India and Russia Visa Changes

The governments of both India and Russia are planning changes to the visa regime for US citizens, though neither country has made official announcements with details of those changes.

The online visa application for India will change to a revised version on Monday, November 7.  There has been no official announcement of what the revisions will entail, but our contacts in the Indian Visa Offices say that the online visa application will no longer be editable after it has been completed.  Any changes would require completing a new application.  There are also reports that visa requirements may become stricter at all consulates, but again there have been no announcements as of yet as to which requirements may change.

Russia will be moving to an outsourcing system, similar to the one used by India, starting as soon as December 1.  Outsourcing is expected to be implemented first in Washington, DC, and will be phased in at other consulates in the US this winter.  It is reported that there may be different outsourcing companies in various cities, so we may begin to see more differences between visa processing at the consulates.  Changes to the fees and processing times are likely, but we do not anticipate that the online application will change. [Read more →]

China Visa Changes

by Fabiola Garcia, Country Information Coordinator for China

China has recently implemented changes to their visa application that impact all travelers, and have added requirements for certain types of visas and nationalities.

All Chinese Consulates now require the application to be typed using a computer, and all fields must be filled out. When the question is not applicable, the applicant must enter N/A. Applications with any blanks spaces will not be accepted by the Consulate. The only fields that may be handwritten are the signature and date on the last page of the application.  We have made the application “user friendly” by adding fillable fields for all questions and notes in the margins to provide some clarity to the questions and assist with answers,  if applicable. If you would prefer to have a G3 Associate type up your application for you, this service is included in our Concierge Level Service. (Additional service fees apply for Concierge Level Service requests.) [Read more →]

Hopstop: Even though I live in New York City, I don’t always know the best route to take so one of the apps I have used is Hopstop to get me to my destination the quickest, most convenient way possible. Now the Hopstop iPhone app will get you where you want to go in 62 major cities (with more being added every month) throughout the United States and Canada, as well as Paris and London.

You choose your preferred mode of transportation, key in your current location and where you want to go, and Hopstop provides step-by-step, accurate directions, including the length of time it will take you to get to each stop on your route and to your final destination.

Presselite has developed three essential guides for navigating underground in the New York City subways, the London Underground, and the Paris Metro. No more standing there trying to peer at maps when you’re in the station. Now you can map your route before you set out and carry it with you for reference along the way. New York City, Paris, and London

Google’s Mobile Map: This app has saved me more than once. Its even like a GPS when you are lost, like when I had printed directions to my brothers house but I took a wrong turn and didn’t know where I was! So I typed in my “end point” and the miraculous app found my present location (via cell phone) and I was then provided concise, correct directions. This app also provides directions for walking and for public transportation.

Get Taxi, This app launched initially in Israel, is now available in London and will soon be coming to Moscow, Paris, and other cities in Europe. No more queuing or wonder where to get a cab. Now you can order a taxi directly from your phone, which locates you via GPS and dispatches the cab closest to you. You can also get the driver’s name, license number, mobile phone number, and the car’s estimated arrival time, all while you track it’s progress in real time on a map—and then pay with a credit card if you wish.

Visa Updates

China: All Chinese Consulates with the exception of the Embassy in Washington, DC now require French citizens to appear in person to apply for their visas.  G3 recommends that all French passport holders should send their Chinese visa applications to our Washington, DC headquarters for processing.

Afghanistan: Consular fees for Afghanistan visas have been increased; the Embassy now charges a minimum of $100 for single entry visas.

Armenia: A new visa application for Armenia has been released, and is available on visa instructions at www.g3visas.com.

Democratic Republic of Congo: The DRC Embassy in Washington, DC has announced that all nationalities of visa applicants, including US citizens, will need to have visa approval from the immigration authorities in Kinshasa.  This approval is requested only after applications are received by the Embassy, which will result in all visa processing times being extended by up to two weeks.

Iran: All consular fees for visas have been increased by $8 each.

Peru: The Consulate General of Peru in Miami now requires all applicants to appear in person to request their visas.  As all Peruvian consulates enforce jurisdiction, this change will impact applicants who reside in Florida, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and the West Indies. [Read more →]

Wallpaper City Guides: Ten of the most popular Wallpaper City Guides (for Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brazil, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo) are now available as iPhone apps. The guides’ editors work with correspondents who actually live in the cities they write about so that you can be sure the information they provide is the most up-to-date and accurate there is. I’ve always enjoyed the Wallpaper travel guides, and I especially I love having the convenience of having all this great info on my phone instead of in my luggage!

Lake Como: Just as it sounds, is the complete guide to the most luxurious hotels, restaurants, spas, golf clubs, shops, beaches, and ski resorts in one of the world’s most luxurious vacation destinations. Lake Como has been called the jewel of Italy, and now there’s a jewel of an app to help you discover every one of its most glittering treasures.

Monaco Travel Guide:, As the description puts it, allows you to “hold the very best of [this renowned playground of the rich and famous] in your hands.”  Find the best hotels and restaurants, and learn about the Principality’s historic sights, luxurious shops, exciting nightlife, stunning architecture and more, all illustrated with beautiful full-color images.

If “be prepared” hasn’t already become the traveler’s motto, if probably should!

Here are a few of the latest iPhone apps that will help you to prepare so that your trip is as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible.

My TSA Version 1.2 offers up-to-date, 24/7 information on the current operating status of U.S, airports as well as the most recent rules for what is allowed in carry-on and checked baggage, ID requirements, and tips for how to pack and what to wear in order to speed your way through security.

Hipmunk (above) takes the time-consuming frustration out of booking your flight. Once you know where you’re going just enter your departure and destination points and hipmunk provides a visual grid of  carriers, flight departure times, cost of the ticket, arrival time, and number of stops, if any. It’s all right there, all on one screen, and you can even book your ticket immediately from your phone if you choose. This is the ultimate in one-stop airline ticket shopping.

Gate Guru is your complete guide to 85 airports throughout the U.S. Where are the gates, the security checkpoints, restrooms, the executive lounges, the shops, the ATMS, the best places to get something to eat? Gate Guru will tell you. The app provides maps and guides to the various terminals in each airport as well as listing current wait times at the various checkpoints, departure and arrival times, and much more. Also available for the Android phone. [Read more →]

Russia Online Visa Application Update

By Jonathan V. Phillips, Country Information Coordinator for Russia and CIS, G3 Washington DC

Russia’s new online application, located at http://evisa.kdmid.ru/, has now been in use for one month.  For the first few weeks,  the new online application system was plagued with errors, was painfully slow,  and was not accessible during US business hours. This situation caused major disruptions in daily visa processing. Today, 30 days later, the situation is much improved.  It appears the server in Russia has been upgraded to handle the traffic and currently, applications are being created with minimal delays.

Although functional, the online application is not intuitive, and it’s complexities can create issues for many applicants who are not sure, for good reason, how to respond to questions it is asking. Accuracy with answers to the application questions is important as the Russian Embassy goes over every question on the application with a high level of scrutiny when they are submitted.  The Embassy officials hold the information on the application to a rigorous standard; incorrect, incomplete answers will warrant a rejection until the data is amended to their dictates.  G3 does offer a detailed guide to the online application to assist travelers navigate the complexities of the application, but we still recommend the use of our Concierge Level Services for completion of the online Russia application. It is the most efficient way to ensure smooth processing of your Russian visa request.
Please contact Russia@g3visas.com with any questions or feedback, or email CLS@g3visas.com for Concierge Level Service processing.

Ramadan and Visa Processing
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan has begun today, August 1, and will last until the holiday of Eid al-Fitr on August 29 or 30.  (As Muslim holidays are calculated based on the observance of the moon, all holiday dates are approximate and are only confirmed immediately prior to the holiday.)  Ramadan is known as the month of fasting, during which observant Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours.

During the month of Ramadan, many embassies shorten their workdays, and slight delays in visa processing are possible.  Some embassies, such as Afghanistan, will close for a day in observance of the start of Ramadan, and there will be widespread embassy closures for Eid al-Fitr at the end of the month.

Please contact G3 if you have any concerns about how Ramadan may affect your visa processing.

Visa Updates

China: The Chinese Consulate in New York City has released their own version of the new four-page Chinese visa application.  All applications submitted to the New York Consulate must be made with the New York-specific application. [Read more →]

 TSA Administrator John Pistole recently announced a new airport screening procedure aimed at getting some travelers through the process faster—and without having to take off their shoes or remove laptops from their carrying cases.

The initiative  (an extension of Secure Flight which was created as a pre-screening program in 2009) will begin this fall on a trial basis. And, at least for now, it will be somewhat limited.

Only those flying Delta from Atlanta or Detroit or American from Dallas/Ft. Worth or Miami will be eligible, and only certain elite members of those airlines’ frequent flier programs will be invited to join the program. You can’t volunteer.

Selected frequent fliers and members of the U.S. Customs Trusted Traveler programs will receive an e-mail invitation to submit background information and, if they pass muster, will be admitted and receive a bar code on their boarding pass that allows them to be directed to a special, dedicated security checkpoint.

Sounds great for those who make the grade. But it should also speed up security clearance for everyone else once the elite are no longer in the line.

New Online Visa Application for Russia

By Jonathan V. Phillips, Country Information Coordinator for Russia and CIS, G3 Washington DC

Russia now has a new online application, located at http://evisa.kdmid.ru/. Starting July 1, all Russian consulates in the US will accept only applications created on the new website.

This online application website is located in Russia and is difficult to navigate even for experienced applicants. The application is more than 20 web pages long, and requires registration to access.  At this time, the website is overloaded and extremely slow, and is also riddled with bugs and errors, although the Russian programmers appear to be trying to fix the problems.

Due to the complicated nature of this application, G3 has enhanced our Concierge Level Service for Russia to include the creation of the online application for our clients.  We have created a simplified visa questionnaire for applicants to complete and email in to us.  When the online application is complete (1 to 2 business days, depending on whether or not a business invitation must also be requested), G3 will email the applicant a PDF of the application ready to print and sign, along with a pre-paid FedEx airbill to send all documents in to a G3 Operations Center.

For those applicants who wish to navigate the site on their own, we have written a detailed guide to the online application.  Because this site is located in Russia and not part of our control, we are not able to provide any assistance, outside of our detailed guide for it.  We are encouraging our clients to use the Concierge Level application service.
Please contact Russia@g3visas.com with any questions or feedback.

Visa Updates
Brazil: The Consulate of Brazil in Hartford, Connecticut now requires all visa applications to be notarized.  This affects visa applicants who reside in Connecticut and Rhode Island only. [Read more →]

Russian Business Invitation Update

By Jonathan V. Phillips, Country Information Coordinator for Russia and CIS, G3 Washington DC

Acquiring Russian business visas is a two step process. The first part of the process is to acquire the official business invitation. The second part of the process is to submit the visa application to a Russian consulate, but the application cannot be submitted until the business invitation is in order.

Official business invitations are issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry upon request by a Russian company or organization. Letters of invitation written on the letterhead of a  Russian company are not valid for visas; all business visa applicants must have an official invitation issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry. These official invitations can take one of two forms once issued: a paper invitation, or a Telex sent directly to the consulate.

Russian consulates used to accept faxed or scanned copies of paper business invitations, but as of May 2011 the Russian consulates in the US no longer accept copies of invitations and require either the original paper invitation or a Telex. [Read more →]