A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

If you travel to and from Canada, check this article for legitimate concerns about the next wave of regulations rolling out the new passport law in the U.S.

China has raised the fees it charges U.S. citizen to issue a visa for whatever travel purpose.

Click on this link to see the announcement on the website of the Embassy of the Government of China in the U.S.

Remember that when applying for a China visa, you must either appear in person or have someone appear for you. China does not allow you to send your visa application to them via mail, FedEx, etc.

If you would like assistance on your China visa, contact A Briggs at (800) 806 0581.

President Bush has signed a new law authorizing the State Department to hire retired Foreign Service officers to help with the backlog of passport applications.

This should be of some help in getting “expedited passports” turned around more quickly. “Expedited passport processing” has been taking as long as six to eight weeks instead of two to three weeks as was formerly the case.

The Charlotte Observer reports continuing problems with “new passports” and “passport renewals” being issued late.

The Observer reports complaints from a North Carolina member of Congress:

” ‘It’s a perfect mess,’ said U.S. Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He questioned State and Homeland Security department leaders in a congressional hearing last month about the passport delays.

“So far this year, Miller’s district offices in North Carolina have handled about 575 passport requests from irate constituents — more than three times as many as for all of 2006. ‘It’s hard to imagine why Homeland Security did not see this coming and were so totally unprepared for the crush,’ Miller said.”

The problem was that there was limited information on how many U.S. citizens were traveling to nearby countries including “Mexico and Canada, both of which now require passports for air travel.”

The Observer article reports, “Nobody really had any hard data” about the number of Americans who crossed the Mexican and Canadian borders without passports, said Patrick Kennedy, director of management policy at the State Department.

The log jam is enormous. About 2.3 million Americans have applications pending at the nation’s processing facilities.

A reporter from the Observer went to the New Orleans Passport Agency and reported as follows:

“On a recent visit to the New Orleans passport agency, boxes of applications were stacked 6 feet high and crammed in a 12th-floor mailroom where workers spend hours each day and night sorting and sending them on to the next step.

Each of the 230 people on staff can process a few hundred passport applications a day. But then the mail truck comes again, dumping more than 10,000 applications on the heaviest days.

“It’s like working all day to push a huge rock up a hill and every night it rolls back down; the next day you just have to push it up again,” said Phil Pusateri, the customer service manager.”

As air travelers continue to deal with the frustration of long lines at airports, the government is about to make the lines even longer by requiring fingerprinting of some passengers. This Washington Post editorial argues that the additional hassle is necessary and unavoidable for increased security and tracking of foreigners. The Washington Post

By Jon Wuebben

Making plans to travel to Mexico this year? Is a Mexico family vacation in your future, or are you looking to take a little time for rest and relaxation on the sandy white beaches of Cancun or Puerto Vallarta?

Well, your timing is right. It promises to be another fantastic year south of the border for all of the major Mexico resort hot spots! In fact, 16 million Americans will probably visit Mexico this year.

Be sure you are prepared before you travel, as there have been some new requirements issued by the U.S. State Department. Although it’s a minor change from prior travel requirements, it affects all U.S. citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. Essentially, all that is required is a passport, which most frequent travelers have anyway. The goal? To make it safer for you and to strengthen United States border security.

Here are some important facts you should know:

* The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (PDF link) requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

* In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines.

* The proposed timeline will be as follows:

- December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

- December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

The Easy Way to get a Passport

First, when applying for a passport, make sure you allow enough time! It typically takes 6 weeks to process a passport application. Where can you apply for a passport? The State Department
provides a handy search tool to help you find the Passport Acceptance Facility nearest you.

What’s the busiest time for passport processing? Usually between January and July. Of course, if you have an emergency and need to travel to Mexico right away, the State Dept does offer some options. Go to their website or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center: on 1-877-4USA-PPT.

Additional Tips for Travel to Mexico

* Be sure to leave your travel itinerary and passport information with a friend or relative in case the originals are lost. It can also be helpful to carry a copy of your travel documents with you in a separate location from the originals.

* Avoid traveling with large amounts of cash. Credit cards are widely accepted and most areas visited by tourist will have an ATM machine. These are great options because they are safe, convenient and you get a favorable exchange rate. Another option is to use traveler’s checks.

* Using a fanny pack or travelers wallet for your cash and passport is a great idea.

* While they are making great strides in improving the water quality throughout Mexico, it is advisable to drink bottled water. In addition, avoid drinking beverages over ice as the ice may have been made from tap water.

* Wash vegetables and fruits in a purifying solution of some type.

* Before leaving, check with your health insurance provider so that you are aware of your coverage.

* If you are planning to drive over the border be sure to obtain a temporary import permit and all the necessary insurance.

So now that you’ve been informed, what are you waiting for? Mexico is a land of incredible beauty and natural wonder! Whether you’re going to sunny Cancun, festive Acapulco, or even Puerto Vallarta, your perfect Mexican vacation getaway is just a flight away!

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order or renew your passport.
About The Author:

This article was written by Jon Wuebben, of Custom Copywriting. Jon writes select pieces about travel in Mexico for the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort.

By Dawn Orbeck

Every year, thousands of families bring their pets along on their vacations. Some feel as if their pets are part of their families, and don’t want to leave them behind. For others, there is simply no one at home to watch the pet, no funds available for boarding, or the trip was a spur-of-the-moment plan and there was no time to consider anything else except to bring the pet along.

Of course before you head out the door with your pet, there are some things to consider like accommodations, because not all hotels, motels, campgrounds and other lodgings accepts pets. So go through this checklist before you hit the road so you don’t have to leave your cat or dog in an unsafe environment.

Do Some Research & Confirmation Work

Check popular campground guidebooks, hotel, motel and other lodge listing research work to see which places accept pets. Then call ahead to confirm, as most print publications went to press at least a year ahead of time, and places may have changed hands or ownership status along with their pet policies. Find out if the location charges extra per night, plus if there are deposits and if there are any size requirements (for example, do they accept large dogs).

Portable Pet Kennels

Many pets ride fine in automobiles. However, some do not. Plus you may be traveling part way by airplane, bus or other means, and not only that, once you reach your destination, pet kennels turn into pet beds, making safe havens for your furry friends each night away from home. So
you might want to check out portable pet kennels.

For airline travel with pets, call ahead to the specific airlines you’ll be using for exact details and requirements for traveling with pets. On some fights, you need to have given your animal food and water roughly 2 hours before take off, so you’ll want to check for exact details to see what your pet will need and the size carrier that’s allowed, etc. Some smaller ones for cats and small dogs may be allowed under the seat, so ask.

Fido’s Belongings

When you are vacationing with your cat or dog, pack a favorite toy or two, blanket or pillow, and any special things it may need, just as you would your own. Don’t forget some pet food, of course, plus some snacks or treats. And if your pet may need medication of any kind, bring along
any medicines and / or any pet vitamins, etc. that might be needed. And as an added precaution, bring along the phone number of your vet, in case there is an emergency.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order or renew your passport.
About The Author:

This article was written by Dawn Orbeck of the Coastal Vacations Blog. For more info, call Dawn on 810-895-4408.

It happens when you cross several time zones. Your circadian rhythms get out of whack and the bad news is experts consider it takes you about one day per time zone to adjust. How do the business travelers do it? But then how does a family do it - when all of you are crabby and messed up and it’s supposed to be fun-time? There you are in treasured Ischia, which, incidentally is worse, because it’s going eastward (US to Europe) and nobody feels good. But is it any easier flying to Chichen Itza, on of the 7 wonders of the world? Time in the air is still time in the air.

The symptoms are, in order of frequency: lethargy; disordered sleep; fatigue for first 5 days after arrival; dehydration, ENT problems, colds or flu; disorientation; and swelling of limbs. 94% of US jet travelers said they had jet-lag symptoms, and 45% considered them “severely bothersome.” (Journal of the Aerospace Medical Association).

This is personally why I prefer cruises, but let that pass for now, and we’ll talk about what you can do about this.

1. Information and preparation

Expect this and plan for it. Adjust your pace, attitude and expectations, and gently remind your hosts. If you’re traveling to visit relatives, they’ll probably want you to hit the floor running, but it is more prudent to plan little the first day, and simply recoup. I frequently fly from east to west to visit my sister and I always remind her I’ll be sleepy the first day. “No really”.

2. Attitude

Okay, it’s good emotional intelligence. Don’t let jetlag ruin your vacation. Part of the vacation is enjoying the people you’re with. Cut everyone some slack and agree with yourself beforehand to deal with the irritability in a way that isn’t harmful to yourself and others. Like, mouthing off to the security guard about having to open your laptop isn’t going to accomplish anything, except maybe a strip search. Do you need that on top of everything else?

3. Self-awareness is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence

If you travel a lot, you should have learned something about your own adjustment schedule. For instance, when I fly before 10 am, the effects of the jet lag are far worse than when I fly in the afternoon. Why? It doesn’t matter why, it’s just the way I am. Figure this out about yourself and use the information.

4. Use common sense

Avoid caffeine and smoking, drink lots of water, eat light. More importantly, eat right. It’s easy to grab junk in the airport, especially if you have kids. It’s smarter to pack something healthy you know agrees with them, that they’ll eat. Cheaper too!

5. Build your immune system

Wherever you go, and however you get there, you are going to land in a new germ pool. Your immune system is your health. Antibiotics only “help,” after the fact. Try Get Well Soon Dietary Supplement. It has pure natural ingredients and no caffeine!

6. Homeopathic remedies

Taking melatonin is one possibility. That’s the hormone secreted by the pineal gland that controls your circadian rhythm. Since there are no long-term studies about the effects, take the least amount possible and only when you arrive. Studies have shown taking it beforehand doesn’t help, and may possibly make jetlag worse (go figure). And of course you might want to try Bio-Nutria Herbal Colon Cleanse. Other remedies that can help are arnica, bellis perennis, chamomilia, ipecacuanha, lycopodium and valerian.

7. Prepare by sleeping differently

This tip seems impractical to me. You adjust your bedtime and wake time toward the time zone where you’re going. For instance, going east to west, go to bed one hour later and wake up one hour later and do this progressively each day for 3 days. Can you do that? I can’t. I have to work. And try getting a kid to do this! No. 1 is more practical - to just catch up on sleep when you get there and take it easy the first 24 hours. You may feel like you’re “missing” something, but in the long run, it pays off.

8. Try an anti jet lag diet

Some people swear by the Argonne Anti Jetlag Diet.

And don’t forget the obvious:

9. Avoid jet travel

I happen to live near a port, but probably you do too, and a cruise is a smart choice for a vacation for many reasons, not the least of which is the jetlag. On a cruise, you can accommodate all ages and tastes, you can meet and separate easily, they are extremely accommodating to all
sorts of disabilities, there is 24/7 room service, any kind of food (including light and healthy) and many other sources of stress are eliminated such as cars, parking, unpacking more than once, getting lost, and getting medical attention if you need it (they have a doctor on board).

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order or renew your passport.
About The Author:

This article was written by Susan Dunn, Personal Coach. Susan speaks on cruise lines and is the author of Speak on a Cruise and Travel the World for Pennies. She offers individual coaching, business programs, etiquette, Internet courses, ebooks and coach certificate programs worldwide.

By M. Jedediah

Are you a travel freak? Do you travel frequently overseas? Do you plan trips and holidays with your family year after year? In case, your answer is in a ‘yes’ in most cases mentioned above, you should consider a travel health insurance policy.

A travel health insurance policy is a type of cover that provides the insurance holder, health insurance coverage during traveling, especially in a foreign country. Here, the insured is required to pay an amount known as the premium stipulated by the travel insurance company to avail benefits.

Usually, the coverage provides compensation for medical costs incurred by the insured during travel. In some special cases, the insurance policy also covers for medical evacuation.

A travel health insurance policy comes in combination with the following expenses coverage:

a) Trip cancellation insurance
b) Trip interruption insurance
c) Travel accident insurance
d) Travel baggage loss insurance
e) Travel emergency evacuation insurance
f) Travel medical expenses insurance

Usually the premium for travel health insurance amounts to around USD 200 on an annual basis. However, the premium you pay towards your travel health insurance policy also depends a lot on your age, the distance of trip, any pre-existing health conditions, cost of trip and the nation to which trip is being made. Some special travel insurance plans also cover accidental deaths and flight accidental death.

The travel health insurance plans that cover the medical costs of your trip will include cost of treatment, medical expenses, cost of medicines and dental expenses. These covers are available with many conditions.

For instance, if you take medicines from unconventional medical sources such as Ayurvedic treatment or acupuncturists, the health travel insurance company will not reimburse the money to you.

In case, you are already covered by a health insurance policy, it would be wise to check whether it covers outside the United States or whether it offers benefits only in case of emergencies.

Also check out whether your travel health insurance company provides you the benefit of medical evacuation cover. It is very important especially if you are planning to travel outside the country. Usually, a travel health insurance policy provides medical evacuation facility to nearest
qualified medical health facility. Here, you would not be evaluated to the United States. You would be transferred to the nearest medical health facility. Hence, if you are traveling in an under-developed country, you may have to settle for medical treatment at a health facility decided by the travel health insurance company and not by you.

Another cover provided by travel health insurance policy is the repatriation of mortal remains. In the event of death of the insurance holder, the travel health insurance company will bear the cost of returning the mortal remains of the insured. You should also carefully study some other conditions prior to deciding on for a particular travel health insurance policy. These conditions include the following:

a) Co-insurance
b) Deductibles
c) Exclusions
d) Benefit period
e) Pre-existing conditions.

Don’t ignore travel health insurance. It will play a vital role in providing you peace of mind while traveling to a foreign country. You don’t need to worry about medical expenses, hospital treatment and sudden illness expenditure while traveling.

You can save a lot of money on your medical expenses when traveling via a travel insurance policy. It is like hiring a qualified caretaker to see your safety while you travel.

————————————————

Planning a trip overseas? Will you need a visa for one or more countries? Click here to order your visas.
About The Author:

For more information on travel health insurance, try visiting Health Insurance Decision - a website that specializes in providing health insurance related tips, advice and resources to include

By M. Jedediah

Are you a travel freak? Do you travel frequently overseas? Do you plan trips and holidays with your family year after year? In case, your answer is in a ‘yes’ in most cases mentioned above, you should consider a travel health insurance policy.

A travel health insurance policy is a type of cover that provides the insurance holder, health insurance coverage during traveling, especially in a foreign country. Here, the insured is required to pay an amount known as the premium stipulated by the travel insurance company to avail benefits.

Usually, the coverage provides compensation for medical costs incurred by the insured during travel. In some special cases, the insurance policy also covers for medical evacuation.

A travel health insurance policy comes in combination with the following expenses coverage:

a) Trip cancellation insurance
b) Trip interruption insurance
c) Travel accident insurance
d) Travel baggage loss insurance
e) Travel emergency evacuation insurance
f) Travel medical expenses insurance

Usually the premium for travel health insurance amounts to around USD 200 on an annual basis. However, the premium you pay towards your travel health insurance policy also depends a lot on your age, the distance of trip, any pre-existing health conditions, cost of trip and the nation to which trip is being made. Some special travel insurance plans also cover accidental deaths and flight accidental death.

The travel health insurance plans that cover the medical costs of your trip will include cost of treatment, medical expenses, cost of medicines and dental expenses. These covers are available with many conditions.

For instance, if you take medicines from unconventional medical sources such as Ayurvedic treatment or acupuncturists, the health travel insurance company will not reimburse the money to you.

In case, you are already covered by a health insurance policy, it would be wise to check whether it covers outside the United States or whether it offers benefits only in case of emergencies.

Also check out whether your travel health insurance company provides you the benefit of medical evacuation cover. It is very important especially if you are planning to travel outside the country. Usually, a travel health insurance policy provides medical evacuation facility to nearest
qualified medical health facility. Here, you would not be evaluated to the United States. You would be transferred to the nearest medical health facility. Hence, if you are traveling in an under-developed country, you may have to settle for medical treatment at a health facility decided by the travel health insurance company and not by you.

Another cover provided by travel health insurance policy is the repatriation of mortal remains. In the event of death of the insurance holder, the travel health insurance company will bear the cost of returning the mortal remains of the insured. You should also carefully study some other conditions prior to deciding on for a particular travel health insurance policy. These conditions include the following:

a) Co-insurance
b) Deductibles
c) Exclusions
d) Benefit period
e) Pre-existing conditions.

Don’t ignore travel health insurance. It will play a vital role in providing you peace of mind while traveling to a foreign country. You don’t need to worry about medical expenses, hospital treatment and sudden illness expenditure while traveling.

You can save a lot of money on your medical expenses when traveling via a travel insurance policy. It is like hiring a qualified caretaker to see your safety while you travel.

————————————————

Planning a trip overseas? Will you need a visa for one or more countries? Click here to order your visas.
About The Author:

For more information on travel health insurance, try visiting Health Insurance Decision - a website that specializes in providing health insurance related tips, advice and resources to include information on travel health insurance.