PASSPORTS AND VISAS 101

Editor's Note: U.S. passports are currently 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.

An increasing number of Asheville residents are obtaining U.S. passports as demand for international travel grows, especially among employees of major companies with a strong presence in the area.  While largely known as a tourism destination, Asheville’s economy also spans healthcare, science, technology, arts, and culture.

Known as “The Land of the Sky,” Asheville lies in Buncombe County within the Blue Ridge Mountains near Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The region boasts a thriving arts and crafts community, plentiful live music, antique shops, boutiques, and America’s largest home, the Biltmore Estate.  Direct access to I-26 and I-40 also provide

Si está interesado en mejorar su dominio del idioma, hay muchas universidades y programas para estudiar inglés en Portland, Oregón. Estos programas ayudan a los estudiantes internacionales, ejecutivos de negocios y profesionistas a aprender las habilidades necesarias para tener éxito en la educación, el trabajo y la vida en los Estados Unidos u otros lugares de habla inglesa.

Las escuelas que se enfocan en inglés como segundo idioma (ESL, por sus siglas en inglés) e inglés para hablantes de otros idiomas (ESOL, por sus siglas en inglés) pueden ayudar a los estudiantes y profesionistas que no son hablantes nativos de inglés a alcanzar sus metas del idioma. En la ciudad se pueden encontrar varias oportunidades en Portland para aprender inglés, que van desde cursos para principiantes hasta programas avanzados. En estos, usted puede aprender diferentes habilidades, incluido el dominio básico, la ampliación de su conocimiento actual del inglés y la preparación para trabajos o exámenes.

Pakistan, once a popular hippie backpacking destination, is still mostly off the radar for most mainstream tourists.  However, this country should not be overlooked by New Orleans area visitors because it offers a variety of attractions, including historic and cultural heritage sites, diverse geographic features, and a growing adventure travel sector for mountain climbers, hikers, and water sports enthusiasts.  Forbes magazine ranked Pakistan as one of its 10 “coolest places on earth” in 2019 and among the top underrated travel destinations in 2020. “Pakistan is blessed with abundant natural and historical riches,” Lonely Planet noted. “Incredible mountain landscapes are set against a backdrop of desert forts and stories of sultans and djinns.  In its cities, ancient bazaars are home to intricately etched copper kitchenware alongside pungent spice racks and steaming tea stalls.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan) The British Backpacker Society has also named Pakistan is the world’s top adventure travel destination, citing its friendly residents and spectacular mountain scenery.

Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the country boasts several of the most ancient cultures in South Asia.  After 1,000 years of Islamic rule, the region was conquered by Great Britain during the mid- to late 1800s and became part of the British Indian Empire.  During the early Twentieth Century, the Pakistani movement that sought to establish a homeland for India’s Muslim citizens gathered steam.  In 1947, Pakistan gained independence when Britain partitioned present-day Pakistan from India.  The Islamic Republic of Pakistan followed in 1956.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – the second largest country in Africa and fourth most populous – offers Dallas area tourists and business travelers a range of natural tropical settings, unique wildlife, and cultural diversions not found in other parts of the continent.  From the mountain gorillas in the rainforest along the Congo River to its active mountain volcanoes, the DRC is one of a kind.

Formerly known as Zaire, the DRC (also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa) covers more than 2.3 million square miles—roughly the size of Western Europe.  It borders Angola, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as the South Atlantic Ocean.  With more than 96 million residents, the Central African nation is also the largest French-speaking country in the world.

The East African nation of Malawi has gained new attention as an emerging tourist destination for residents of the Detroit area.  Known as the “Warm Heart of Africa”, the landlocked country lies in the Great Rift Valley and borders Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.  According to The New York Times, “Most tourists come to Malawi to go on safaris among bulbous baobabs in Liwonde National Park or sunbathe on the sparkling yellow beaches of Lake Malawi, which stretches for two-thirds of the country’s length.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/travel/rock-climbing-malawi.html). 

During the Victorian Era, missionary Dr. David Livingstone led expeditions throughout Malawi and Central Africa.  After decades as the British protectorate of Nyasaland, the Republic of Malawi became an independent nation in the mid-1960s.  English remains the official language of Malawi and almost 90 percent of its residents are Christian.

Editor's Note: U.S. passports are currently 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.

A growing number of Alabama residents in the Huntsville area are obtaining U.S. passports as international travel rebounds, especially among employees of large companies with a strong presence in the area.  The city’s primary industries—aerospace, defense, information technology, and advanced manufacturing—are driven by Fortune 500 companies and startups whose influence and footprint spans the globe.

Huntsville was an agricultural trading center and the “Watercress Capital of the World” before the Space Race industry transformed it into “The Rocket City” in the late Twentieth Century.  Dr. Warner and his team of aerospace engineers came to Huntsville in 1950 to de

If you’re interested in improving your language proficiency, there are many universities, colleges, and programs to study English in Portland, Oregon.  These programs help international students, business executives, and professionals learn the necessary skills to succeed in education, work, and life in the United States or other English-speaking settings. 

Schools that focus on English as a Second Language (ESL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) can help students and employees who are non-native English speakers achieve English language goals.  You can find various opportunities in Portland to learn English, including beginner courses to advanced programs.  Learn different skills, including basic mastery, expanding on your current English knowledge, and job or test preparation.

Turkmenistan – one of the most repressive and isolated countries in the world – is also one of the least visited nations for travelers from Miami.  However, cautious, adventurous travelers who are not deterred by the difficult process for obtaining a Turkmen visa can enjoy historic, cultural and religious sites, as well as ancient Silk Road trading posts, rare desert wildlife, and resorts on the Caspian Sea.

More than 6.5 million people live in the former Soviet republic, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in Asia (as a point of reference, the population of the Miami metropolitan area is nearly 6.3 million).  Turkmenistan is bordered by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.  For centuries, Turkmenistan has been a trade thoroughfare, as the ancient Silk Road spans the country.  In recent years, its major international trade activities have revolved around its large oil and natural gas reserves.

Philadelphia area tourists have been allowed to visit Saudi Arabia ever since the kingdom finally opened the door to leisure travelers in 2019, following decades when most visitors were businesspeople, government officials, Islamic pilgrims, and/or expatriates visiting family members.  The largest nation on the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia’s natural treasures range from the beaches of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to its hot dry deserts, mountain ranges, grasslands, and forests (located in the Asir Mountains).

Editor's Note: U.S. passports are currently 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.

Orlando is not just the most popular travel destination in the world – it’s also home for a growing number of Orlando residents who need to obtain U.S. passports.  More area residents are pursuing their own international travel, especially employees of large companies with a strong presence in the area.

Tourism only accounts for 20% of Orlando’s economy. “The City Beautiful” is also powered by vibrant industries such as aerospace and defense, logistics and distribution, advanced manufacturing, software, innovative technologies, life sciences, and healthcare.