Thailand a Beautiful Destination for Your Honeymoon:

Thailand is set in the heart of Southeast Asia. It shares a border with Myanmar to the west, Laos to the north and east, Cambodia to the southeast, and its peninsular southern region stretches down to Malaysia.

The Kingdom of Thailand has long been associated with romance. The country’s reputation in that regard has also been recognized by publications such as Recommend, which again this year-as it has the previous four years-bestowed on Thailand its Reader’s Choice award for the Sexiest Romance/Honeymoon Destination in Asia.  Thailand is one of the easiest destinations to fly to. Thai Airways, the country’s national carrier, flies nonstop from Los Angeles to Bangkok, and several other international carriers offer direct routes from many corners of the globe.

Most international visitors will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as the new Bangkok International Airport, which is 15 miles east of Bangkok. Thailand’s five other international airports are in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north and Hat Yai, Ko Samui and Phuket in the south. There are also eight domestic airports, making it easy to get around the country, and Thailand’s central location makes it an ideal hub for exploring the rest of Asia as well. Several local airlines provide travel schedules that make any destination in Thailand accessible from Bangkok in less than two hours.

WHY THAILAND?

Thailand’s hospitality is legendary and the destination provides an ideal setting for a memorable honeymoon, not to mention destination weddings. There are countless reasons for choosing Thailand for any vacation, but when it comes to honeymoons the conversation should begin with the Kingdom’s wealth of romantic settings and venues. Perhaps more than any other destination, Thailand is blessed with so many historical settings, natural wonders and cultural attractions that inspire romance and set the tone for the ultimate honeymoon.

The splendor of royal palaces–such as Bangkok’s Grand Palace, home to the famous Emerald Buddha–and exotic appeal of ancient temples come immediately to mind.

Thailand is also a progressive country when it comes to acceptance of all lifestyles on both an official and personal level.

BEACHES

High on the list of Thailand’s most popular features is its stunning beaches. Indeed, they are a major attraction for the millions of visitors the country receives each year and no less than six of them–Ko Phangan, Ko Samui, Khao Lak, Ko Phi Phi Don, Krabi and Ko Lanta– landed in the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice 2011 list of Top 10 Beaches in Asia.

SPA/WELLNESS

Thailand offers a wealth of spa opportunities, from visiting a day spa to staying in a spa resort and wellness retreat that can customize a treatment package, including meals and holistic or Ayurveda treatments.

 

DINING/CUISINE

Thai restaurants, street stalls, and bars are more than eateries, they are places for people to get together and enjoy each other’s company as well as dine on some incredibly tasty food.  Eating is a Thailand nightlife attraction in its own right.

Thailand offers an array of cooking classes, ranging from half–day courses to extensive chef training programs.

SHOPPING/MARKETS: Shopping is a fun activity for couples to do together and in an exotic place such as Thailand it’s also an exhilarating cultural experience. Bangkok in particular is one of the world’s premier shopping destinations, with a wealth of 21st century shopping malls and department stores. Upscale favorites include Central World, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, The Emporium, Central Chidlom and Gaysorn. In these centers they’ll find glittering brand name favorites such as Gucci, Hermes, Prada and more. MBK Center offers seven floors of shopping including two floors devoted largely to electronics, while Pantip Plaza is a mall dedicated entirely to electronics.

Where to Stay: Research shows that honeymooners far outspend typical vacationers, so you may want to start by suggesting a luxury hotel, of which Thailand has some of the world’s finest. You’ll also find world–class hotels not only in Bangkok, but throughout the country, especially in resort areas such as Phuket and Ko Samui, and in Thailand’s second biggest city, Chiang Mai. The beach resort of Hua Hin is an up–and–coming area, with sophisticated hotels coming on line.

Note: Both expensive and moderately priced accommodations add a 10 percent service charge plus seven percent government tax, also called a value–added tax (VAT).

Note: The author of Travel Army (Rashidat Muhammed) is a certied 'Thai The Knot Specialist' approved by  the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Update on the UNAOC Summer School, 2015.

The 75 participants of this year’s UNAOC-EF Summer School will be announced tomorrow (April 8th). 

Stay tuned to the blog to discover the youth leaders who will be engaging in a life-changing week in New York from 13th - 20th June 2015.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship, 2015.

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from select developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies, in order to develop effective scholars and leaders and to prepare them for employment, primarily within the AKDN. 

Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master's level courses but is willing to consider applications for PhD programmes, only in the case of outstanding students who are highly recommended for doctoral studies by their professors and who need a PhD for the fulfillment of their career objectives (academic or research oriented).

Applications for short-term courses are not considered; neither are applications from students who have already started their course of study.

Eligibility

Geographic Scope
The Foundation accepts applications from nationals of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique. In France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the above developing countries, are interested in development-related studies and who have no other means of financing their education.

Residency Requirement
The Foundation only accepts applications of eligible nationals listed above who are residing in one of the countries where there are local Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), or Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) offices which process applications and interview candidates.

Age Limit
Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.

Selection Criteria

The main criteria for selecting award winners are:

(l) Consistently excellent academic records, 

(2) Genuine financial need, 

(3) Admission to a highly reputable university or programme of study and 4) relevance of the field of study to AKDN’s focus areas. Candidates are also evaluated on demonstrating thoughtful and coherent educational and career plans, their extra-curricular interests and achievements, potential to achieve their goals and likelihood to succeed in a foreign academic environment. Applicants are expected to have some years of work experience in their field of interest.

Financial Assistance

The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. The cost of travel is not included in AKF scholarships. Funding for PhD programmes is only provided for the first two years of study, after which the students are expected to find alternative sources of assistance. Financial assistance is provided according to the needs of students, but the ISP must be considered a lender of last resort. Applicants are requested to make every effort to obtain funding from other sources as well, so that the amount requested from the Foundation can be reduced to a minimum. Preference is given to those who have been able to secure some funding from alternative sources.

Loan Conditions

Half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, which must be reimbursed with an annual service charge of 5%. A guarantor is required to co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period is five years, starting six months after the study period funded by the Aga Khan Foundation.

Application Procedures

The application procedures of AKF's International Scholarship Programme are decentralised. Students may obtain application forms as of January 1st each year from AKF offices or Aga Khan Education Services / Boards in their countries of current residence. Completed applications should be returned to the agency from which the form was obtained. They should not be sent to Geneva.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submission of entire completed applications is March 31, although in certain countries internal deadlines may be earlier in order to process and review applications. Applicants are advised to contact the local offices for internal deadline dates and requirements as these may vary from country to country. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Source

USA AND CHINA NEW AGREEMENT ON TOURIST AND BUSINESS VISAS

Starting November 12, the United States and the People’s Republic of China will reciprocally increase the validity of short-term business and tourist visas and student and exchange visas issued to each other’s citizens.

Chinese applicants who qualify for a B-category nonimmigrant visa (NIV) may now be issued multiple-entry visas for up to 10 years for business and tourist travel. Qualified Chinese students and exchange visitors and their dependents who qualify for F, M, or J-category visas are now eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years or the length of their program. U.S. citizens eligible for Chinese short term business and tourist visas should also receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, while qualified U.S. students may receive student residency permits valid up to five years, depending on the length of their educational program.

Benefits of Visa Validity Extension:

- The reciprocal extension of visa validity to 10 years for short-term business and tourist travel between China and the United States will increase travel and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between our countries, and benefit our economies by increasing the ease of trade and investment. Ten years is the longest visa validity possible under U.S. law.

- This new arrangement will be more convenient and less costly for travelers. Prior to this, Chinese and American business travelers and tourists had to apply annually if visiting the United States or China each year.

- Until now, many Chinese students who left the United States for short visits abroad were required to apply for new visas. Under the new arrangement, Chinese students will find it easier and more convenient to return home because in many cases they will not be required to obtain new visas prior to returning to the United States to study.

- The arrangement underscores the U.S. commitment to promote bilateral tourism and trade and increase opportunities for people-to-people engagement.

Background:

- More NIVs are processed in China than in any other country; applications processed in China represent more than 14 percent of all NIV applications worldwide. More than 1.95 million NIV applications were processed for Chinese nationals in fiscal year 2014.

- Wait times for interview appointments in China have averaged less than one week at each post in Mission China for the last two years. Due to efficient processing, most applicants are able to enter the Embassy or Consulate, complete their interview, and depart in less than an hour. -

- The vast majority of foreign investment activities in the United States can be performed on a standard business/tourist (B1/B2) visa.

- Chinese nationals comprise the largest group of foreign students in the United States.

- Mission China processed more than 316,000 student and exchange visitor visa applications in FY2014, a 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

- Student visas issued to Chinese nationals accounted for 16 percent of all types of U.S. visas issued in China. Student and exchange visitor visas issued to Chinese applicants represent 30 percent of all such visas issued worldwide.

- Changes in visa validity will not affect visa eligibility criteria, and the basic visa processing fee remains unchanged at the current rate of 160 USD.

For further information, please visit http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn

Opportunities in US Embassy apart from Visa Application

I have seen that a lot of people visit the US Embassy in their respective countries only in matters related to visa applications . However, there are a lot more to offer at the US Embassy beyond just visa applications.
There are different self-development and exchange programs available, spanning various categories, particularly in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Some of these include: career counseling, guide for studying in US, professional sponsorship programs e.g. sponsoring experience teachers to USA for short course, enlightening students on how to get scholarship to study in USA and a whole lot more.

How to become a member of EducationUSA and Study easy in the US

Avoid the ill-fated experience of this Nigerian youth who after spending a lot of money to an Educational Agent, was told by the US Visa Officer that "I would have granted you a visa but your admission is a fraud". Here is the easy way:

Latest News on Immigration to USA

Deferred Enforced Departure Extended for Eligible Liberians in U.S.

Dear readers, share latest news, I think it is useful.                                                                                                 

USCIS Automatically Extends Validity of Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced it will automatically extend Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Liberian nationals covered under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).