if your destination requires a visa… but have you checked to make sure your passport is valid for travel?

Check Your Expiry Date
All too often, we receive frantic calls from the airport from travelers who have been denied boarding because their passport is too close to its expiration date.  Almost every country in the world follows the “six month rule,” meaning that your passport must be valid for six months after your planned departure from the country.  Even if you don’t have any travel planned, we recommend that you keep an eye on your expiry date and renew your passport when it nears that six-month mark.

Check Your Pages
Before you travel, flip through your passport and check to see if you still have any blank pages marked “Visas.”  You will need to have at least one completely blank page for entry to any country, and the pages near the back of the passport that say “Amendments” or “Endorsements” do not count. Some countries, such as South Africa, require you to have two blank pages next to each other.

Check Your Passport’s Condition
If your passport has endured hard wear or has taken a trip through the washing machine, it might be considered mutilated.  Common examples of mutilated passports include loose or missing covers, water-damaged pages, or peeling plastic coating on the photo page.  Mutilated passports aren’t just invalid for travel; they no longer count as valid proof of US citizenship.

If you need to renew your passport, have passport pages added, or replace a mutilated passport, G3 can help with expedited passport services.  We even offer same-day passport service through our Concierge Level Emergency Passport Service – just call G3 or email CLS@g3visas.com to begin your customized emergency service.

Editors’ Note: Carolyn Paddock writes about products and services that are beneficial for travelers. The products and services mentioned are neither commissioned by nor written in cooperation with the product company or manufacturers.

2011 in Review, and Looking Forward to 2012

By Summer Jenkins, Communications Director, G3 Visas & Passports

The world of visa processing is a world of constant change.  Embassies change their visa applications, their processing times, requirements and fees; not a week goes by without updates to our website and PDF visa instructions.  However, 2011 brought major changes to our top two countries, China and Russia, and even saw the creation of a brand-new diplomatic mission in Washington, Southern Sudan.

In February, China’s embassy in Washington released a new visa application, replacing the two-page application they’d used for years with a far more detailed application consisting of four pages with a two page supplement for select applicants.  Over the next few months, the other Chinese consulates in the US phased in the new application, and the New York consulate released its own version of the application.  Further requirement changes followed: first the consulates insisted that the application must be completed typed with no handwritten answers (G3 provides fillable PDF applications for the convenience of our clients), and then they instituted a rule that all questions must be answered, even if the answer is “n/a” or “none.”

Russia’s changes were even more extreme.  On July 1, the Russian government abruptly instituted a new online application, which must be completed on a Russian government website before being printed and signed for submission to the consulate.  The online application is extremely complex, stretching over more than twenty web pages, and is prone to bugs and glitches.  G3 responded with a specialized Concierge Level Service offering.  For the ease of our travelers, we provide a simplified questionnaire that can be emailed to G3.  A CLS associate then completes the online application, which is double-checked by another member of the team before it is emailed back to be printed and signed.  We even provide a pre-paid FedEx airbill to send in all the documents!

Looking forward to 2012, we expect to see many more changes.  We are still waiting for the changes to the India online application that were announced this fall, but a firm date for the revised application has not yet been revealed.  We also expect to see further changes to Russia’s visa regime, which may include changes to the consulate structure and to the procedure of acquiring official invitations.  Whatever changes and surprises may lie ahead, rest assured that G3 is committed to providing the most up-to-date, accurate instructions and innovative solutions for our travelers.

U.S. Passport Application Update
The U.S. State Department has changed the link for the online passport application to http://pptform2.state.gov.  The applications themselves remain unchanged.  For assistance with the passport application or with any other passport questions, email our passport team atDCPassportAssociates@g3visas.com.

New ETA Procedure for Sri Lanka
As of January 1, Sri Lanka has instituted a new Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa system that will imact US citizens.  Previously, US citizens visiting Sri Lanka for tourism did not need to acquire visas, but visas were required for business trips.  With the new ETA system, US citizens and the citizens of many other developed nations (including Canada, Australia, all European nations, China, India and Russia) will need to apply for an ETA regardless of the nature of their trip.  G3 can aquire Sri Lanka ETAs; for instructions or any other questions, please email our ETA team at ETA@g3visas.com.

Embassy and Consulate Closures for January
January 2: New Year’s Holiday - G3 Closed.  All US Passport offices and almost all consulates closed.
January 2-9: Russia Closed.
January 4:  Angola and Myanmar Closed.
January 6: Orthodox Christmas - many embassies closed, including Armenia, Belarus, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and Sudan.
January 12: Tanzania Closed.
January 13:  Cape Verde and Togo Closed
January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - All US Passport Offices and most embassies closed. All G3 Offices Open.
January 19: Algeria and Ethiopia Closed.
January 20: Cape Verde and Mali Closed.
January 23-24: China Closed.
January 25: China Closed (NYC Consulate Only).
January 26: India and Uganda Closed.
January 30: Nepal Closed.

Further embassy closures are possible; not all embassies announce their closure schedules in advance. For updated embassy closures calendars, please see www.g3visas.com or our Facebook page.

Questions?  Ask Us!
Do you have any questions about visas or passports that you’d like us to answer?  Email them to newsletter@g3visas.com, and we’ll make sure your question is answered, and you may see your question featured in a future edition of G3 Global Insight!

Gathering as much information as you can before you leave home is a smart way to cut down on the stress of holiday travel. Here are a few tips and apps that will help you to know before you go.

1. Download My TSA is an app that gives you great travel info. Just select the airport you’re departing from and you’ll get information about real time delays and the wait times at various security check points along with everything you need to know about what you can carry on and how to dress to speed up your check-in time.

2. Ship your gifts whenever possible. Not only will you avoid having to drag cumbersome packages through crowded airports, but also, you’ll probably be saving money because of increasing charges for both checked and carry-on luggage. And if you must carry gifts with you, don’t wrap them. They will be opened and your expensive gift wrap (not to mention the time you spent wrapping) will be tossed in the trash.

3. Be aware of local laws and regulations in the city to which you are traveling (and from which you will also be leaving). Within the United States, the Transportation Security Administration web site warns that.  “It is a passenger’s responsibility to be aware that origination and destination cities may have local laws prohibiting the possession of [specific items].” Go to tsa.gov to find out what’s allowed and what’s not.

4. Check out The Smart Traveler app, provided by the U.S. Department of State, will give you important information about any country you might be visiting, including any new travel warnings, safety issues, the current political situation, local rules and laws to be aware of, and U.S. embassy locations, among other useful information.

In addition, other countries may have rules that differ from ours. For example, I was departing Heathrow recently when a jar of my Egyptian Magic Skin Creme (its a solid olive oil, bees wax, and honey) I’d had in my carry-on luggage throughout many (domestic and international) trips was confiscated because Heathrow officials determined that it was a “paste,” and pastes in the UK are considered “liquids.” So check the airport web site in the country of your destination to avoid being unpleasantly surprised.

5. While most checked luggage is screened electronically, there may be a reason why the TSA finds it’s necessary to open a bag. If you’ve locked your luggage and the TSA can’t open it, your lock will be smashed. To avoid this, buy a lock that can be opened by security with a master key. They’re easily available at airports, many travel stores, and online.

Russia Holiday Update

By Summer Jenkins, Communications Director, G3 Visas

With Christmas and New Year’s fast approaching, please be aware that Russia will close its consulates and the Foreign Ministry in Moscow for an extended period. We can expect the Russian Foreign Ministry to be closed as early as the 30th of December and possibly staying closed to the 16th of January, which is the first Monday after the celebration of Old New Year’s on the Julian calendar.  This means that there will no business invitations issued during this period. The embassy will most likely be closed for 7-10 business days as well, with a short week schedule in the second week of  January.

We recommend that any travelers planning a business trip to Russia in January or early February should contact G3 now to initiate visa processing, as business invitation processing will come to a virtual halt for about three weeks during the holiday.  For more information, please contact G3′s Country Information Coordinator for Russia, Jonathan Phillips, at Russia@g3visas.com.

Visa Updates
India: The updated visa application which was scheduled for release in early November is currently on hold. Our sources do not know when the new application will be released. As the new application is expected to be more difficult than the current one, we recommend that travelers planning trips to India get their applications in now, before the application changes. As all India visas are valid for at least six months after the date of issue, visas can be applied for well ahead of the departure date.

Cameroon: Gun permit applicants must also now provide original proof of their legal ownership of the guns. Photocopies of gun registrations or permits are no longer accepted.

Republic of Congo: A new version of the visa application has been released. Additionally, tourist visa applicants must now submit either a copy of hotel reservations or a confirmation letter from their Congolese tour operator.

Southern Sudan: A new visa application has been released.

Embassy and Consulate Closures for December
December 1: Central African Republic, Chad, and Myanmar Closed
December 2: Laos Closed
December 5: Thailand Closed. Ashura – many embassies closed, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
December 6: Ashura – many embassies closed, including Bangladesh and India.
December 8: Paraguay and Uzbekistan Closed
December 9: Cambodia, Tanzania and Thailand Closed
December 12: Kenya and Thailand Closed
December 16: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Kenya and South Africa Closed
December 19: Qatar Closed
December 22: Zimbabwe Closed
December 23: India Closed
December 26: Christmas/Boxing Day – all US Passport Offices and embassies closed. All G3 Offices Closed.

Further embassy closures are possible; not all embassies announce their closure schedules in advance. For updated embassy closures calendars, please see www.g3visas.com or our Facebook page.

Questions? Ask Us!
Do you have any questions about visas or passports that you’d like us to answer? Email them to newsletter@g3visas.com, and we’ll make sure your question is answered, and you may see your question featured in a future edition of G3 Global Insight!

Trip Viewer (right) is a great new iPad app to use in conjunction with the Trip Journal 6.1 app for iPhone. Trip Journal allows you to track, document, and record your travel experiences, personalize them with notes, photos, and videos, and share them with your friends.  Now, with Trip Viewer, you can export those experiences to an iPad, view your stopping-off points overlaid on a map, and enrich the whole experience with real-time locations and photos for the richest, most complete record of your travels you could possibly imagine.

iTranslate makes you instantly fluent in more than 50 languages. Just speak an English word into your phone and iTranslate will show it to you in the language of your choice. Spoken voice translations are also available in 18 languages so that you can have an actual conversation anywhere in the world. Trying to give a cab driver directions? Looking for a restroom? Lost your way to the hotel, restaurant, shop, or museum you were looking for? Can’t find anyone to ask who speaks English. No worry! iTranslate will do the translating for you.

Google Places uses GPS to locate nearby restaurants, bars, hotels, attractions, ATMs, and much more in cities throughout the world. You can even rate the places you try and Google will then send you future recommendations based on your likes and dislikes. The app takes preplanning out of the equation. Now you can find a restaurant or café whenever you get hungry, or get cash whenever you run out. This is great for those of us who like to do things spontaneously and sometimes change our minds on the go.

Read it Later: Is there stuff you really want to read online but just can’t get to right now? Read it Later will download offline copies of items on your reading list so that you can get to them whenever you want. Even if you’re offline, in airplane mode, or underground with no Internet connection.

Zite: Worried about what to read while you travel? Zite may be your answer. This new iPad app allows you to create a customized magazine by picking and choosing among its wide variety of subjects and sections for many different sources so that you wind up with just the material you want and nothing you don’t. As you read, you can ask for more info on particular subjects so that as you use it the app actually gets “smarter” about knowing your interests and sends you more of what you like.