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Tag: passport processing

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Expedited Passport Processing

You have been waiting to go on vacation and you have everything you need–except a passport. Getting a passport is one thing. Getting a passport fast is another. Your vacation is five days away. What can you do? There is answer for this type of dilemma. You can turn to utilizing expedited passport processing.

Passport processing from an expediter is different from the government expediting. The government can expediting timeframe is up to four weeks upon mail receipt. If this timeframe is too long, you must travel to one the only 13 regional passport agencies in the US. There are expedited fees in addition to the standard government fees. With an expediter, you can receive your passport within one day and have it in your possession the next morning. Depending on the timeframe will determine the cost. For example, some can range from $100-$300. This is in addition to the standard government fees.

Although your passport is expedited, you still are responsible for the normal aspects of the process. You have to have your passport photo, provide your ID materials (i.e. birth certificate or expired passport), and paperwork completion. You also have to have the documents vetted and sealed by a local processing center (post office or courthouse), then mailed to the expediter. After this is complete, the expediter will complete the process. You can have your passport fast!

Washington Express Visas is a company that can meet your specific expedited needs. is the Washington DC metro area’s fastest Visa Services, Passport Processing, Document Legalization and Translations specialists. Washington Express Visas is also the Washington DC metro area’s largest and fastest courier service. Washington Express has been in business for 29 years with offices in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. We provide prompt and reliable service- you’ll always speak with a live person. Washington Express’ service times are the fastest available in the region with a 99% on-time track record. Our messengers specialize in urgent, on-demand delivery, and our management team is comprised of forward-looking, experienced transportation professionals. Give us a call at 1-202-393-3030 and let us help your with your expedited passport processing today!

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Visa Waiver Programs

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established for various reasons. It eliminates unnecessary barriers to travel. This is key especially if individuals will not be in the country for a long period of time. It also stimulates the tourism industry. As a result, different country economies can thereby experience short-term and long-term growth. The program permits the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas as well.

VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISI program.

Per the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, there are currently 36 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Here are the countries as shown below:

Andorra Hungary New Zealand
Australia Iceland Norway
Austria Ireland Portugal
Belgium Italy San Marino
Brunei Japan Singapore
Czech Republic Latvia Slovakia
Denmark Liechtenstein Slovenia
Estonia Lithuania South Korea
Finland Luxembourg Spain
France Malta Sweden
Germany Monaco Switzerland
Greece the Netherlands United Kingdom

 

To be admitted to the Visa Waiver Program, a country must meet various security and other requirements. One requirement is an enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States. Also, timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. A country is required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards as well. Finally, even with meeting the requirements, a country’s entry into the VWP is at the discretion of the U.S. Government.

Many may wonder who can enter the U.S. under this program. Review this VWP Quick Reference Guide (for new member countries) and make sure you review this webpage for detailed information. Nationals of the 36 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may use VWP if:

  • They have received an authorization to travel under the VWP through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
  • They present the appropriate type of passport valid for six months past their expected stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). This is a requirement in addition to other passport requirements for all categories of passports — regular, diplomatic, and official – when the traveler is seeking to enter the United States for business or tourist purposes, for a maximum of 90 days;
  • The purpose of their stay in the United States is 90 days or less for tourism or business (Visitor (B) visa) purpose of travel. (If in doubt, travelers should check with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to verify that what they plan to do is considered tourism or business.) Transit through the United States is generally permitted.  Important Notice: Foreign media representatives planning to engage in that vocation in the United States are not eligible for VWP travel, as the purpose of their stay does not qualify as “business”. These professionals must obtain a nonimmigrant media (I) visa. Note also that travelers planning to work or study cannot travel on VWP, and they must obtain the appropriate visa to travel to the United States
  • If arriving by air or sea, they are traveling on an approved carrier (See the approved carriers list) and have a return trip ticket to any foreign destination;
  • They can demonstrate the intent to stay 90 days or less in the United States and demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves while in the United States.

VWP travelers who have been admitted under the Visa Waiver Program and who make a short trip to Canada, Mexico or an adjacent island generally can be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the balance of their original admission period. See the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website for additional details. Also VWP nationals resident in Mexico, Canada or adjacent islands are generally exempted from requirements to show onward travel to other foreign destinations.

Source:  Travel.State.Gov

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Embassy Visa Services Expertise

What is an Embassy? We hear this respected term all the time, yet most people don’t fully understand its’ function. An Embassy is a diplomatic office in country (usually in the capital city of the host country) where the highest diplomatic officer is the ambassador (or high commissioner, in British Commonwealth). There are thousands of embassies around the world, specifically there are 186 in the United States. The embassy has the role of a diplomatic mission to protect in the receiving State the interests of the sending State, within the limits permitted by international law. They promote friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.

Relative to Visas, a foreigner can not legally enter into a foreign country without it. Having the visa simply communicates the support or backing of embassy. An embassy is stationed to promote diplomacy and protection for its’ own country and citizens. As a result, there are many and various visa requirements. Here an example to obtain a tourist “L” visa to enter China:
Submit U.S. Passport – valid at least 6 months beyond stay, or longer than the visa’s validity and containing at least one blank visa page (other than amendment/endorsement pages)

  • Visa Application Form (Q1) the 2 pages version only.
  • Passport type photograph required.
  • Applicants requesting Rush issuance (same day) or Express (24 hours) issuance of the visa must provide a travel agency or airline itinerary showing evidence of an urgent departure within 7 days.
  • Visitors to China whose purpose of visit is short term study (less than 180 days), intern etc., should not apply for tourist visas. Please click below for the appropriate visa instructions:

With so many requirements, why not allow an expert to work with the embassy and proper prepare your visa on your behalf?  Washington Express Visas is the Washington DC metro area’s fastest Visa Services, Passport Processing, Document Legalization and Translations specialists. Washington Express Visas is also the Washington DC metro area’s largest and fastest courier service.  Washington Express Visas professional office staff and specially trained visa agents provide same day pick up service to deliver visa applications, passports, document legalization and translations to every Embassy and agency in the Washington, DC metro area.

Washington Express Visas will provide you with the specific requirements and what documentation is needed to enter into any foreign country. Instead of trying to wade through multiple websites trying to figure it all out, let our knowledgeable visa services staff walk you through the process step-by-step, making sure that you have all of the correct documentation, and then working on your behalf directly with the Embassy to get your visa application submitted and processed accurately and efficiently. We have 29 years of visa experience with offices in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. For our customer’s convenience, we have visa services information and requirements for the most traveled countries in the world in one centralized location on our website. Let Washington Express be YOUR EMBASSY EXPERT! Call us today!

reference: www.businessdictionary.com; www.wikipedia.org; www.traveldocs.com

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ISO9001 Certified Visa Services

ISO 9001 certified? Many companies may know what this means. In business, it is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is a certification acquired based upon a company’s Quality Management System (QMS). This means that a company claiming to have a QMS meeting the requirements of ISO 9001, has been assessed and determined to have the ability to effectively provide consistent service within their area of business.

ISO requirements cover topics such as:

  • Quality Management System continuous improvement
  • Management commitment to quality
  • Resource adequacy
  • Employee competence
  • Process Management, such as administrative processes
  • Business Planning
  • Product or Service Design
  • Order Reviews
  • Customer Complaint Resolutions
  • Customer Perception Management

A customer may not know the definition of ISO 9001 Certification, yet they know exactly what it means. It means quality. It means reliability. It means trust. It means better sleep at night. It means your process prevents errors, even if it’s their own. It means proven expertise. It means you have customer care. It means they have a business relationship that works every time.

Washington Express Visas decided to solidify its’ position as the most trusted and reliable service for expedited Visas, Passports and Document Legalization in the Nation’s Capital by becoming ISO 9001 Certified. Washington Express has been in business for 29 years with offices in Washington DC. We are the only single source provider of expedited document processing in the nation’s capital. Being within the sect of courier services we are in, having a quality management system that executes optimal service every time is vital. Our team prides itself on quality service and meeting the needs of our customers.

We are internationally proven to have a Quality Management System established that works. Let Washington Express Visas be your single source visa and passport services provider. We know the meaning of being ISO 9001 certified, but we also know what it means to you!

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Business Visas to European Non-Schengen Countries

Getting a business-related visa to England can be very difficult.  Below is an account of an obstacle that our team at Washington Express Visas encountered and over came for one our clients.

Our client had an important meeting set up of international computer scientists in London. The meeting was set up at short notice. One very interested potential participant is a Russian National researcher, Mike*, a PhD in computer science. Mike works at a University of Michigan. He works with two other Russians at this university. All three have green cards. His two colleagues have visas to the United Kingdom that are still valid. He needs to get a visa fast.  Approval of an English Visas usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. Peter needs to have his visa process expedited. Peter has to perform  many different task in order to complete his visa application: biometrics, detailed forms, an complete an appointment at the English Embassy. He completes all the necessary requirements to  get his visas approved quickly, and it is approved.  Then something strange happens – the visa is rescinded. Mike attempts to  find out formally what happened. But informally, the British agent was  told that this person seemed to me looking for a national to marry so that he could get citizenship, thus they rescinded the Visa.  How that all came together in the rejection/the rescinding of his visa to the United Kingdom highlights how difficult the mysterious getting a visa sometimes be.  Our visa team was able to find out what the objection was to the approval and worked with the proper authorities to get the Mike’s visa approved in time for him to make his meeting in London.

That is why you need a skilled team of experts to assist you in navigating the complexities of obtaining your visas.  Our team has the experience and relationships to assist in obtaining an expedited visa.  With Washington Express Visas expedited visa and passport services, our professional visa and passport services staff will have one of our specially trained messengers take your visa and passport processing documents to the appropriate Embassy or agency and get your documents processed properly for less than traditional visa and passport processing services charge.

* Names and work have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients.  The blog is to used only to illustrate a point.

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Letter From the CEO

Since 1981, Washington Express has been serving our loyal corporate and professional clients in the Metro DC area with pride for courier service, documents certification, visa processing, Capitol Hill line standing, and rush international shipping. Our goal is to always exceed expectations in order to show our dedication to professionalism and efficiency to those who have used our services.

Globalization has steadily increased demand on the part of clients for services related to international business and travel. With the addition of Andrew (Smiley) KatambaLujjo to our staff as our new resident to work alongside Paul Hofford, our longtime resident expert, we are expanding our Visa, Passport, and Document Legalization processing to be called Stop Shop” for our clients’ for visa processing, passport renewal, and document translations, and authentication.

As we become a true “Global Village”, the demand for international visa and document processing is growing dramatically. Our large courier fleet, our experienced customer service and dispatch team, and our real time, command and control logistics software have enabled us to perform at a high level of speed, accuracy, and dependability for our customers, our to provide for the timely processing of documents through the various Embassies and at the U.S. Department of State.

As the world economy again picks up steam, the demand for documents for both domestic and international business travelers will grow even faster than before and has created a flood of American passports. Likewise, we have seen significant new demand from corporate clients for visas and document processing related to the new emerging industrial economies in the world: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and the other ASEAN block countries.

In addition to corporate and professional firms, private individuals also have a growing requirement for the same services and we are now getting orders from across the nation and from other countries, via the internet from those who need passport and visa services that can only be obtained in Washington D.C. We have upgraded our website and have added more experienced professionals who understand how to handle these sometimes complex transactions and to accommodate these needs. We know what you need for visa processing and document certification and we can get it for you efficiently and effectively.

Gilbert Carpel / CEO

Washington Express Visas is a private company that is not affiliated with any government agency. We charge a fee to process and expedite passports, visas and document leglization applications at consulates and passport agencies.

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