Saigon—The Perfect Vacation Destination

Saigon is the biggest city in Vietnam, and it’s also the most exciting. Its official name is Ho Chi Minh City, but most people refer to it as Saigon. It is a city of wide boulevards, French colonial buildings, lively markets, pagodas, and thousands of motorbikes. Any trip here is sure to be an exciting experience, so here are a few things you should check out during your stay.

Reunification Palace

Once known as Independence Palace, you can easily arrange to take a trip around this mighty building. It is made up of large reception halls, a military operations room, and even the old gambling room. It holds an important role in the history of the country, being the site for the handover of power during the Fall of Saigon in 1975, and should definitely be on your list of things to see.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Located downtown, this cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in Saigon. Built by French colonists at the end of the 19^th century, it stands at a height of 190 feet and is constructed entirely of materials imported from France. Make sure to climb the belfry for a great view of the city.

Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda

There are lots of amazing pagodas to visit in Saigon, but this is one of the best. Its lavish decorations are a sight to behold, and twice a year it hosts amazing festivities for the native Chinese people of the city, so if you’re lucky enough to be around you’ll be able to witness a spectacular show.

Cho Lon

Everyone likes to visit the local Chinatown during a trip to a new city, and Saigon is no exception. Cho Lon is so big and packed full of interesting features that you could easily spend a whole day here. It is a very old part of the city, and you should certainly check out Binh Tay Market which will be a real sensory overload with all the exotic goods on offer.

Get Your Vietnam Visa and Get Going

The Vietnam visa application process is really simple, so getting hold of your Vietnam visa is easy. If you go with a dedicated Vietnam visa application service then you will be able to choose from a standard or rushed application, which is good for those who need to leave in a hurry.

The visa requirements stipulate a maximum stay of 30 days, but this should be plenty of time to find out all the wonders that Saigon, and the rest of Vietnam, has to offer.

Our other offices are open and operating so give us a call at 800-860-8610 and our staff will be able to assist you in determining the right place to send your application.

If you are traveling to another country you’ll need a passport.  If you are pressed for time, typically inside 6 weeks, you’ll really be up against a time deadline using the traditional method of going to the Post Office.  If this fits your situation, you may want to use a passport expeditor.  Keep in mind, we are a private company and charge extra for our personal services.

As a private expeditor, we guide you through the steps to obtain the necessary documents to complete your application.  Then, we review and submit your passport application to the Passport Agency for you, essentially “walking” the documents to the Passport Office and picking them up when they are ready.  Above is a chart that explains the different alternatives for acquiring your passport so that you are informed.

Have a question?  Give us a call at 1-800-860-8610

Now, effective immediately  all visa applications must include a photocopy of the birth certificate.

For Non-US born applicants that do not have their birth certificate, provide a copy of a document issued by Government authorities. This document could be an old (not current) passport or a school leaving certificate etc., provided it shows their personal particulars like name, date of birth, parents names, and nationality.

US born applicants can no longer substitute this requirement with a diploma or any other document. 

There will be no grace period for this new requirements. All applications submitted will need to meet this new requirement.

Let us help you with applying for an India Visa - requirements are in flux and it is important to solicit an expert to help make sure you visa is straight!

If your old passport has expired or you’ve never applied for a passport before, you’ll need to arrange a new passport application in order to travel outside of the US. Applying for a new passport can sometimes seem like a confusing process, especially if this is the first time you’ve done it. So if you need to apply for a new passport, where do you start?

Two Options for a New Passport

When it comes to your new passport application, you have two options: apply the standard way through the Department of State Web site, or choose to apply though a private passport expediting company.

What’s the difference? Speed and efficiency. If you apply through a private service then you will be helped through every stage of the process to make it easier for you and to prevent you from making any mistakes. If you send your application form off to the Department of State and there is a mistake it can hold the process up for weeks. But a private passport firm will check through everything first to make sure it’s all correct so you won’t have to worry.

A private passport company can also offer a new passport service in as little as 24 hours, whereas the standard passport application can take anywhere from three to six weeks. If you need your new passport in a rush you only really have one option.

Passport Application Process

Whichever service you choose for your new passport, you will still need to send in the same information. This will include a completed DS-11 application form that has been signed at a passport acceptance facility, two passport photos, fees, travel documentation, and a few other things. For full details of exactly what you will need to send, see our section on new passports.

Once you’ve collected all of the relevant information, you simply need to send it either to the US Department of State or to your passport expediting service who will do the rest for you.

All you have to do then is wait for a few weeks (or as little as a day with a passport expediting company) and your new passport will arrive through your door. Easy!

We recommend that you apply for your passport now and if you need it in a rush, apply for your us passport with passportsandvisas.com.  Canada is a favorite destination for many American tourists, but making the journey used to be a lot simpler. As the rules regarding passports and travel requirements have recently changed, here’s a guide to what you do and don’t need now when heading across the border.

The Old Rules

Before June 2009, the only time that you needed to carry a passport with you when visiting Canada was if you were traveling by plane. If traveling by boat or car then you only needed to take proof of citizenship and picture ID.

The New Rules

Nothing has changed if you are flying to Canada from the United States as you will still need your passport. However, if you are crossing the border by land or sea then you will now require either a passport or a passport card. This may be annoying for all those people who have crossed many times in the past without needing a passport, but there is not much that can be done about it.

This is all part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), an agreement existing between the United States and a number of other countries including Canada and Mexico. The measure was due to come into force in 2008, but in the end it was put back to 2009. Increased security issues are partly to blame, and as a result if you don’t take your passport or passport card with you then you won’t be leaving the country.

The Passport Card

The passport card is a new piece of documentation that was introduced in 2008. It is a small, wallet-sized card that carries all the necessary information on it to cross the border into other countries in the WHTI. It is more convenient and cheaper than a passport, so if you only want to travel to Canada then you could just get one of these.

Exception to the Rule

There is currently one exception to the rule of taking a passport with you on a trip to Canada. Children under the age of 16 traveling by boat or vehicle do not need their passports to cross the border, and all they need is to present an original or certified copy of his or her birth certificate. If they are traveling by plane then the same rules apply, but otherwise they will be free from the restrictions in place for everyone else.

Why Canada?

Canada is a fantastic place to spend a vacation, and is hugely popular with American tourists. Possible things to see and do include:

• A trip to the CN Tower in Toronto, which at 1,815.4 feet tall has stunning views over the city and Lake Ontario

• The Canadian side of Niagara Falls, known as Horseshoe Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world

• A trip to Old Québec, walking the cobbled streets and admiring the 17th century architecture

Get your Passport Now

Need to get a passport or passport card to visit Canada? Don’t get caught out by the new rules. You can expedite your passport application with us at Passports and Visas.com and receive it within as little as one day. We also offer a number of other services including renewals, replacements, and children’s passports, which you can also expedite, so whatever you need let us arrange it for you.

Apply for a Passport For Caribbean Vacation

There’s one thing you have to pack if you want to relax on dreamlike beaches and swim in crystal clear waters every day—your passport. The Caribbean remains the dream destination of choice for thousands of Americans every year.

A passport application to the Caribbean is easy. The passport requirements are not strict because the Caribbean is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. With over 7,000 islands making up the Caribbean, the main problem is not the passport application itself, but where to go!

With such fantastic destinations as Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua, it’s impossible to do everything (unless you happen to be a millionaire). So here are a few ideas for things to do in the Caribbean during your vacation that could help you to make up your mind.

1. Dive with Sharks, Bahamas

It’s not everyone’s first-choice activity, but diving with sharks will certainly provide you with a few stories to tell on your return home. If you head to the Bahamas there are plenty of tours offering diving with reef sharks. You’ll need to be a proficient scuba diver, but if you’re brave enough this is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have as a tourist in the Caribbean.

2. Hike to the Highest Point in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico

Head up to the heights with a trip to Pico del Toro, the highest point in the Caribbean, which is located in the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. You can hike all the way to the top where you will be treated to some truly incredible views of the rainforest below. This is not your average beach activity, so come prepared, but the reward at the top will be worth it.

3. Follow in Bob Marley’s Footsteps, Jamaica

Any fan of Bob Marley should not miss this opportunity to visit all of the most important places in the reggae legend’s life. Places that tourists can visit include his birthplace, Mt Zion Rock, and Nine Mile Village. You’ll also receive an education about the Rastafarian religion along the way.

4. Take a Ride on a Gondola, Dominica

This is one of the best things you can do as a tourist during your trip to the Caribbean. Located at Morne Trois Pitons National Park, you can enjoy a half-hour ride on a hanging gondola traveling over the top of the rainforest. You’ll get an unrivalled view of the canopy below and an experienced guide to explain all the things that you will see.

Get Your Passport and Get Going

If any of these experiences get you excited then you know what to do: apply for your passport today and going! The passport requirements for the Caribbean are not as strict as for other areas of the world, but you still need to make sure you have your passport before leaving home. The passport application is easy and you can get an expedited passport service if you want to receive it even quicker. Just check out the service we provide and choose the one you want!

Many are asking how do I renew my US Passport with the recent law changes .  Renewing your passport really isn’t as tricky as some people think it is. It can often seem confusing, and with all those forms to fill in it’s easy to panic and end up making a mistake, which will lead to further delays.

But with a little bit of help, getting your passport renewed really isn’t that difficult.

Why Renew?

Why would you want to renew your US passport? Any travel outside of the United States will require you to have a passport in your possession. Even if you’re just hopping across the border to Canada or Mexico for a few days, there are no exceptions. Everyone needs a passport.

If your old US passport has expired then you will certainly need to renew it. However, there are occasions when your passport has not expired but you will still need to get it renewed.

For example, if you are heading to a country that requires a certain time period of validity on your passport before it expires, which could be six months or more, then you will need to renew your passport if it expires within this time.

Also, if you’re going away for a long trip and your passport will become invalid during the time you are away, you will again have to renew your passport before you leave.

Passport Renewal Service

Your best option is always to go with a company that provides a dedicated US passport renewal service. You can often find a number of different levels of service, depending on what you need. For example, if you need a passport very quickly then you can get it in as little as 24 hours. Or if there is no rush you could opt for a standard 10-day service.

Whatever option you choose, a passport renewal service will make the process as simple as possible so there’s no chance of making a mistake. It involves filling in an application form and sending it together with two passport photos, a letter of authorization, and order form, and a few other details. You can find the complete list of everything you need to get your passport in the time specified.

Then just send it all in via FedEx and your passport renewal service will do the rest, so your passport will arrive in the allotted time.

Get it Faster

If you need your passport renewed fast by an expediting service, it’s always best to leave it to the experts. Save time and hassle and make sure you get your passport renewed in time for your trip, wherever you’re heading.