Canada ETA

Electronic Travel Authorisation

The Canadian Tourism Commission have announced final regulations for Canada’s new ETA program, requiring all British citizens to obtain an authorisation before flying to Canada.

From March 15th 2016 all British Citizens will be able to apply for an ETA when travelling to Canada.

British Citizen Passport Holders who fly to or transit through Canada can now apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Once approved, your eTA is valid for five years or until your passport expires.

In addition to this, the Canadian authorities have stated that until the 29th September 2016, travellers who do not have an eTA can still board their flight, as long as they have appropriate travel documents (eg a valid passport) and obtain their visa on arrival.

This means that from the 30th of September 2016 onward, Those flying into Canada (or transiting through) will not be able to board their flight without an eTA.

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What is an ETA?

ETA stands for ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation‘. This is an online method of obtaining your travel visa. The visa is applied electronically to the chip that is located in your passport. This then removes the need for stamps or labels being printed in your passport as well as completely getting removing the paper needed for the application.

How can I obtain an eTA?

The Travel Visa Company will be able to assist with all applications for this new Canadian ETA which will be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issue. For further information, or to apply, please visit our website: thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/canada/ or call our award winning team on 01270 250 590.

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What to do and where to go in Canada!

Canada has been named as one of the top 20 most beautiful countries in the world by RoughGuides. It is home to the CN Tower, Chateau Frontenac and most notably the Niagra Falls.

Canada is filled with things to do and places to go. There really is something there for everyone! Canada is brilliant for national parks; with 40% of the land being covered by forests and has over 40 recognised national parks.

It has bustling cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal that are teeming with restaurants, cocktail bars, clubs, entertainment venues, arenas, lounges, theatres and much more!

With a flight from London typically taking approximately 8 hours, what is stopping you? Apply for your eTA now!

    

 

Everything you need to know about Thanksgiving!

What is thanksgiving about?

Each year, on the last Thursday in November, the American and Canadian community gather together in their homes to celebrate all they are thankful for.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated to give thanks for the blessing of harvest. It is also important to note that Thanksgiving is thought to be just as important as the Christmas holidays by many Americans and Canadians!

 

How is it celebrated?

Macy’s, a popular american department store, organise an annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York that is attended by over 3 million people and broadcast live on national television. This a tradition that has continued for over 80 years, won numerous awards and is seen by more than 50 million fans across the world each year!

American football is always a favourite on Thanksgiving. This year the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Detroit Lions (5.30pm GMT / 12.30pm EST) followed by the Carolina Panthers vs the Dallas Cowboys (9.30pm GMT / 4.30pm EST).

And how can we forget the food! Roast turkey with stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, buttered rolls, gravy, green beans, and squash are just some of the delights you can expect to see, likely to be topped off with a cold refreshing beverage and a helping of candied yams or pumpkin pie!

Origin

The history of Thanksgiving dates back to 1620, when a ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers on an adventure to the New World.  In November 1621, the Pilgrims successfully harvested their first crop of corn, so Governor William Bradford organised a celebratory feast. Both Europeans and Native Americans attended, and it’s now thought of as the first Thanksgiving, lasting three days. In 1846, author Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for Thanksgiving to be recognised as a national holiday. This campaign lasted 17 years and before the letter she wrote to President Lincoln was successful. In 1863 legislation was passed which established a national holiday of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November every year.

 

Black Friday

Black Friday lands on the Friday following Thanksgiving. This a day where retailers reduce prices to extreme levels allowing for massive discounts in an effort to increase sales. This has been a huge hit in america for a while and is moving abroad with certain brands based in the UK taking part – kick-starting the holiday shopping season.

Black Friday is a controversial event. Chaos is caused in department stores throughout the country as bargain hunters scramble to get their most desired products before another shopper snaps them up! So it doesn’t come as a surprise that accidents are common.

However, Cyber Monday has started to become a trend in many nations. The first Monday after Thanksgiving sees prices from on-line retailers fall, this obviously being a less stressful way to shop but hurry while stocks last as it has been said that Cyber Monday is becoming more popular than Black Friday!

America

So if you are thinking of travelling out to america this holiday season you may require an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) but don’t worry, you’re in luck! We can help you with your visa/ESTA application!

To find out if you are eligible, or for any more information regarding travelling to the US visit our website:

http://thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/america/

“give thanks for a little and you will find a lot”

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