Perry International

ESTA to cost $14

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:03:35 -0400

Beginning September 8 the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will cost $14. All payments for electronic travel authorization applications must be made by credit card or debit card when applying for or renewing an ESTA. CPB Announcement

Global Entry Enrollment Centers

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:18:30 -0400

The following link lists the airports that are setup for the U.S. Customs and Border Protections Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program. Global Entry Enrollment Centers. Global Entry is a program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection which allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. Although this program is intended for frequent travelers who make several international trips per year, there is no minimum number of trips an applicant must make in order to qualify.

European Union Visa Code

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:02:50 -0400

The European Parliament adopted regulation to apply a common visa policy for short stay visas. This will include all EU Member States, except for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus will apply the Visa Code once they become part of the Schengen area without internal borders. It will also include Iceland, Norway and Switzerland that are part of the Schengen area, but not EU members. Europa Press Release

China lifted its travel ban against people with HIV

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:40:18 -0400

China is the third country this year, after the United States and South Korea, to remove their bans against people with HIV. Associate Press Article

Volcanoe Creates Visa Nightmares

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:56:39 -0400

As international flights continue to be canceled many countries must deal with those international travelers whose visas are expiring. As one of the first countries affected the United Kingdom's Border Agency issued a notice Apr 17th, stating that only proof of planned travel that would have enabled one to leave the UK before their visa expired would be needed. UKBA Notice On Apr 18th the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released an update that foreign nationals stranded in the U.S. must contact a U.S. Customs and Border Protection office to extend their stay. USCIS Update Just today the Indian government decided to allow special landing permits or extensions of visas to foreigners stranded in India for a maximum period of 14 days without charging any fees. Times of India Article Europa, the portal site of the European Union, posted a press release from the European Commission detailing their role in an entirely national decision to open or shut airspace in this unprecedented crisis facing Europe. It includes a section on visa problems. Europa Press Release
These are just the issues facing people currently traveling abroad. Next come the questions that we have started to receive at our offices from travelers who have been issued visas and have had to postpone or cancel trips. Will there be refunds from foreign governments? or the reissuing of visas with new dates? Does travel insurance cover the costs of lost visas?

The U.S. and Germany to Link Trusted Traveler Programs

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:34:42 -0400

Germany will be the second country, after The Netherlands, to setup agreements that integrate the United States Global Entry trusted traveler program with one of their own trusted traveler programs. DHS Announcement

Re-entry Permits and International Travel for Permanent Residents

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:43:18 -0400

A re-entry permit is a passport style travel document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. It establishes that, at the time of an immigrants departure from the United States, no abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident status was intended. There is some great information at Klaskow Immigration and Nationality Law

Trends in International Arrivals to the U.S.

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:30:54 -0400

Trends in International Arrivals to the U.S.

Greece admitted to Visa Waiver Program

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:44:00 -0400

Greece was admitted as the 36th member nation of the Visa Waiver Program, (VWP). Greek citizens will be permitted to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. They are the first new member since 2008. DHS Announcement

Visas used as political weapons

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:44:53 -0400

Libya stopped issuing visas to citizens from the Schengen borderless travel zone in retaliation for Switzerland, a Schengen member, barring entry to 188 Libyan citizens including the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi and members of his family. The Schengen area is a borderless travel zone grouping 22 EU nations plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Reuters Article

U.S. Passport Fee Increase Delayed

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:20:23 -0400

The U.S. Department of State's proposed fee increases, received a number of comments requesting additional details on the Consular Services Cost of Service Study and additional comment time. In response, the State Department provided a supplemental notice of proposed rule making and extended the comment period until Apr 7th. Regulations.gov

U.S. Travel Promotion Act

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:40:10 -0400

The U.S. Travel Promotion Act was signed into law in early March. It will create a nonprofit Corporation for Travel Promotion that will promote the United States as a travel destination. Promoting the U.S. as a destination for international travelers is great. However, part of the funding comes from a $10 fee charged to visitors from countries included in the Visa Waiver Program. Why charge visitors who have already decided to visit the U.S., to help promote the U.S. to other travelers? For more details see this CNN Article. Also, we will see if other countries decide to reciprocate and charge an additional $10 to U.S. citizens that do not need a visa to visit their country.

Trusted traveler Programs on the Rise

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:18:04 -0400

Growth in trusted traveler programs comes as a similar, privately run program, Registered Traveler, folded last year after its largest operator, CLEAR, lost money and government support. The initiative has three components for the public: Global Entry for international arrivals; Nexus for USA-Canada border crossing; and Sentri for USA-Mexico borders. Trusted traveler programs have grown steadily in recent years despite skeptics who worry about surrendering personal information for machine-dependent processes run by the government.USA Today Article

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum 2011

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:52:22 -0500

Will the fact that the United States is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2011, CPB, mean that U.S. citizens might one day be able to apply for an APEC Business Traveler Card? ABTC
Business travelers from the 20 economies currently participating in the ABTC Scheme: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, PNG, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam don't need to individually apply for visas or entry permits to travel to any of the participating APEC economies as the card is your visa.
The U.S is a transitional member and since 2007 has been exploring options on how eligible U.S. citizens might be issued the ABTC, allowing them expedited immigration processing at ABTC member airports U.S. participation in ABTC.

Open up Travel to Cuba for all Americans

nospam@example.com (Aaron Caplan) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:03:35 -0500

On February 23, 2010, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act (H.R. 4645) was introduced in the House of Representatives. It would open up travel to Cuba for all Americans. While it is basically the same as the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (H.R.874) which was introduced in February of last year and has been stuck in committee, it shows that congress still has interest in this area. NAFSA Public Policy.