[81attendees] New Requirement for US Employees traveling to Canada

["Chu, Ursula" <[e-mail]>]

Hello All,

I just received this note from our travel agency in re to new
requirements.

Please see email attachment.

Thanks,
Ursula

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To: - naTRAV-Aerospace Team; - naTRAV-Aegon CWT Team; Lee, Linda (c);
Hurley, Todd (c)
Subject: PLEASE READ - CIBT - Weekly Update: October 11th, 2010

New Requirement for Employees Traveling to Canada
Canada now requires that US travelers who are not traveling on a visa
from the US to travel with a business cover letter on company letterhead
stating the purpose for their visit, duration of stay and a Canadian
contact name, address, and phone number.

So this means that passengers holding a passport and traveling to Canada
on business required a business cover letter on company letterhead
stating the purpose for their visit, duration of stay and a Canadian
contact name, address, and phone number.

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Hi Ursula,

 

Please read below about what Brian will need to get into Canada. Also, please remind him that he will need to take his Passport as well.

 

Thanks,

 

 



Liz Perkins |  Senior VIP Travel Counselor
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
1862 Lackland Hill Parkway | Saint Louis MO 63146 | USA
www.carlsonwagonlit.com <http://www.carlsonwagonlit.com/>  

 

 

From: Holschen, Fair 
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 9:54 AM
To: - naTRAV-Aerospace Team; - naTRAV-Aegon CWT Team; Lee, Linda (c); Hurley, Todd (c)
Subject: PLEASE READ - CIBT - Weekly Update: October 11th, 2010

 

New Requirement for Employees Traveling to Canada
Canada now requires that US travelers who are not traveling on a visa from the US to travel with a business cover letter on company letterhead stating the purpose for their visit, duration of stay and a Canadian contact name, address, and phone number.

 

So this means that passengers holding a passport and traveling to Canada on business required a business cover letter on company letterhead stating the purpose for their visit, duration of stay and a Canadian contact name, address, and phone number.

 

 

From: Holschen, Fair 
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 3:15 PM
To: - naTRAV-Aerospace Team; - naTRAV-Aegon CWT Team; Lee, Linda (c); Hurley, Todd (c)
Subject: CIBT - Weekly Update: October 11th, 2010

 

 

 CIBT Visa and Passport News<http://images.cmpgnr.com/713801265/Week1263844060283.gif> 

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	October 11, 2010 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 
New Requirement for Employees Traveling to Canada
Business cover letters are now required for some US visitors. Read more> 

US Government Issues European Travel Alert
The United States Department of State has issued a travel alert for Europe. Read more> 

FEATURED ARTICLES
Establishing an Account with CIBT
Are Your Canadian Employees and Clients Using CIBT Canada? 

TIP OF THE WEEK
Properly Formatting Business Cover Letters 

CONSULATE AND EMBASSY UPDATES
Atlanta
Chicago
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York
San Francisco
Washington D.C.
CIBT Canada

________________________________

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS - THIS WEEK

New Requirement for Employees Traveling to Canada
Canada now requires that US travelers who are not traveling on a visa from the US to travel with a business cover letter on company letterhead stating the purpose for their visit, duration of stay and a Canadian contact name, address, and phone number. 

US Government Issues European Travel Alert
The United States Department of State issued a travel alert for Europe on October 3, 2010. The travel alert has been issued due to a heightened threat of terrorism from Al-Qaeda and its associated organizations. All US citizens traveling abroad are advised to register their travel plans on the US Department of State's travel registration website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brmu-JNIZi6> , and to take extra safety precautions when traveling abroad. This alert will expire on January 31, 2011. For more information regarding this travel alert and for information on specific safety measures, please visit the State Department's website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brmv-JNIZi7> . 

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FEATURED ARTICLES

Establishing an Account with CIBT
Are you a corporate travel manager or other decision maker tasked with evaluating visa and passport services providers? To request a confidential quote or proposal for services, please email CIBT's sales team at: [e-mail] or telephone us at: 917-304-2407. CIBT can help you navigate through the challenges associated with travel document procurement by delivering proven solutions, value, and a customized service approach. 

Are Your Canadian Employees and Clients Using CIBT Canada?
Leverage your US relationship with CIBT to create a program for anyone in North America. CIBT Canada can assist residents of all Canadian provinces and territories and offers centralized service and support through its operations center in Toronto. Service is provided in both English and French. The Canadian version of the CIBT website www.ca.cibt.com <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brmw-JNIZi8>  includes visa forms, instructions and other information specific to the Canadian market. We are happy to support the travel document needs of your Canadian travelers and would like them to benefit from our full coverage and discounted pricing in Canada. If you would like to establish an account with CIBT Canada, please contact your account manager or Steven Diehl at: [e-mail]. 

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TIP OF THE WEEK

Properly Formatting Business Cover Letters 

Question: What is the proper format for the business cover letter that will accompany my visa application? 

Answer: In general, business cover letters must be on company letterhead, must be signed by a member of the company other than the applicant, must include the nature of the visit and a guarantee that the company will be financially responsible for the traveler during the trip. Additional detail may be required. For your convenience, CIBT's visa kits includes a sample cover letter to get you started. 

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CONSULATE AND EMBASSY UPDATES

US Passport Agencies - US Department of State passport processing centers have severely limited "same-day" processing of passports. Please check with CIBT's Customer Service department before submitting an expedited passport request. 

City-Specific Updates
The following may not be a complete list as embassies and consulates are subject to closure without advance notice. 

Atlanta 

*	Brazil: The consulate has extended the processing time to a minimum of 21 business days and has drastically limited the hours of submission. The business cover letter must contain a brief job description as well as detail purpose of travel to Brazil. Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brmx-JNIZi9> .

Chicago 

*	Closures - 10/11: Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Travisa, UK
*	Austria: A personal appearance at the consulate is now required of all visa applicants. 
*	Brazil: Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through our website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brmy-JNIZi0> . The online application must be completely filled out to avoid delays and extra fees. Incomplete applications will be returned without consular refund and the applicant must completely re-apply, paying the consular fee again. Note that the visa requires two blank visa pages, side by side. The processing time is now roughly 15 business days. 
*	India: A new renunciation form is now available for India. You can find this form on the CIBT website.
*	Poland: The consulate of Poland has implemented a new online application process and new requirements. Visit our website for more details.
*	Spain: New visa application forms are now available for Spain. You can access these forms by visiting our website.
*	Switzerland: There are now new forms and requirements for the Consulate of Switzerland. Visit our website for more details.
*	Turkey: The visa application form for Turkey has changed. You can find the most up-to-date form on our website.

Houston 

*	Closures - 10/11: Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Korea, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam, U.S. Department of State 
*	Brazil: Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brmz-JNIZi1> . Please note that the signature on the application and the signature on the passport much match. Submissions can only be made on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The processing time is approximately 12 business days from the date of submission. All business and tourist visas will have a 10 year validity from date of issue.
*	India: Visa processing for 10 year business visas is currently taking approximately 10 business days.
*	Qatar: Effective immediately, the consulate will only accept photos taken with a grey background. 
*	Russia: Next-day and same-day processing are now available provided the applicant can show proof of an urgent departure in the form of a confirmed flight itinerary. Processing time is still up to the consulates discretion and is not guaranteed. Standard processing time has been reduced from 21 business days to 7 business days. 
*	Saudi Arabia: Visa processing in Houston has resumed. Processing times will be about 5-6 business days. 
*	Vietnam: A consulate is now open and operating in Houston. This consulate can issue loose leaf visas - meaning that instead of having a visa stamp in the traveler's actual passport, the traveler can send in a copy of their actual passport and have the visa issued on a loose leaf page from the consulate.

Los Angeles 

*	Closures - 10/11: Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Peru, UK, US Passport Office
*	Passport Office: Two signed Letters of Authorization are required to be included with all passport applications. First time passport applicants must have two of the signed Letters of Authorization enclosed in the sealed envelope along along with one copy attached to the outside of the envelope. Failure to include both letters of Authorization inside the sealed envelope will result in rejection of the passport application. 
*	Bolivia: Visas are currently available.
*	Brazil: Will no longer accept visa requests on Fridays. Processing times for visas will be approximately 20 business days. Processing time for tour kits will remain at 28 business days (the equivalent of 40 calendar days). Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn0-JNIZi8> .
*	Canada: All applicants are now required to complete an additional form allowing CIBT to hand carry their materials. This form will be included in all requirements related to processing Canadian visas through Los Angeles. 
*	China: Effective immediately, all travelers applying for a business visa must submit a business invitation from the host company in China. This invitation must meet the following requirements: be drafted on company letterhead, contain the company seal, indicate the type of visa and number of entries and state the dates of travel. 
*	Egypt: The consulate in San Francisco has relocated to Los Angeles and is now open for business.
*	Finland: A new form is now required for Finland. This form is available with the requirements packet that CIBT provides. View this form and learn more by visiting our website. 
*	Indonesia: All applicants are now required to complete an online application form which is available at the Indonesian consulate's website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn1-JNIZi9> . The Indonesian consulate can only process visas for applicants who have machine readable passports.
*	Philippines: All business visa applicants must include an invitation letter from their host/sponsor in the Philippines.
*	Saudi Arabia: Visa processing will take 7 business days. Rush processing is not available. 
*	Sweden: Consulate closed as of November 20. Visas must be processed by the applicant directly through the Embassy in Washington DC. 
*	Turkey: Standard processing is currently at 2 weeks. We will be unable to process rush requests unless the traveler provides proof of departure showing that they are leaving for Turkey 3-4 calendar days from the date the request is made.

Miami 

*	Passport office: Passport Cards are currently not available. Applicants who are applying for a replacement passport to a passport that was damaged will need to provide a written statement explaining how the original passport was damaged.
*	Brazil: Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through our website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn2-JNIZi0> . Please note that the consulate requires that all business letters contain exact date of both entry and exit. Processing time for visas is approximately 10 business days. 
*	Peru: Visas will not be issued for non-machine readable passports.

New York 

*	Closures - 10/11: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Nigeria, Passport office, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, UK 
*	Brazil: Same-day processing is not available. Processing for Brazil visas may take longer than the normal 5 business days due to the consulate being short staffed at this time. Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn3-JNIZi1> . 
*	Nigeria: In addition to the manual form; all visa applications must be filled in online. Non-US passport-holders are required to provide a copy of US visa or green card. The invitation from the company or host in Nigeria must indicate full immigration responsibility of the applicant while he is in Nigeria. If the invite does not specify the immigration responsibility, it will be rejected.
*	Russia: The Russian consulate will require a personal appearance for all Chinese, Indian and Turkish citizens going forward. Citizens of these countries who have a telex from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on file at the Russian consulate in New York AND are applying for a business visa are the only exception to this. All others with regular business invitations or anyone applying for a tourist visa must apply in person. Also, processing times for Russian visas have increased for the time being. Expedited processing should be expected to be at least 6 business days and regular at least 16 business days. Names on tourist vouchers and business invites must be an exact match with the passport, this includes middle names. 
*	Saudi Arabia: Rush processing is not available. Please be advised that due to a backlog the processing time to obtain a visa for Saudi Arabia is approximately 10 days. 
*	Sweden: The Consulate is closed and does not accept visa applications. Visas must be processed through the Embassy in Washington DC which requires a personal appearance of visa applicants. 

San Francisco 

*	Closures - 10/11: Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Israel, US Passport Office
*	Brazil: Applicants residing in the San Francisco jurisdiction are advised that the processing time may be as long as 2 weeks. Additional details also included in the instructions accessed through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn4-JNIZi2> .
*	China: If the traveler is a former national of China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, they must submit a copy of their old passport or a copy of a previous China visa. 
*	Egypt: The consulate in San Francisco has relocated to Los Angeles and is now open for business. 
*	India: Conference visas now require special clearance from all four ministries in India. Please see Indian conference visa instructions on our website for details. 
*	Israel: Processing takes at least 3 weeks.
*	Jordan: All visas issued by this consulate are now valid for only three months from the day of issue, regardless of visa type. 
*	Peru: The state of Idaho now falls under the jursidiction of the consulate located in Denver, Colorado. Visa and legalization requests for residents of Idaho will now go through the Denver consulate. 
*	Russia: Please note that effective October 1, 2010, the Consulate of Russia in San Francisco requires that all Russia visa applications be typewritten. No handwritten application will be accepted beginning October 1, 2010. 

Washington D.C. 

*	Closures - 10/11: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Columbia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cypress, Czech Republic, Dijikistan, Djibout, Dominican Republic, Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eq Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazastan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papa New Guinea, Paraguay, Passport Office Washington DC, Peru, Philippine, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Rep Of Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnaman, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
*	Albania: A personal appearance is now required when applying for an Albanian visa.
*	Algeria: Due to recent changes in processing procedures, fees and processing times have increased. Expedited processing will take at least 14 business days. The Algerian Consulate will not issue a business visa for travelers going to Hassi Massoud in Algeria. These travelers must apply for a work visa. Approval for a work visa from the Ministry in Algeria is needed before the visa can be issued. Effective immediately, only original documents will be accepted for the invitation or business letters required for visa applications. Copies or scans of these documents will no longer be accepted. No hand written visa applications will be accepted. Business Visa applicants must include a letter on official letterhead from their employer stating the purpose of their trip, and the full names and addresses of their contacts in Algeria. Applicants must submit with their application an invitation letter from the Algerian company they intend to visit. Original documents only for the letter and invitation. A travel Itinerary must accompany all visa requests 
*	Azerbaijan: Visa applicants must provide an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for ALL visa Types. No applications will be accepted without the invitation or invitation copy. 
*	Brazil: Applications must be completed online. Access the online form tool through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn5-JNIZi3> . Photographs must be glued, stapled, or taped to applications or they will be rejected. Applications can not be folded. The processing time is roughly 16 business days.
*	China: Photocopies of the information page of all passports and any amendment pages with relevant details are required in addition to the standard forms and requirements for a visa. Standard processing takes at least 4 business days. Expedited processing is not available. Effective immediately, China will not process same day document legalizations, but next day and standard service will continue to be offered for legalizations. 
*	India: Travelers must complete and submit the 'Employment Visa Checklist' when applying for employment visas to India. The visa application will be rejected if the checklist is not provided. The checklist is available for download on our website. Effective immediately, double-sided applications will no longer be accepted. The visa application must be printed on two pages.
*	Russia: Processing times for all types of Russian visas are currently at 6 days for rush processing and 20 days for standard processing. Also, please note that as of June 14th, the Russian embassy's fee for standard processing will be $140. 
*	Syria: A special advisory for travelers going to Syria; if you have an Israeli entry stamp or visa in your passport, you will be denied a visa to Syria and will not be allowed to enter the country. Please contact CIBT for assistance with securing a 2nd passport for a Syria visa. 

CIBT Canada 

*	Brazil: Visa processing should be expected to take at least 15 business days. 
*	Canada: CIBT Canada now offers support for Permanent Resident processing and Citizenship cards. Information is located on the Service Directory tab of the CIBT Canada website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn6-JNIZi4>  
*	China: Multiple entry visas require proof of prior issuance of at least 2 previous Chinese visas.
*	Cuba: Proof of travel insurance is required for all entries into Cuba. Please purchase travel insurance to cover international medical expenses prior to travel. 
*	Libya: Until further notice visas for Libya will no longer be issued to Canadian passport-holders. Travel is currently not permitted to Libya.
*	Russia: Tourists cannot enter Russia until 5 days after the tourist visa has been issued.

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CONTACTING CIBT

The CIBT website and Customer Service Specialists are available to help you with your travel document needs. CIBT's National Customer Service Center hours are Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 7:00PM CST (with the exception of holidays).

Contact CIBT by email at [e-mail]. We aim to respond to your email within 24 hours except during holidays. West Coast clients: Routine emails received after 4:00PM Pacific time will not be responded to until the next business morning. Please type URGENT in the subject field if you require a response before the next business morning.

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YOUR CIBT ACCOUNT

To ensure that you receive visa and passport instructions and pricing tailored to your particular account, please be sure to reference yourcompany's four or five digit CIBT account number when you seek information through the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn7-JNIZi5>  or customer service center. Referencing your account number also helps ensure accurate reporting of travel document processing data for your company or agency. Here are some tips for ensuring that your travelers reference your unique CIBT account number every time they access information through CIBT: 

*	Advise all employees of your 4 or 5 digit account number. (Post it by the water cooler!)
*	Post a link on your company's intranet that will take employees straight to your company's portal on the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn8-JNIZi6> .
*	Include a reminder to check visa and passport requirements along with a link to your portal of the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-Brn9-JNIZi7>  on all international itineraries.
*	Automatically send a post-booking email reminder including a phone number and link to the CIBT website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-BrnA-JNIZi5>  to all travelers who have made an international booking. 

Knowing your CIBT account number and using it every time you submit an order to CIBT can help your company save $$$! 

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SHIPPING TO CIBT

When you call CIBT for travel document forms and instructions, the CIBT Customer Service Specialist will offer an overnight shipping label to use when sending documents to us. As a convenience to you, the inbound shipping label can be purchased at the time of your call and can help ensure that your order arrives at the correct processing office on time!

***CIBT offices are not open on weekends and cannot accept weekend deliveries unless special arrangement has been made with the processing office.***

VISA APPLICATIONS

Visa applications and requirements change frequently. To avoid processing delays, please download the most current paperwork from our website <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-BrnB-JNIZi6>  when you are ready to apply for your visa. It is not advisable to store paperwork for future use.

TRAVEL ADVISORIES

For current travel advisories, contact the US Department of State at [phone] or online <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-BrnC-JNIZi7> 

INTERNATIONAL PHONE RENTAL

Many US cell phones do not work overseas. Please contact Global Phoneworks <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-BrnD-JNIZi8>  for reduced rate mobile phone rentals.

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This update is designed to keep our clients more informed about consulate and embassy changes. Please circulate it among your staff. If you have any comments or would like to add or delete a name to the distribution list, contact us at: [e-mail].

Contact us at [phone]. On the web: CIBT.com <http://cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?CjiC-BrnF-JNIZi0>  Copyright 2010 CIBT 

 

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