CMC Touring Visas, Passports, & Advisors

06/20/2023

U.S. citizens can use the Passport Card to travel from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries by land or sea. The passport card can NOT be used for international air travel. However it IS A "Real ID" and TSA compliant form of identification and can be used for domestic flights.

06/15/2023

People travelling to the UK without a visa will soon need to get an ETA.
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new requirement for people who do not need a visa to enter the UK. It gives you permission to travel to the UK, and it is electronically linked to your passport.
You’ll need an ETA to:
- go to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
- go to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
- transit through the UK – including if you’re not going through UK border control
More information will be shared as it develops

05/30/2023

Note that Performers and working staff will still require C4 Temporary Work visas issued at Korean Consulates. The K-ETAs & exemption are suitable for visa-exempt tourists and non-working business travelers only.

08/30/2022

❗All ETA-eligible passport holders must now apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app❗The app is available for free on the Apple or Android App store.

If you are unable to use the app, you can apply online through ImmiAccount for another kind of visa that suits your needs. European passport holders may be eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651).

If you have a criminal conviction in any country and are reporting it on the ETA application, you are not eligible for ETA and should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). Expect longer processing times.

08/12/2022

All about DHS TRUSTED TRAVELER PROGRAMS!
❗Remember: Global Entry INCLUDES TSA Pre-Check, so don't pay for and go to appointments twice if you want both❗

Enrollment Appointment wait times can be long, so get started today if you're interested!

*For a list of eligible nationalities go to www.globalentry.gov

04/26/2022

The path from dreams to success does exist.
🟪
Kalpana Chawla
🟪
“Kalpana” is a Hindi word that translates to “imagination,” and in 1997, Dr. Kalpana Chawla (1961-2003) became the first Indian-born woman in space. The astronaut's passion for the skies emerged early in life, when she would bike after planes taking off from a local military school. In her youth, she also visited the airplane flown by J.R.D. Tata, the founder of India’s first airline; she later brought Tata’s photograph on the first of her two NASA missions. Chawla was among seven astronauts who lost their lives aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia when the spacecraft broke apart upon reentering Earth’s atmosphere in 2003. This quote comes from an email Chawla sent to students at her alma mater, Punjab Engineering College, as she completed her final orbits. The barrier-breaking astronaut knew firsthand that you can achieve anything you can visualize.

04/04/2022

Though some states have decriminalized ma*****na possession or use, importation of illicit narcotics remains illegal according to federal law.

Under the CBP Zero Tolerance Policy, even a grinder with ma*****na residue, or a an empty CBD pen with traces of THC residue can cause your Trusted Traveler (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck) status to be revoked, and a penalty of $500 to be assessed.

Once revoked, it's difficult to appeal the decision or get it reversed. It may also be difficult to get approved for PreCheck, Global Entry, or other Trusted Traveler programs in the future.

Trusted Traveler Programs (TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, SENTRI, NEXUS) are risk-based programs to facilitate the entry of pre-approved travelers.

TSA PreCheck® allows travelers to experience expedited TSA screenings at participating US airports.

Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States, and includes TSA PreCheck.

The NEXUS trusted traveller program, run jointly by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allows card holders to fast-track through customs and speed through airports.

03/31/2022

UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) has taken the decision without prior warning to suspend priority and super-priority visa processing services for all applications being made from outside the UK. Not only have the services been suspended, but the UKVI update says that “applications for study, work and family visas may take longer to process.”  This means that the most common visas sought by corporate employers, under the Skilled Worker and Intra-Company routes, could take more than three weeks (instead of five working days when the priority service is paid for or 24 hours in the case of super-priority). Standard visit visa applications are currently taking six weeks instead of the usual three.

02/14/2022

Australia is open to Artist & Entertainment Workers. ✈️🇦🇺

Fully vaccinated Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Entertainment visa (408 Visa) holders are able to enter Australia without obtaining a travel exemption or undertaking hotel quarantine.

To travel into Australia, 408 visa holders must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Travelers must present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate with their Australia Travel Declaration, at check-in and on arrival in Australia. The certificate must meet certain requirements.

02/11/2022

UK INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL UPDATE‼️February 11th, 2022 🇬🇧



If you arrive to the UK after 4 am, February 11th, the following rules will apply.



Fully Vaccinated – from February 11th

If you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to the UK, you:

Will not need to take a COVID-19 test before you travel to the UK or after you arrive
Will not need to quarantine when you arrive to the UK
Will still need to complete a passenger locator form before travel to the UK


To qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to the UK, you must have proof of vaccination with complete dosage of an approved vaccine. You must have had your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before arriving to UK. The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.



Not Fully Vaccinated – from February 11th

If you do not qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to the UK, you will need to:

Show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the 2 days before you travel to UK
Book and pay for a COVID-19 PCR test before you travel to UK to be taken after you arrive to UK
Complete a passenger locator form before you travel to UK


You will not need to quarantine, unless the result of the PCR text is positive.



For more information and details on new travel rules and requirements for international travel to the UK please visit www.gov.uk.

01/24/2022

This is your Monday morning reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws at you. You got this! 💫

01/20/2022

The temporary policy allowing U.S. citizens currently abroad whose passports expired on or after January 1, 2020 to use their expired U.S. passports for return travel to the U.S. is set to expire March 31, 2022.

If you are overseas and your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until March 31, 2022.

You may qualify to travel on your expired passport if all the following are true:

-You are a U.S. citizen.
-You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States.
-You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory.
-Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years. Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for five years.
-Your expired passport is undamaged.
-Your expired passport is unaltered.
-Your expired passport is in your possession.

You do not qualify to travel on your expired passport if:

-You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination.
-You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory.
-Your expired passport was limited in validity.
-Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport).
-Your expired passport is damaged.
-Your expired passport is altered.
-Your expired passport is not in your possession.

Recently expired U.S. passports cannot be used to travel from the United States to an international destination or to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory.

For more information, please visit travel.state.gov.

01/14/2022

Happy Friday! Sharing a simple CMC Tip today that will save you the stress and expense of having to unexpectedly renew your passport last minute.

As international touring slowly picks up, it’s important to remember to save some blank visa pages in your passport for any required visas. The simple trick of covering blank visa pages with post-it notes will ensure these pages don’t get stamped while traveling and keep you from having to renew your passport sooner than expected.

Make sure to follow us for more helpful !

01/10/2022

Important Reminder❕On December 27th, the cost for a U.S. passport book increased by $20. The cost for an adult passport book is $130 and $100 for a minor passport book.

Do note, the additional government expedited fee has remained the same at $60 and the cost for a U.S. passport card has also remained the same at $30.

For more information on all current U.S. passport fees, see: http://travel.state.gov/passportfees 🇺🇸

01/06/2022

U.S. TRAVEL REMINDER‼️COVID-19 Testing Requirement for International Travel to the United States ✈️🇺🇸

All air passengers 2 years or older with a flight departing to the US from a foreign country are required show a negative COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 1 day before travel, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days, before they board their flight. This includes all U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents regardless of vaccination or antibody status.

You must be tested with a viral test to look for current infection – these include an antigen test (Rapid antigen test) or a NAAT test (nucleic acid amplification test) commonly known as RT-PCR. You can use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) if it meets the specific criteria and conditions of the CDC testing requirement order. The COVID-19 test used must be authorized for use by the relevant national authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered.

For more information on COVID-19 testing requirements for international travel to the U.S. visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html.

11/08/2021

In October of 2021, the U.S. Department of State issued the first U.S. passport with an X gender marker. This option is to be available to all routine passport applicants once the Department of State completes the required system and form updates in early 2022. More updates and information at: travel.state.gov/gender.

The Department also continues to work closely with other U.S. government agencies to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible for all passport holders, regardless of their gender identity. With the issuance of the first X gender passport and several others since then, The Department of State is committed to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ persons.

11/05/2021

IMMIGRATION UPDATE‼️

U.S. Will Accept All WHO Approved Vaccines.

Per the Department of State's announcement, the U.S. will allow only those foreign nationals vaccinated with a WHO emergency approved vaccine to enter the US on November 8th and thereafter. Those include the following vaccines:

* Moderna
* Pfizer
* Johnson and Johnson
* Oxford/AstraZeneca
* Covishield
* Sinopharm; and
* Sinovac/Coronovac

For more information please visit https://www.state.gov/updates-on-u-s-travel-policy-requiring-vaccination/

10/15/2021

Happy Friday! Today our CMC tip is all about the benefits of applying for a U.S. passport card. Did you know you can apply for a passport card when renewing your U.S. passport or even applying for a first time U.S passport? A passport card serves as proof of your U.S. citizenship and identity. It's a wallet sized card that can be used to enter the U.S. at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean, and Bermuda. It is important to note, the passport card cannot be used for international air travel.

In addition, U.S. passport cards are Real ID compliant and can save time at the U.S.-Mexico border by using designated Ready Lanes that read the passport card’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Best of all, applying for a U.S passport card is affordable only costing $30 for adults and valid for 10 years!

Contact us at [email protected] for more information on applying for a U.S. passport card.

10/11/2021

Happy Monday! The start of a new week means new opportunities to learn and grow. At CMC, we like to embrace our team’s growth mindset. We always want to learn new skills and find new ways to improve everything we do, including our knowledge and skill sets. We continuously work hard to stay at the top of our game and continue to be leaders in our business.

09/17/2021

08/18/2021

Friendly reminder to protect your passport‼️This CMC tip is all about saving you the hassle of having to replace a damaged or lost passport – a process that must be done in person. Avoid potential travel interruptions with this simple tip and cover your passport with a passport cover or obtain an alternate form of ID (like a passport card) to use as your primary form of identification.

08/06/2021

Fully vaccinated U.S. travelers can now enter England with no quarantine required!

A negative COVID-19 PCR test is required within three days before departure and on or before day two after arrival.

***Due to the changing nature of the pandemic and the frequent changes of guidance, we recommend that you review the UK Home Office's guidance prior to traveling or booking travel to UK:***
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england -list-rules



                                                   

07/13/2021

Wondering if getting a U.S. passport card is worth it? Swipe left to read our answer to this commonly asked question!

07/09/2021

At CMC, our team goal is to continue to learn and grow together. It is important for us to develop our people by providing the resources and work environment that encourages and cultivates personal development alongside professional growth. The stronger our team, the better we can serve our clients and continue to deliver work we are proud of.

06/30/2021

IMPORTANT REMINDER‼️U.S. Department of State passport processing times (up to 12 weeks for routine; up to 6 weeks for expedite) do not include mailing times. The U.S. Department of State processing times begin the day applications are received, not the day you mail it. 📪

Routine service can take up to 18 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 18-week timeframe includes up to 12 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.

Expedite service (for an additional government fee of $60) can take up to 12 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 12-week timeframe includes up to 6 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.

Mail times vary and delays have been significant so plan ahead as mail delays are impacting when U.S. Department of State receives passport applications for processing. Contact us at [email protected] for more information on getting your passport application process started ASAP.

06/18/2021

Wondering if getting a U.S. passport card is worth it? Swipe left to read some of the main benefits of having a U.S. passport card!

06/16/2021

Passport Suspension‼️ Did you know one may not be eligible for a passport or a passport application may be suspended by the Passport Agency? We’ve listed a few of the main reasons this often happens so you can stay informed and avoid having your passport held in suspension by the Passport Agency.

Make sure to contact our team at [email protected] for additional information on passport suspension and passport services. We offer passport services varying in processing times from standard processing to super urgent processing! ✈️

06/07/2021

Monday Mentality 🙌🏽

06/04/2021

Happy Friday! Trust is the foundation for building great long-term relationships and partnerships, including those with our colleagues, clients, vendors, and communities. CMC strives to be known for our strong character, transparency and integrity, and we always put our client's interests first.

06/02/2021

FAQ❓Swipe left for the answer to a question we often get. What is Global Entry? 🌎

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports. ✈️

While Global Entry’s goal is to speed travelers through the process, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in the appropriate enforcement action and termination of the traveler’s membership privileges.

Read more on Global Entry at https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry and contact our team if you have questions and would like assistance applying for Global Entry!