Newsletter November 2011 – Some Quick Holiday Travel Tips

IN THIS ISSUE
Something Still Smells Rotten in Alabama and Now We Know Why
Employment-based Green Cards: Trends in this Economic Environment
The 2013 Green Card Lottery Has Ended
President Abraham Lincoln and Thanksgiving Day
The Faces of US Immigrants: Andrew Carnegie
Recipes From The Melting Pot: Thanksgiving Turkey, An American Tradition
Quote of the Month

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Some Quick Holiday Travel Tips

The holidays are always are great time to connect with family members and friends. But it also can be a very stressful time. One way of reducing the hassles of traveling, make sure you have a valid US passport, especially if you’re going abroad for the holidays. If your passport has expired or you can’t find it, don’t panic. There is plenty of time to renew or replace it. For passports that are required within two weeks, it is recommended that you contact your Regional Passport Agency to expedite the passport processing in time for your international travel.

If you’re a foreign national and want to surprise your relative or friend, here in the United States, it’s not too late to do so. In most cases you can obtain a B-2 tourist visa within one day. To check on visa wait times you can go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html; here you can see how long the tourist visa wait time though a specific Embassy or Consulate office. For more information on the tourist visa process you can click here.

It is always a good idea to check with the airline to make sure your flight is on-time. Make sure you read the check baggage policy and be familiar with the size of carry-on bag restrictions. International excesses baggage fees can be very expensive. Generally, carry-on should fit easily into overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you. A popular holiday carry-on bag this season is the Pan Am Explorer bag. This vintage fun carry-on meets the size requirements for carry-on luggage.

But wherever you go this holiday season, try to relax, be safe and try to have a laugh or two with family and friends.

As the American author Helen Keller once stated, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.”

Happy Holidays from our Immigration Direct Family to yours!