passportmarv2701

Interested in attending the China Import & Export Fair (AKA Canton Fair)? Here’s what you need to know to get your visa.

China’s Import and Export Fair is one of biggest trade shows in the world. It’s also known as the Canton Fair and it is a must for any small company looking for vendor deals and to see the latest in various fields. It usually goes for 3 weeks with each week specializing in a particular field or industry from electronics, toys and furniture. The first week begins on October 15th and the last week ends on November 4th.

We receive many calls from travelers looking to attend this event inquiring about how to go about getting the visa. There are several options. The first option is get an invitation from the event itself. The way to do that is to register with them. You can do so by using this link:

https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US

Those who register can get an invite from the fair that can be used to get the visa. The invite for those who register looks like the picture below:

Those that have this invite can apply using the requirements for a business visa. Click open this link for information on how we can help you get the visa:

https://passportsvisasandmore.com/china-business-visa/

For those that do not register or don’t want to register but want to go anyway can do so either as a tourist or under a business visa with an invite from a company in China. If you go for the business visa without the registration you’d need an invite from a company in China. Some attendants go with existing vendors who get the tickets for them. In this case, they can supply the invite for you.

If you don’t have an invite and don’t want to register you can still apply for a tourist visa and follow the tourist requirements. Here is a link with the requirements and processing for the tourist visa:

https://passportsvisasandmore.com/china-business-visa/china-tourist-visa/

The Fair is comprised of three different weeks highlighting different industries. It is important to review their schedule as each week has a different industry highlighted. You want to go the week that best works for you. Be advised…the Canton Fair is a very popular event and famous event. We do advise travelers not to wait as airline ticket prices and hotel fares tend to skyrocket the closer you get to the fair. We have offices in Orlando and Miami but can really help clients in any area of Florida and in other states. Reach out to us and see for yourself. Call us today at 305-330-4430 or 407-459-8807.

How becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen can affect travel plans.

For those foreign nationals who have applied to be a U.S. citizen there is nothing more satisfying than receiving a phone call from the U.S. State Department. That special phone call advising you that the process is complete and you are going to be a U.S. citizen. We have often heard about how gratifying it is for many to finally receive this call. For some however, it is not only gratifying but it poses an entirely new potential problem if they should have travel shortly afterwards.

The phone call comes with a scheduled date and time for your naturalization ceremony. At this ceremony a certificate of naturalization is given which officially gives you documented proof of citizenship. While getting this certificate signifies the completion of a long and sometimes arduous process it can bring about new concerns regarding future travels. Since one never knows when this phone call will come, most people just go about their regular lives and routines. This could mean planned travel to visit family overseas or it could mean a scheduled business trip overseas.

Most do not know that upon receiving your citizenship the U.S. State Department takes your alien resident card. That means you cannot use it with your foreign national passport. It means that future travel coming back to the United States would require a U.S. Passport by going through the process of getting a First Time passport. In some cases the process has to be expedited. The other option is to delay the ceremony which would delay the receipt of the naturalization certificate. For some this is a worthy option but for others it is not. Fortunately we can assist in expediting a First Time Passport and can do so even for recently naturalized citizens. In order for us to do so we’d need to see your original naturalized certificate, a valid driver’s license that was issued over 6 months ago and travel itinerary.

If you aren’t traveling right away you can always go to your local passport acceptance facility: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ where your documents will be mailed out and returned to you in about 6 to 8 weeks. However, if you do need the First Time Passport process expedited, we can help. Call us today at 407-459-8807 in Orlando or at 305-330-4430 to find out how we can assist you.

Is there really a 6 month rule to my passport’s validity?

International trips are amazing experiences but planning for them can be a bit tricky. You have to pick a location, hotel, flights and then calculate the costs involved and what to do. Usually the first thing you do is check to see if a passport is required or if your passport is valid. Most people just look at the expiration date and if it’s valid think your good to go. That may not always be the case.

Most people are unaware that many countries have requirements/rules for entry in place between them for incoming travelers. Some of these countries have a validity requirement in place. This validity rule requires your passport to be valid for a period of time. It may seem like it’s no big deal but that would be a huge mistake. You see, if there is a validity requirement in place it isn’t just the job of the customs agent to find it but it is also the responsibility of the airline to catch it as well. Most airlines get fined when they allow someone to travel with a passport whose validity does not meet the criteria. This fine is a lot more than your average ticket. For this reason, the airline would rather you miss your trip than get the fine. If that happens you will not even be allowed to board the plane. This can have dramatic consequences if you are traveling with friends or families.

When planning your trip please keep this in mind. You can check on a countries validity by visiting the state departments website which will tell you if your planned country enforces a validity restriction. It can be 6 months or 3 months or just needs to be valid by the time you return. Either way, the airlines expect you to know this and be prepared or they will deny you entry on the flight. If you’ve already booked your flight and leaving soon we can help you. Visit us at http://www.passportsvisasandmore.com or call us at 305-330-4430 in Miami or 407-459-8807 if your in Orlando.

Using a service online versus using an in person service…which is better?

There are a couple of ways that travelers can use a service such as ours to get their passport done. There are many services that offer to do everything with you online where they give you the instructions and as long as you follow those instructions you will be fine. There are other services that offer walk in services where you can go into their office and an experienced service agent will walk you through the entire process, make sure your documents are good and then proceed to get everything done.

Our service specializes in the later as we love to deal with travelers in person rather than online. While we are willing to work with travelers who cannot come in person, the truth of the matter is that the chances of an application done online has a significantly higher probability of having a problem that will delay the process than if a person goes to an office directly. There are specific reasons for that and I will detail them in this blog. When we are dealing with an online request we make sure to run down the possibilities so that the traveler knows what they need to do and how to go about doing it. Often times this is not done by the service.

One of the most popular problems is the forgetting to sign the application form or check or incorrectly writing the check. The most common one is forgetting an original document in the copier because you are making the required copies the online service asks for and instead sent a copy. These issues aren’t discovered until after your documents have been sent out rather than before. These things normally do not happen or can be prevented with an in person visit saving you time and money.

Another example can be seen in the condition of the documentation you have. Did you know that if your passport has water damage that it could be deemed by the State Department as damaged? If it is deemed damaged then an additional letter or even an entirely different process would be required? If this is not mentioned to the online service over the phone they will not be able to tell you about the potential for problems. So you send in your documentation only to be told after you have paid their super high fees that you are not getting your passport because you have to go through a totally different process. An in person visit with an experienced agent would catch that and advise the options before you send it out not after saving you time which is, after all, the goal.

Possibly the biggest difference with using a service online versus using a service in person can be seen with in the first time passport process which includes minor’s passports and lost/stolen passports. The reasons for this are several but the most important reason revolves around the fact that an appearance is required at a county clerk’s or post office. This is because the process for doing a first time passport THROUGH A SERVICE is a totally different process for a county clerk or post office than sending the passport by mail to the State Department. The simplest explanation is many of these locations just do not deal with an applicant using a third party service. So they are not used to looking for an authorization letter, they aren’t used to the fees for a third party service and in some cases aren’t even aware that an applicant can use a third party service. They are supposed to know but since they rarely do it they can forget and this kind of delay is the last thing you need when your trip is in a matter of days. So while they do not realize it at the time, they are putting your trip is real jeopardy. An online service will only tell you where to go but will not tell you the experience level of that location. An in person visit with a service will more than likely lead to going to a county clerk that does have experience with a service and will know the procedures so problems due to incorrect fees and incorrect documentation is minimized drastically.

Using a third party service is a great way to get your passport done without having to actually visit a Passport Agency. At the end of the day getting a passport is totally dependent on the documentation you provide and when you provide it. While using a service online and going through the steps they provide is a very viable option there is something to be said about going in person having an experienced person review your documents.

How To Properly Fill Out a DS #3053

Family trips are a great way to spend time with family getting to know each other and see different experiences. From traveling to visit grandma or visiting your uncle to taking your children to see a World Cup soccer game, traveling with children can be a great experience. That being said it is important to have the right documents for your children in order for them to travel safely with you. Many travelers are not aware that any international flight will require a passport even for minors. This means that every child who is traveling with you must have their own passport in order to make their trip.

The process of getting a minor’s U.S. passport is different from that of an adult. The main reason is because parental consent from both parents is required if both parents are listed on the birth certificate and both have custody of the child. In cases where sole custody has been obtained a DS 3053 is not required but you will need the certified copy of the court documents indicating this.

What does parental consent really mean? In a nutshell it means that both parents if listed on the birth certificate must give consent to the issuance of the passport. This is done usually in person either at a post office, county clerk or passport agency. It is a very easy process as long as you appear with the child, birth certificate and previous passport if the minor has had a previous passport. The birth certificate is important especially at the post office or county clerk because the birth certificate lists parentage while the passport does not. If only one parent is listed on the birth certificate then only the parent listed on the birth certificate can apply with the minor being present. If both parents are listed then both parents have to attend with the minor.

However, there are some instances where one parent cannot attend. In these cases the state department allows the non attending parent to fill out a form called a DS #3053 which must be notarized and turned in by the attending parent along with a copy of the non attending parent’s ID used to notarize the DS #3053. This form properly filled out and presented along with a clear copy of the ID will work just fine.

That being said, the success rate of filling out this form is below 50%. Why is that? Unfortunately the non attending parent simply does not take the time to properly fill out the form. As a result they submit an incomplete form that the State Department rejects. In these cases the form has to be redone and sent back in. Almost daily we see at the agency a scenario where a parent is frantically calling the non attending parent to get a new form or race to the agency to sign off on the needed forms. All because they didn’t put the date of birth of the child on the form, neglected to put the child’s middle name, neglected to put their address or neglected to properly authorize the attending parent by writing their name correctly on the form.

Another important fact is that the form must be signed and notarized by a notary public. Here is where other potential problems arise. It is not enough for the nonattending parent to make sure their part is done right…they must make sure the notary does theirs. Half the form must be filled out by the notary. They must put their details, the non attending parents information, their stamp and they must sign it. A mistake by the notary is another cause for a rejection. These are all things the non attending parent must be aware of before they leave. Some people ask us after they have visited the notary to review it for them but the truth is that it is too late after that. If we find a mistake the non attending parent must still go back to the notary to redo it. So it is best to take your time and review it there with the notary.

While these omissions seem trivial it is important to understand that this form is the last line of defense the State Department has against issuing a passport to a minor ensuring both parents give consent. It is a safety feature done in the best interests of the child. In the State Department’s eyes, each parent should know their child’s middle name, their date of birth and their own address. You are expected to sign the form in the presence of a notary so if you sign the form on January 1st and then notarize it on January 2nd the form will be rejected because in the State Department’s eyes, the notary did not witness your signature. Any delay requires a new form from the non attending parent notarized. In some cases this can cause days delays and even missed trips. Such is the importance of filling out this form correctly the first time.

Filling out this form properly requires 10 minutes and must be filled out by the parent who is not attending. Below is the updated version of the DS 3053:

DS 3053

Please note that there are 5 questions in total that must be answered. Each question must be answered completely. Here is some help in filling out this form;

Question #1 asks for the minor’s name in FULL…you will note that the minor’s last name must go in the last name section and so on. If you mistakenly put the first name in the last name section you have to do it over again.

Question #2 asks for the minor’s date of BIRTH…please do not leave this blank. Again, the State Department expects you to know the answer to this question so do not leave it blank.

Question #3 asks for the parent to indicate what they are requesting. Please check the appropriate box (most request the passport book)

Question #4 has two parts. The first part (4a.) asks if the child is under 16 years old. If the answer is yes then you must fill in the second part (4b.).

Question #5 asks that you list your information and authorize the attending parent to do the passport. You must list the authorizing parent not the minor. DO NOT SIGN UNTIL YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE NOTARY.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Please use the black ink throughout the form…any indication the form was filled out by someone else will invalidate the form.

Be sure the notary is notarizing the documentation on the same day you sign and also uses black ink.

Your signature must match the signature on the ID you are using. This is another popular reason for rejecting the form.

Do not cross out any dates or information. If you misspelled something or wrote the date wrong do it again because it will be denied.

Make sure the notary does their part. Review the notary’s section while they are in your presence to make sure they filled out their section correctly.

Above all….take your TIME. By taking 10 – 15 minutes to fill out this form properly you will save days, additional cost and quite possibly a missed trip. Follow these steps and taking your time will make this process smoother and easier.

We are a passport and visa expediting service with offices in Downtown Orlando and Coral Gables Florida. Allow us to expedite your passport processing. We do accept appointments. Please click the office you would like to visit below to set it up.

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