Finding Balance

Archive for July 4th, 2010

I was looking at the outside of my house the other day so see if there was any work that needed to be done and noticed that, besides a little landscaping, my roof needed some sprucing up. The roof is still in very good condition and doesn’t need a costly replacement.

In searching through the Internet, I came across a company, Roofline , that has a process that gives a roof an update that looks like a new roof has been installed. They use a”point last” system for roof restoration. The “point last” process happens when the pointing on the restored roof  is coated over with the same color membrane that’s applied to the tiles. This is definitely an economical way to go to upgrade the look of your home.

 Are the following statements about your passport “True or False” ?

Your passport’s expiration date can keep you out of a country.

What is not in your passport can be as important as what’s in it.

Both statements are true. Countries can set their own entry and exit rules and if your passport is set to expire earlier than the country you plan to visit allows, you won’t be able to enter. Lou Lint, a travel agent in Grand Rapids, MI offers additional passport information. He says some countries require your passport to have 2-4 blank visa/stamp pages. Some airlines won’t allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Africa requires 2 blank pages in the passport book.

To visit Mexico your passport only has to be valid on entry. To visit Jamaica, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months prior to the date of entry. Many destinations around the world including Italy, France, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand require a passport to be valid for 3 months prior to your stay.

Before traveling to foreign countries including Canada, Mexico and Bermuda, check to see what is required for passport and visa pages, passport expiration dates and if a visa is needed. For new or renewed passports or visas, be sure to allow ample time for your request to be processed.

Contact the U.S. State Department for guidelines as this post is for general informational purposes only.