Don’t leave for a vacation without taking care of these four things

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There are very few experiences in life that compare to travel and the exploration of new destinations. However, just like any worthwhile endeavor in life, going on a trip requires a measure of preparation.

On that note, here are four things you have to take care of before going on a trip.

Travel documents: For people going abroad, travel documents such as passports, visas, travel insurance, and the like have to be organized and prepared. Experienced travelers recommend photocopying each document and keep the copies in a separate envelope.

Cards: ATM and credit cards are important and the preferred choice of many travelers who are wary of bringing cash. Just make sure that these cards can work well in other countries.

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Itinerary: The best thing about coming up with an itinerary before leaving is that it saves people a lot of time when they’re already in their destination. Having a schedule ready also eliminates any debate on where to go and when to go there, especially if one is traveling in a big group.

Luggage: Bags need not be expensive; they have to be dependable. Travelers should never bring any luggage that’s worn and looks to be easily opened. Sturdy luggage is a good investment, especially if one plans to travel to multiple places in the future.

Cox & Kings Global Services is a business process outsource agency that was incorporated in 2008. It specializes in providing administrative support and managing non-judgmental tasks related to the entire lifecycle of visa, passport, and consular applications. More information on the company here.

Some tips on getting that visa application approved

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Whether you’re visiting relatives, going abroad for work or school, or planning that dream travel, an important thing to secure in many countries is the visa. Not having a visa stamp on your passport will not allow for such a trip, so it’s crucial that you take time to make sure that you get the application approved. Here are some important tips.

The main thing to remember is to accomplish all the required forms and documents. Many visa applications are bogged down by incomplete papers, forcing applicants to travel back and forth to the embassy or consulate. Again, you cannot skip any document, as most embassies will just reject incomplete submissions. Save yourself the worry and headache.

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An important add-on tip here is to never, ever submit fake or “doctored” documents as these will most likely be detected, outright preventing your visa approval and banning you from future travels in the destination country.

Make sure that your passport has not expired or set to expire soon. Obviously, you won’t get anywhere abroad without your passport, and if it’s near expiration, the embassy staff will just question it. Renew your passport way before applying for a visa.

Lastly, prove that you are well-traveled. If you’ve visited the country before, show stamps even if they are on an older passport. Bring evidence of bookings or travel tickets to other destinations with you. The idea is to communicate to the embassy people that you have traveled overseas before and have not overstayed.

Cox & Kings Global Services specializes in serving consular sections of diplomatic missions. The business process outsource agency was incorporated in 2008. For more insights on the industry, visit this Twitterpage.

Proposed unified Southeast Asia visa nearing full approval

A few years ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations planned to adopt a single visa system to enable non-ASEAN citizens to visit any of the group’s 10 member states (Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar) on a single visa. The accord is yet to gather full support from all involved countries since the proposal was floated in 2011, but it seems implementation is nearing.

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Patterned after Europe’s Schengen single visa system, the ASEAN single visitor visa policy aims to enhance and advance the tourism sector in the region, boosting arrivals to member states. To date, only diplomatic missions are given access to the country without the stringent process that a regular visitor usually goes through.

The ambitious plan takes into account global realities and is designed to improve hospitality-related metrics in the ASEAN region. While it has fallen short of fulfilling the Tourism Strategic Plan 2011/2015 (which aims to promote the region as a single tourist destination) within the targeted timeframe, it is still slated to improve the region’s tourism standards and enable tourism employees to work in any ASEAN country.

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The strategy also gained strong support from the so-called ‘Plus 3’ countries, which are comprised of Asian countries China, Japan, and South Korea. In addition, ASEAN is moving toward the implementation of an open skies aviation policy, which is scheduled to come into effect within the coming years.

Cox & Kings Global Services provides administrative support and management services for non-judgmental tasks related to the whole lifecycle of visa, passport, and consular applications. To know more about the company, visit this website.

Visa queries for multiple itineraries

Trips that cross multiple borders are rare adventures taken by the most intrepid of travelers. They pose several challenges, among which is preparing the appropriate travel papers to go from one country to the next.

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Multiple itineraries are taken either as part of a comprehensive trip package or taken by those who want to experience a larger segment of the world all at once. They usually take place in a single region, forming a route around the destination countries. In many regions, booking for multiple visas in advance, one for each of the destination country as required, is often recommended. This depends in part on the visa requirements of the countries involved.

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The rules can get pretty complicated. The states of the European Union (EU) are an interesting case for travelers. The states that participate in the Schengen zone allow travelers from outside the EU to go through their borders using a single visa (with some citizens of certain nations needing only a passport for short stays). Not all EU countries are participants in the zone whereas some non-EU nations within the same general region do.

In some cases, multi-country trips may involve nations that are not part of an itinerary and may require specialist papers to allow temporary passage through the country. Tanzania, for instance, allows travelers to pass through the country for at least two weeks through a transit visa.

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Finally, there are some countries where entries do not need visas, making them easier to add in a regional multicountry trip. As always, extensive research not only hammers out the itinerary but also removes much of the fuss from travel.

Cox and Kings Global Services provides consulates and diplomatic missions with an assortment of business processing outsourcing services. Visit the company's official website for more details on its services.

What is the Tourist Visa on Arrival (T-VoA) scheme?

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Most people are required to go through a lengthy and complicated process of applying for an Indian visa before they arrive in the country. Previously, only citizens from Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, and Indonesia were eligible to be granted a visa upon arrival. As of November 2014, the T-VoA system has been extended to include 43 countries, including the United States.

The T-VoA scheme has its benefits and downsides. The obvious benefits are related to how streamlined the new system is. Travelers can apply online and receive an Electronic Travel Authorization within four days. This removes a lot of bureaucratic obstacles and is especially beneficial for tourists who are traveling for only 30 days or less. For long-term travelers, however, it may be worth the effort to go the lengthy route.

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As mentioned earlier, the first step can be done through a simple online form. This requires a scanned file of the passport photo page and a full face photo of the applicant on a white background. After paying the $60 fee, the applicant can expect to receive an ID via email. The ETA will also be sent via e-mail after four days.


The document should be printed and presented at the immigration desk in one of India’s Visa-on-Arrival airports within 30 days of approval. Once the traveler receives the stamp, he’ll be cleared for travel in India for the next 30 days.

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CKGS is a specialist BPO company that provides support to the Embassy of India and its consulates on tasks related to visa applications. For more information on the Indian visa application process, visit www.in.ckgs.us.

Ensuring safety on a trip to India

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Safety is always a primary concern to any traveler who’s about to go on a journey to a certain destination for the first time. As a total stranger to India, it can be hard to know what to expect and how to prepare for unforeseen events. Fortunately, many others have gone to the country before and they’ve shared their experiences for the benefit of first-time visitors.

Before the trip, you should definitely read up on as many articles as you can about other tourists’ experiences in traveling across India. This will help you fill in the gaps in your knowledge about the country, its customs, and its people. Apart from knowing which places to visit and which to probably avoid, you may also find recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and other services that would make your stay more enjoyable.

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With that out of the way, you can then start on drafting an itinerary. Using the information you’ve gathered, you can make a complete list of the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to have during your trip. At least for the first time, it might be best to stick to popular tourist spots and familiar places in order to avoid any unexpected events.

During your stay, seek help from your hotel or your guesthouse for booking taxis or other forms of transportation. Like with any other place, it is always a good idea to exercise more caution when it gets dark out. Instead of walking alone at nights to go to a restaurant, it might be best to take a taxi or a rickshaw instead.

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Cox and Kings Global Services is a specialist BPO company that provides administrative support to the Embassy of India and its consulates. For more information on the Indian Visa Application process, visit www.in.ckgs.us.