PASSPORTS AND VISAS 101

Chicago is America’s third-most-populous city and its metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland, has a population approaching 10 million people.  Chicago is a vibrant international city with a robust economy that is the corporate headquarters for 57 Fortune 1000 companies  While manufacturing and food processing provide a strong foundation for its economy, the city is also an important financial center and is home to the Chicago Stock Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  From its food to its music, Chicago is a very American city—an American city that continues to evolve and grow thanks to the contributions of immigrants.  Chicago has a large African population of around 50,000, of which over half are Nigerians.

Unacceptable passport photos are the most common reason the Canadian government rejects passport applications and renewals submitted from its citizens living abroad.

Canada has detailed requirements for obtaining a new passport or renewing an existing one which include strict passport photographs guidelines. More than 60 percent of Canadians have a passport, and the government issues more than five million each year. While those living in Canada can visit a government passport office or a government-run Service Canada Centre, applications can be more difficult for those living in other countries. 

The city of Orlando, located in the Central Florida region of the United States and known as “the City Beautiful”, is ranked as America’s 23rd most-populous city.  The Orlando metropolitan area has a population of 2.6 million people and is home to several theme parks including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios.  Orlando’s theme parks, natural attractions, and year-round warm weather make it one of the most-visited cities in the world.  The Orlando metropolitan area includes various cities and towns such as Kissimmee, Sanford, St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, and other municipalities.  While the population of Nigerians living in Orlando is not huge, there are restaurants in the area where Americans can prepare for their trip by trying out the country’s national dish, jollof rice and moin-moin.

Charlotte is the most populous city in the state of North Carolina and America’s 23rd most-populous city.  Known as the Queen City, this metropolis of 2.6 million people has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. the past two decades.  Charlotte’s youthful population, low cost of living, and geographical location in the Sun Belt, have made it an attractive destination for business investment.  Charlotte is the third largest baking center in the U.S. and has a growing financial technology sector, potentially making it an important city to team up with Nigeria’s growing fintech sector.   The Charlotte metropolitan area stretches into South Carolina and includes the towns of Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Mooresville, Monroe, Salisbury, Matthews, Cornelius, Statesville, Shelby, Rock Hill (SC), and Fort Mill (SC).

The city of Tampa is one of the three principal cities (the other two being St. Petersburg and Clearwater) that make up the Tampa Bay Area.  The Tampa Bay Area is the 18th-largest metropolis in the United States and has a population of over 3.1 million people.  The metro area includes the counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Citrus, and Manatee, along with the towns of Brandon, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Largo, Tarpon Springs, and Bradenton. The Tampa Bay Area is home to several Fortune 500 companies and has a strong foundation of financial services and information technology firms.  While the Nigerian diaspora community in Tampa is not huge, the area still has Nigerian restaurants, markets, churches, community, and business organizations that American people can visit to further network and learn more about the country before their trip.

Miami is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the United States and has a population of 6.2 million people.  The metropolitan region—officially known as the Greater Miami Area—is composed of Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.  Its main cities include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Miami Gardens, Davie, West Palm Beach, Hialeah, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Homestead, and Boca Raton.  This is a diverse community where 40% of the population was born in another country.  There are an estimated 5,000 Nigerians living in the Greater Miami Area.  Centered around Miami Gardens, the community includes Nigerian (and other West African) restaurants, markets, and churches.

Updated November 26, 2022 -- Please see editor’s note at the bottom of the page 

Record numbers of foreign retirees have flocked to the Republic of the Philippines in recent years, drawn by low costs, high living standards, and exotic tropical settings.  The country is comprised of more than 7,000 islands featuring crystal-blue waters, white sandy beaches, and warm weather year-round.  English is widely spoken in the Philippines; making is easy to communicate with most locals.  Eleven international airports provide convenient access to Southeast Asia and the world, while affordable local airlines make domestic travel easy.

The Philippine government encourages foreigners to take up residence in the country through dedicated retirement visa programs.  The republic issued a record 6,437 retirement visas in 2018 (10 percent more than the prior year) and has issued more than 63,000 since the program began in 1987, according to the Philippine Retirement Authority (https://pra.gov.ph).  More than 200,000 expats currently live in the country.  Many retirees come from Asia, but the top 10 sources also include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.

UPDATED November 27, 2022 

Thailand has quickly grown into one of the world’s most popular countries for foreign retirees.  The exotic Southeast Asian kingdom offers a year-round tropical climate with all the modern comforts of the West – for pennies on the dollar.  According to the 2019 Global Retirement Index, Thailand has the sixth-lowest cost of living in the world.  Great value for the dollar, state-of-the-art healthcare, and new condominium construction projects make Thailand particularly attractive to those retiring on a fixed income. 

Visitors and retirees alike flock to Thailand for its sandy beaches, lush jungles, vibrant marketplaces, ancient ruins, colorful Buddhist temples, and spicy, aromatic cuisine.  Tourism contributes more than $55.5 million in revenues to the nation’s economy and almost 20 percent of its GDP. Only 10 million tourists visit

Editor's Note (UPDATED February 25, 2022) -- U.S. passports are taking up to seven weeks to process using the government's expedited service.  It is possible to get a passport in less time by scheduling an appointment with the Passport Agency by calling 877-487-2778 and appearing in person at their office.

Atlanta residents with U.S. passports that are mutilated or even show slight moisture damage should consider replacing their old passports before their next trip.

The federal government considers a damaged passport to be invalid.  Unless your passport is in relatively good shape, you may be denied entry to your destination or upon returning to the U.S. Definitions of “damaged” vary from one country to another, as different border officials and countries have different rules.  For example, in the United Kingdom, BBC News reported, “Travelers whose passports contain multiple visas and stamps – indicating ‘heavy use’ -- are more likely to have a problem.” Frequent travelers sometimes report being delayed or denied entry to a country with an older passport that previously passed inspection without question.

How long does a passport last? Many Atlanta area residents wondering whether they need to renew their passports might be unsure about how long their travel documents are valid. Others considering obtaining a passport for the first time might also be unclear about how long their new passport books and/or passport cards will last.