PASSPORTS AND VISAS 101

Tourists have begun returning to the African nation of Gabon as the country once again welcomes visitors following the COVID pandemic.  Located on the equator bordering Central Africa’s Atlantic coast, Gabon allows travelers to explore the broad savannahs, dense rainforests, mountain ranges, thundering waterfalls, and coastal plains of the Congo basin.  The nation is home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world, including gorillas, chimpanzees, hippos, elephants, humpback whales, and more than 400 species of trees.   

While Gabon is not a common destination for the average American tourists, the country has been of interest recently among those in Washington, D.C.’s political circles who deal in international affairs.  Gabon is the first country in Africa to get paid by international organizations for protecting its forests.  90% of Gabon is covered in dense forests, creating an excellent opportunity for the exportation of timber to industrialized countries that require this commodity to manufacture building materials, furniture, paper products and other consumer goods.  However, Gabon also has an opportunity to protect these forests and use the unharvested land as a product that can be sold as “carbon credits” to wealthier nations (these forests help absorb carbon and therefore have value in the marketplace for those countries needing to offset their “carbon footprint” by purchasing carbon credits).

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.

More residents of Savannah are obtaining U.S. passports as international travel grows, especially for large companies like Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation that export their products all over the world, and local schools such as Savannah State University and The Savannah College of Art and Design that have expanded their international programs in recent years. 

The state of Georgia’s strong economy and growing population are also contributing factors to the increased demand for new passports.  Metro Atlanta and other Georgia cities like Savannah make up one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.  Of Georgia’s 10.8 million residents in 2021, nearly 150,000 live in the city of Savannah and there are over 400,000 people living in the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties.  In 2022 the U.S. Passport Agency issued 545,735 passports to residents of Georgia; in 2018 there were 481,331 passports issued to residents of the Peach State, marking a 13.4% increase. 

The Republic of Lebanon and its capital, Beirut – the “Paris of the Middle East” – continues to draw tourists from Miami who enjoy its Mediterranean culture, historic sites, cuisine, and diverse architecture.  Tourism has largely recovered since the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990, restoring relative stability to the country, yet the U.S. State Department continues to maintain travel advisories due to persistent regional strife.

Located on the western shore of the Mediterranean Sea, the Republic of Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for more than 400 years before coming under French rule after World War I.  The country gained independence from France in 1943, which was followed by both civil war and armed conflict with neighboring Syria and Israel.  In recent decades, Lebanon has evolved into one of the most culturally influential countries in the Middle East, and is a destination that should not be overlooked by anyone in Miami desiring a deeper understanding of this region.  The republic offers a unique blend of Arabic and European influences, with colorful sites ranging from Roman temples and Malluk mosques to Crusader Castles and broad French-built boulevards.  While Arabic (Levantine Arabic) is the official language, French and English are commonly spoken, reflecting both its colonial history and its emerging role in global commerce.

在波士顿有许多学校和项目可供国际学生们、专业人士们和商业高管们来学习英语，提高语言能力，为他们在美国学习和工作打好基础。

英语作为第二语言（ESL）和其他语言使用者英语（ESOL）项目可以帮助非英语为母语的学生们和职员们获得英语语言能力。这些课程从初级课程到高级课程，提供了各种机遇，以满足学生们不同的需求。各种各样的选择迎合了那些需要基本信息的学习英语的新手，有一定语言背景的人们，有兴趣扩展这些技能，以及在考试、工作或大学准备方面寻求帮助的个体。

波士顿为那些有学术、商业或个人目标的英语学习者（ELL）提供了许多选择。这些选择包括著名的大学和学院，例如马萨诸塞大学和哈佛大学以及其它规模较小的项目。

波士顿作为典型的美国大学城吸引着来自世界各地的学生。它也被公认为新英格兰最国际化的城市。 

这座迷人而又充满活力的城市完美融合了教育、文化和历史。在学习之余，波士顿总有一些值得看一看或去做一做的事情。这里有着各种各样的商店、咖啡馆、餐馆、运动场所以及当地的活动和娱乐场所。

波士顿的大多数学院、大学和其他英语项目都位于市内，交通非常方便。此外，在市中心以外也还有其它接受教育的机遇。我们将在下面一一道来。

公立学院或大学英语课程

许多公立学院和大学都有为学生们提供在波士顿学习英语的项目和课程。对学术和职业目标有需求的

Sinh viên quốc tế, các chuyên gia và các doanh nhân có rất nhiều sự lựa chọn về địa điểm để học tiếng Anh tại Washington, D.C. Nhiều trường Đại học, Cao đẳng và các đơn vị khác đều có tổ chức các khóa học tiếng Anh giúp bạn trau dồi hoặc cải thiện kĩ năng tiếng Anh để chuẩn bị cho việc học tập, làm việc hoặc sinh sống tại Hoa Kỳ.

Chương trình đào tạo tiếng Anh như ngôn ngữ thứ hai (ESL) và chương trình đào tạo tiếng Anh cho những người nói ngôn ngữ khác (ESOL) có thể giúp những người nước ngoài học hoặc nâng cao kĩ năng tiếng Anh của mình. Washington, D.C và khu vực đô thị lân cận có rất nhiều chương trình giảng dạy ESL và ESOL với nhiều cấp độ khác nhau. Bạn có thể chọn một chương trình phù hợp với bạn dù bạn ở bất kì nơi nào hoặc dù trình độ của bạn là gì đi nữa, cho dù là người mới bắt đầu, người có trình độ trung cấp hoặc cao cấp.

Atlanta 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).

The Republic of Angola – a former Portuguese colony that endured decades of civil strife during the Twentieth Century – has experienced a renaissance over the past 20 years. “Safe and welcoming, this friendly nation transports that laid-back, community-oriented lifestyle of southern Portugal to continental Africa – and travelers are once again discovering its charm,” the World Travel Guide noted (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/angola).

With 1,000 miles of Atlantic coastline, the southwest African nation beckons Memphis area travelers with tropical beaches, virgin rainforests, vast plains, savannahs, wetlands, and hardwood forests.  The gleaming skyscrapers of the capital city, Luanda, provide a dramatic counterpoint to the traditional villages that dominate a sprawling country that is over eleven times the size of Tennessee.

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.

More residents of Pensacola are obtaining U.S. passports as international travel grows, especially for students and faculty at University of West Florida, whose International Student and Scholar Services office has expanded its international exchange programs and faculty-led study abroad programs in recent years. 

The Florida Panhandle region’s strong economy and growing population are also contributing factors to the increased demand for new passports in recent years.  Owing to a business-friendly government that promotes economic freedom, Florida is now the fastest-growing state in the union.  Of Florida’s 22.2 million residents in 2022, over 500,000 people live in the Pensacola metropolitan area.  In 2022, the U.S. Department of State issued 1,315,125 passports for residents of the Sunshine State, making Florida the 4^th largest state for passport issuance (after California, Texas, and New York).

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most San Francisco Bay Area tourists, as well as Silicon Valley business leaders seeking commercial opportunities overseas.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and several other North African countries, Algeria’s tropical and subtropical climates encompass fertile land in its northern region and the Sahara Desert to the south.  The second largest country in Africa, Algeria is the continent’s fourth largest tourist destination.  The country also offers numerous business opportunities, particularly in the oil and gas, power, infrastructure, IT, and defense sectors (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/algeria-market-opportunities).

The Republic of Guinea is not a common destination for residents of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest region, but it does provide unique experiences for adventurous travelers and those seeking new commercial opportunities in international trade. “Tarnished by the Ebola crisis and long-term political instability, it is a country most people stay away from,” the World Travel Guide noted  (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/guinea/). “But for travelers who like being far, far from the beaten path, Guinea has many enticements.”

Located on West Africa’s Atlantic coast, Guinea beckons travelers with thundering waterfalls, virgin rainforests, remote hills, and tropical beaches.  It contains five ecoregions: the Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, West Sudanian savanna, and Guinean mangroves.  However, travel outside major cities and tourist resorts can be difficult due to undeveloped transportation infrastructure -- and dangerous due to high levels of crime and corruption.  The impoverished country also faces frequent medical crises, as detailed by the CDC at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/guinea.