The power of a passport and visa office

As travelers begin to return to the skies, one concern is emerging in the minds of travelers and travel managers alike – obtaining and renewing passports and visas. If your travelers are flying internationally (many for the first time in a long time), they may be looking to renew or update their international travel documents.

That’s where a passport and visa office comes in. Corporate Travel Management (CTM) sat down with our in-house team of experts to learn about their unique set of skills – managing complex entry and exit rules and international documentation requirements in a constantly changing global environment, and getting our travelers on their way with passports and visas in hand.

What does a passport and visa office do?

CTM’s dedicated visa and passport team manages everything from automated and in-house visas to passport processing. With dedicated teams in New York City and London, our teams provide services to US and British citizens who need new or renewed travel documents.

How is CTM’s dedicated team assisting travelers in navigating changing global entry and exit requirements?

Our passport team complements CTM’s existing travel technology by ensuring travelers and travel arrangers have access to the most up-to-date information on border restrictions and passport and visa requirements. In particular, our passport and visa team are available to support our customers who may have more complex travel needs and considerations.

For example, a client traveling to China might be aware that they can currently receive a visa for China (as they are being issued at present). However, “it’s the process afterward to actually enter the country that’s a bit different and more complex to understand,” according to Victoria Santiago, supervisor, passport and visa development with CTM. “We have to follow the rules of each country, and those rules might change with little to no notice. So that’s where our customers see value in having an expert on hand for immediate and practical assistance.”

“We often hear that the passport office team offers an invaluable sense of reassurance and personal touch to help our customers feel comfortable and prepared for what might be their first international trip in many months,” added Santiago.

How does CTM work with clients to support passport applicants?

CTM’s passport and visa office work to arrange for new or renewed travel documents. Clients work with us to set up travel compliance notifications to notify travel managers when a traveler’s documents are out-of-date. Our travel advisor team will check the passport’s validity and other details, and then with the passport or visa application to verify those details and any amendments. Working directly with the passport applicant ensures information security and accuracy. After the CTM Advisor verifies the travelers’ documents, they will refer them to our in-house Passport and Visa Department. The traveler will work directly with the CTM P&V consultant.

Next, advisors will prepare the documents. CTM’s team will schedule a drop-off at the processing authority. Once complete, a team of dedicated specialist couriers will pick up the passport or visa at the scheduled time. Finally, the advisor will contact the applicant to arrange delivery.

What about passport expediting? Is that something CTM can manage?

A key value of CTM’s passport and visa office is our ability to offer passport expediting in the form of daily guaranteed appointments at the passport office. This comes thanks to our 20-year relationship with the US passport office (which is not currently granting that same level of access to new third-party passport service providers).