CWT - International

International

Visa procedures change for visitors to India

Effective October 1, visa processing for travelers to India has changed. The Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Indian consulates in other parts of the United States have outsourced portions of the visa application process to a third-party vendor. Along with this change come three new requirements:
1. There is a $17 price increase—made up of a $13 embassy processing fee and a $4 money order service charge.
2. There is a new application form at: https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/expedite/application/form. This bar-coded form is mandatory and must be filled out on line, printed, and signed.
3. Proof of state of residence is required. This can be in the form of a photocopy of the traveler’s driver’s license or a photocopy of a utility bill.
Source: The Center for International Business and Travel (CIBT)

U.S. airlines add routes to China

A number of the major U.S. airlines recently announced that they’ve received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin new routes to China. Specific routes are as follows:

American Airlines—Chicago to Beijing

Continental Airlines—Newark to Shanghai

Delta Air Lines—Atlanta to Shanghai

Northwest Airlines—Detroit to Shanghai

United Airlines—San Francisco to Guangzhou

US Airways—Philadelphia to Beijing

The carriers are reporting that service will begin throughout 2009. Delta is the exception, reporting it will begin service March 30, 2008, pending foreign government approval.

Sources: aa.com, continental.com, delta.com, nwa.com, usairways.com, united.com

Venezuela postpones creation of new time zone

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced last month that the country of Venezuela would be turning its clocks back by one half-hour—thereby creating a new time zone for the country. Lacking the necessary preparations to make this change as originally scheduled, Chavez has postponed the transition. The Venezuelan government still aims to implement the change after clearing the required bureaucratic hurdles, but an exact date has not yet been set.

The purpose of the time change is to allow children and adults to wake up for school and work during daylight hours instead of before sunrise.

Business travelers with upcoming trips to Venezuela should be aware of the upcoming time change. Look for updated information in CWT Traveler as the official date of the time change is determined.

Source: The Washington Post

CWT Traveler

International

Visa procedures change for visitors to India

U.S. airlines add routes to China

Venezuela postpones creation of new time zone