Neighbours and Strangers Consult

02/11/2018

Asylum seekers who are steps away from Canada listen as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police tells them they will be arrested as they cross over from New York state, north of Plattsburgh (CBC News)

Canada adopts new immigration policy that spells trouble for Nigerian migrants
The policy has already led to accelerated hearings of cases involving Nigerian asylum seekers.

Canada adopts policy that affects Nigerian asylum seekersplay

The Canadian government has adopted a new immigration policy that would adversely affect the chances of immigrants who are seeking asylum in the country after illegally crossing through the United States border.
Nigerians notoriously make up a sizable majority of thousands of people who have walked into Canada from the United States to file refugee claims since January 2017.

The trend worried the Canadian government so much that two officials were sent to Lagos earlier this year to work directly with their counterparts in the U.S. visa office to collaborate on how to lower the number of migrants who make asylum claims in Canada using a U.S. visa.

This was because many of the Nigerian asylum seekers in Canada were observed to have arrived bearing valid U.S. visas after having spent very little time in the States.

According to an exclusive story by Reuters, the Canadian government has adopted a new stringent policy to deal with asylum seekers who illegally enter the country across the U.S. border.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the agency responsible for deportations, disclosed to Reuters that it now classifies border-crossers with criminals as a top deportation priority.

This means quicker processing and deportation of people who crossed the border, unlike in the past when claimants could live in Canada for years while their applications were processed.

Toronto lawyer Lorne Waldman believes that the new policy would easily deter asylum seekers with weak claims from crossing into the country.

"The best way of discouraging people from making frivolous claims is by having the claims processed quickly," Waldman said.

Six lawyers told Reuters that the new policy has already led to accelerated hearings, scheduled in blocs, with a focus on cases involving claimants of Nigerian and Haitian origins.

Canada tightening borders against Nigerian illegal immigrants, others
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau denied that forthcoming provincial elections were the reason behind a delay in Ottowa signing on to a trade dealplay
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under pressure to get the influx of illegal immigrants into Canada under control (AFP)

The new policy is another in a series of attempts by the Canadian government to keep out as many illegal migrants as possible.

The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) dragged the Canadian government to court over a recent court ruling that would make it hard for Nigerians to be granted asylum in the North American country.

The association was displeased with the decision of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to establish as a legal precedent its ruling to deny a Nigerian woman's asylum request.

The unnamed Nigerian woman was denied asylum even though she claimed she fled Nigeria to escape the practice of female ge***al mutilation. The court ruled that she could have sought refuge away from her rural family home in any of Nigeria's large cities of Ibadan or Port Harcourt, and not necessarily run all the way to Canada.

The IRB seized on the ruling to designate it as a "jurisprudential guide" or legal precedent in considering all future Nigerian asylum cases.

The association said the decision meant Nigerians would now likely face a higher bar to gain asylum status than they did in the past with their acceptance rate (33% as of June 2018) already below the average (47%) for all those who crossed the border illegally, according to data from the IRB.

More than 36,000 people have walked into Canada from the United States to file refugee claims since January 2017. Since June 2017, Canadian authorities have reportedly intercepted more than 7,600 Nigerian asylum seekers with 81% of them having valid U.S. non-immigrant visas in their possession.

29/03/2018

29/03/2018

It was rumoured that US embassy was going to increase the visa fee. But am informing you that the visa fee has not been increased but rather decreased. The visa fee remains $160, now at 360 naira per dollar. Which is N57600.

21/03/2018

CHEAP- ORLANDO, FLORIDA TRAVEL GUIDE
Travel Guides

Welcome to the best city in the world,

So I’m going to cover everything you need to know in this expert travel guide to visiting Orlando, Florida on a budget. I will blog about visiting Disney World and Universal Orlando on a budget in a separate post, otherwise this one would be super long.

how to travel orlando| orlando travel guide| orlando budget travel| walt disney world orlando| universal orlando| cheap disney tickets| best time to visit orlando| free disney| what airport for disney| where to eat in orlando| what to do in orlando

Getting there: How to Find Cheap Flights to Orlando
First things first, when planning your trip to beautiful Orlando & trying to find cheap flights to Orlando it is important to know that there’s more than one airport in Orlando, so depending on which airline you are flying with you may not be flying into the main airport, Orlando International Airport aka MCO. Most airlines fly to MCO, but a few budget airlines only fly to Sanford Orlando Airport aka SFB. These airports are about 45 mins from eachother, and while the flight may cost a little less to use a budget airline & fly into SFB you really want to weigh your options because SFB is pretty far, plus flying into MCO has a lot more perks and benefits, including free transportation to Walt Disney World hotels. MCO is also centrally located in Orlando making it 20-24 mins from Downtown Orlando, about 20 to 30 minutes from Walt Disney World, about 20 mins from Universal Orlando Resort, and about 15-25 mins from I-drive. SFB is about 50 mins from I-drive, so that should tell you how far it is.

Quick tip: If you’re wondering why the estimated times of arrival have such big gaps: tolls. But, I’ll tell you how to beat those pesky Orlando tolls later in this post.

When to visit Orlando, FL:

The weather in Orlando is always perfect. (Be prepared to hear me sing the praises of Orlando this entire post, ya’ll. I love Orlando) You know how the rest of the country has seasons like winter, summer, spring & fall? Well, Orlando doesn’t really participate in that. We have 2 seasons. Can you guess what they are? Hot & hotter. Even though I’m a Floridian now, I am originally from Ohio so when I took my first trip to Orlando as a kid I fell in love with the weather.

But, our perfect weather, plus the endless amount of things to do here, brings us constant tourists ALL. YEAR. LONG. So the best time to visit would be when everyone else is at work and school (so try to avoid spring break, summer break & the Holidays). I’m not saying it wont be busy during those time, it just wont be as busy as it usually is. The best month to visit Orlando is September, the humidity isn’t as bad (still hot, though) the lines at the theme parks aren’t as long because everyone has gone back to school/summer vaca is over, plus with tourist numbers being lower around this time hotel prices are also lower. Plus, there’s typically discounts in every category from dining to attractions floating around during this time.

epcot| animal kingdom| hollywood studios| walt disney world| cheap disney tickets| orlando travel| orlando on a budget| budget travel guides| what to do in orlando

Getting around Orlando on a budget:
Depending on what you’ll be doing and how long you’ll be in Orlando the transportation method I recommend will vary.

If you’ll be in Orlando for a while and plan on going all over the city and surrounding areas then I definitely recommend getting a rental car. Taking an uber to and from the airport alone can run you about at least $60 roundtrip (that doesn’t even include the price of taking uber everywhere else you’ll be wanting go during your trip). For that price you can rent a car for an entire week, but beware of tolls! Orlando tolls are not cheap and they are EVERYWHERE! I recommend either programming your GPS to AVOID TOLLS or purchasing your own sunpass from Walgreens so you can just drive right through the toll booths without having to stop and pay the attendant or machine. Avoiding tolls will take a few mins longer, but it’ll save you money in the long run.

If you’re coming to Orlando solely for Disney then I have good news for you. First, make sure you fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO) when coming to Disney because this airport offers a free shuttle, The Magical Express, to and from all Disney World hotels. Walt Disney World also provides free shuttles between all of its hotels, theme parks, water parks & Disney Springs, so a car isn’t needed at all if you’re only coming for Disney.

Where to stay in Orlando on a budget:
There are tons of places to stay in Orlando. If you’re traveling with a big group then truthfully an Airbnb or a vacation rental would be your best bet. Even if you aren’t traveling with a big group, Airbnb is a good way to get the local experience by booking an entire house or a private room! You can sign up with my referral code & save $40 off your booking instantly! If you’re coming for Disney then I definitely suggest staying at one of the many Walt Disney World hotels. They literally have options for every budget. They are broken up into value resorts, moderate resorts, and deluxe resorts. The good news is that it’s still Disney and even the value resorts, which are not expensive at all are beautiful and you still get access to all of the perks including Extra Magic Hours, The Magical Express shuttle, & the option to book your fast passes 60 days in advance. Click here to view rates & save even more on Walt Disney World Hotels.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: How to Stay in Beautiful Yet Cheap Places While Traveling

universal orlando| islands of adventure| grinchmas| visit orlando| things to do in orlando

Where to eat in Orlando on a budget:
There are tons of good restaurants in Orlando. We have all of the typical food chains, but we also have tons of restaraunts for vegans, steak lovers, sea food lovers, everyone. But eating out for every meal can be expensive. If you’re staying in an AirBnb while in Orlando, I definitely suggest you cook majority of your meals. You will save tons of money this way. Depending on which restaurants you choose you can easily spend $30 or more dollars on each meal plus snacks during your trip, and this adds up fast especially if you’re eating out for all of your meals. That can be at least $50 per day per person on meals alone. So the better choice is to make your own meals while traveling (which is why airbnb is so popular) and cut your food budget in half. There’s nothing wrong with eating out while traveling, but I enjoy homecooked meals. Plus, when you have groceries at your condo/airbnb everyone can eat on their own terms whenever they’re ready. You don’t have to wait for everyone to get ready to go out to dinner because everything is already right there. & I don’t know about ya’ll, but when I’m hungry I’m ready to eat at that exact moment or else I get hangry lol

Foodie tip: While in Orlando there are a few things you MUST eat. You HAVE to get a Dole Whip from Walt Disney World and a Butterbeer from Universal Orlando. Also get the Big Pink Donut from Universal, it’s huge and delicious.

universal orlando| harry potter| islands of adventure| butterbeer| orlando| cheap universal tickets| disney world

Fun things to do in Orlando on a budget:
If you’re coming to Orlando for any of the theme parks ALWAYS check online because often times you can save money by purchasing your tickets in advance online. Plus it’ll save you some time from waiting in those long ticket lines.

When most people think Orlando they immediately think theme parks, especially if you’re a 90’s kid like me. But theres so much more to do beyond the theme parks.

There’s tons of shopping & malls: Millenia Mall, Florida Mall, Orlando Premium Outlets, Orlando Prime Outlets. If you visit during basketball season it is worth it to go to an Orlando Magic game. The seats are pretty cheap and the games are so much fun! & If you’re looking for a beach Orlando is only an hour from Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, & New Smyrna Beach.

Speaking of beaches, Orlando is only about an hour or so from Port Canaveral which houses big names like Carnival Cruise ships & Disney Cruise ships! There’s almost always sales going on, so I definitely recommend looking at cruise options since it’s nearby! I’ve taken a couple cruises from Port Canaveral with Carnival and they were so so so fun!

22/06/2017

https://twitter.com/NatGeoTravel/status/877617238664196096

“This chaotic cityscape captures what life is like in Kathmandu, the second largest metropolis in Nepal, and home to over 1.4 million people. https://t.co/smjjcNC6rU”

16/12/2016

London and New York aren’t just two of the most famous cities in the world — they’re also prime competitors for the same tourism dollars. So when it comes down to London vs. New York, which city should you visit? The answer depends on what you’re looking for in a vacation. Here’s how to choose.

Transportation
Cost: A ride to anywhere on the MTA system in New York will cost you a flat $2.75. In London, you'll have to do some math to calculate your fare, as it's broken down by zones. You'll also need to swipe your ticket in order to exit the Tube, which is highly annoying.
Interior design: I will never understand why London's Tube has carpeted seats. At least when things go awry in the biohazard department on New York City's subway, you can just hose down the plastic seats. Although you'll be uncomfortably packed into the cars in either city during rush hour, the Tube is significantly narrower and shorter, adding to the claustrophobia.
Delays/construction: There's no real winner between London vs. New York here. Expect random delays and plenty of construction work in both cities.
STORY FROM DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
A Doctors Without Borders mission at sea
Safety: If you've ever feared being pushed under a subway train, you'll appreciate the sliding glass doors at some London Tube stations that won't open until a train is in the station. New York offers no such safety measures.
Hours: New York, the city that never sleeps, runs its subway 24 hours a day. London offers limited "Night Tube" 24-hour service, with many lines shutting down earlier in the evening. When the Tube isn't running, you're left to the mercy of the unreliable and often rowdy "night bus."
Tickets: Simply tap your plastic Oyster card to the barrier to open the doors without breaking your stride in London. In New York, you'll have to fumble to slide your flimsy paper card in order to get in.
London vs. New York Transportation winner: New York, for not making us do math in order to ride the subway and for being open 24 hours.

New York City tips: Don't do these things!

Food
New York has the market cornered on cheesecake and bagels, but London's no culinary slouch, either. I'll go off of straight facts here: London has more than 100 Michelin star-rated restaurants vs. New York, which has fewer than 70.
London vs. New York food winner: London, for both its variety and its overall quality.
Culture
History: London has been around since approximately 50 C.E., whereas New York City didn't come along until 1624. So London definitely crushes New York on the historical culture front — at least if you're interested in ancient history. New York's history is obviously shorter, but there's plenty of it squeezed into a few centuries.
Museums: London has the British Museum. New York has the Met and the Museum of Natural History. In terms of quality, it's a toss-up, but based on sheer quantity the edge goes to London. It has more than double the number of museums vs. New York City.
Accessibility: Much of London's great culture is accessible to anyone — most of its museums, concerts and some theaters are free.

London vs. New York culture winner: This one's close, but the edge goes to London for, once again, sheer quantity of options.

Share Media
PreviousNext
1 of 35
The Empire State Building in New York.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Friendliness
Locals in both cities have no patience for hapless tourists who get in their way and commit egregious errors like standing on the wrong side of the escalator or stopping on the sidewalk for pictures. But if you stop a local on the street to ask for directions, both Londoners and New Yorkers are likely to help you get where you need to go.
Traveling alone and looking to have a chat? I bet you'll have much better luck in a London pub than in a New York City bar, so my vote here goes to London.
London vs. New York friendliness winner: London. Share a pint!
City layout
Before Google Maps became ubiquitous, Londoners relied on an A-Z street map book which helped them find random street names. That's because London's street names have no logical design to them.

In New York, at least some of the city is designed in an easy to navigate grid system. (You're on your own in Lower Manhattan and some of the outer boroughs, though).
London vs. New York city layout winner: New York. It's hard to get lost in a grid!
Affordability
Brexit kind of changed the game on this one. London used to be a serious investment for vacationing Americans, since the exchange rate so strongly favored the GBP. Now things are a little more even with 1 USD equaling 0.81 GBP. You'll still be taking a hit, but it's a much smaller hit.
The cost of living is about equal, with New York City being slightly more expensive. According to Numbeo.com, you'd need about $7,189.56 to maintain the same standard of life in New York that you could have in London for about $5,531.60. With the currency exchange, it winds up fairly even.
London Vs. New York cost winner: This one's a tie. Both cities are about equally expensive.

04/01/2015

Travel Makes You Smarter

Want to become smarter, more inventive, and more successful? Start traveling.

Travel stimulates your brain and leads to innovative thought. It helps you build the mental inertia needed for success in business and everyday life.

Travel generates the perfect blend of primal, survival-based, thinking on your feet, and the modern sharing of ideas and cross-cultural understanding necessary for success in a global marketplace.

While on vacation, you may think you are simply going through the motions of relaxing, rejuvenating, and unwinding. But did you know you may be getting smarter?

Even the most carefree vacation will cause your brain activity to spike.

First, travel forces a break in your daily routine. Your brain switches from auto-pilot to fully engaged as you steer away from you normal route and set your course for a new destination.

Next, travel stimulates innovative and creative thought as you figure out scheduling, transportation, how to avoid traffic, and where to find breakfast and a cup of coffee (or a cocktail!). You also experience firsthand how others deal with these issues, both at home and abroad. Information is exchanged, ideas are shared, knowledge is gained.

Finally, as you settle in to your holiday destination, you adapt to new surroundings. Your mind opens, and becomes more flexible. You have a chance to see your life and your work from a 30,000 foot perspective, as opposed to the usual right in front of your nose vantage point. You can see the bigger picture.

There is history and science to back all of this up. Our ancestors who were adventurous hunters and gatherers made significant leaps forward in terms of technology and problem solving when compared to their static, isolated counterparts. Tools improved, and so did communication, medicine, and modes of transportation.

Varied diets and daily challenges resulted in better nourishment and faster brain development. Dealing with others from far flung regions made us better at trade, interpretation, and diplomacy.

All of this remains true for today's travelers. Travel provides mental exercise and stimulation that board games and computers cannot.

Buy the ticket, take the ride, and boost your IQ.

04/01/2015

Places To Travel In Germany

Germany is one of the most visited countries in the world. As per the records on average 37 million foreigners visit Germany every year Also as, per Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Reports, Germany has been rated as one of the safest place to travel worldwide. Below are the preferred destinations to visit

*Berlin

It is one the oldest cities in Europe. There are many local places, attractions and activities a tourist can enjoy. – City’s main attractions include Reichstag, the Parliament, the Berlin wall, Museum island, Mauer park, etc. – In museum island don’t forget to visit the Neues museum in the UNESCO heritage site showing you the best Egyptian experience. It is a place not be missed.

*Cologne

Beautiful city to explore. You should visit Rhine River Pass and enjoy a panorama cruise if you can. – There is a number of art galleries, theatres, restaurants and animated bars to visit. Dresden– Great place to have some sightseeing in a bus tour. Must places to visit here are Saxon Switzerland National Park, Semper Opera House, Meissen, etc.

*Dusseldorf

It is a place full of art. Museums and other attractions are worth trying. – Places to visit are the Old town, Schneider Wibel Gasse, Burgplatz, Cart wheeler fountain, Pegeluhr, Stiftsplatz, Media harbour, Benerth palace and park, etc. – If you are going around Christmas season, then you must visit the Christmas market which is an annual event and don’t forget to try Gluehwein (mulled wine) there.

*Frankfurt

It is located in the main Germany. Having a rich history and a cool nightlife, it offers to you a pool of enjoyment. – Places to visit are Rhine valley, Rothenburg, Heidelberg, Neuschwanstein castle, Fuessen town, and don’t miss the shows at Tigerpalast theatre.

*Hamburg

You must have a boating tour to Hamburg harbor. Festival of light by Hamburg’s Alster Lake redefining the beauty of music, fountains and a glass of wine should not be missed.

*Hanover

Here you are going to find a great sea life. – You should visit some inland lakes, coastal river and must have an underwater experience in the deep sea.

*Munich

This is a city with the charming architecture, beautiful streets, castle perches, etc. – Pick up a map and browse this beautiful city. You should visit Nymphenburg palace, Residenz galleries, Schloss Dachau, Museum Brandhorst, Glyptothek, Pinakotheken, etc.

Munich is also referred as a Toy Town so you will find it better to roam across the streets here.Schwabing is the best place here to browse regional cuisine and boutiques.You can also visit Maxvorstadt that is a university featuring several cultural activities which will amaze your soul.

*Nuremberg

It is home of historic buildings, spectacular churches, and Germany’s largest pedestrian area. – You should visit Pegnitz River which flows through the city, Nuremberg castle, traditional sausage restaurants, etc. Potsdam– First you should start with sightseeing here as you will find a number of interesting places to visit. – Visit Sanssouci Palace, Mauroascazubi, Artaficionado, Schloss Cecilienhof, Alter market, Russian colony, Film museum, etc.



So what are you wiating for? Get a Germany visa and pay a visit to this beautiful country. A Schengen visa and this small travel guide are all you need to start with wish you a Happy New Year. For further equiries contact us on 07089504995, 08068951490. Email - [email protected]