Holiday paperwork is adopting new technology with HelloGov
A recent consumer study found that two out of every five travelers consider passports and visas the most stressful aspect of planning a trip, and it is understandable why.
Travel documentation can range from renewing an expired passport to updating a name after marriage or applying for a child’s first passport.
Entry requirements also differ by nationality, destination and purpose of travel. With new electronic travel authorizations like the UK’s ETA and the EU’s forthcoming ETIAS, travelers now have even more to check before flying.
And that’s not even considering that situations such as discovering your passport has expired just before a flight, realizing at the last minute that a visa is required to enter your destination country or making a small error on your application can all cause delays that put your trip in jeopardy.
That is the frustration which HelloGov and iVisa hope to overcome as a result of their recent merger. Under the HelloGov name, they are combining HelloGov’s AI-driven application technology with iVisa’s international visa infrastructure to create a single platform for passport, visa and travel authorization applications, whether routine or time-sensitive.
A New Approach for Travel Documentation
Although HelloGov says travelers can complete these applications themselves, it offers an alternative for travelers who prefer additional help researching the requirements.
The platform helps travelers prepare their applications properly, using both automated checks and manual review to catch mistakes before submission. It starts with entering a nationality and destination to identify exactly which documents are required, then completing the necessary forms and providing any supporting materials needed. Once submitted, travelers can track its status and are told whether everything checks out or needs fixing before it moves forward.
For passport applications, there’s one more step: HelloGov connects travelers with U.S. Department of State-registered couriers who can hand-carry documents directly, rather than requiring a trip to a passport agency or mailing materials in.
That ease works for any applicant, tech-savvy or not, and may be particularly relevant to travelers visiting multiple countries on a single trip, since each destination’s requirements can be handled in one place rather than starting over on a new site each time.
“We share the same core belief in building and launching customer-first services that simplify and improve the traditionally complex and nuanced application processes for government documents,” said Adam Boalt, founder and co-CEO of HelloGov.
Where AI Meets Human Expertise
At the core of the operations is Sydney, an AI-powered application assistant that works with a team of travel documentation specialists to review applications as they are completed.
Instead of leaving applicants to decode complicated government forms, Sydney simplifies the language, verifies documents and is designed to identify potential problems like formatting errors or inappropriate photos.
HelloGov says its trained compliance specialists also examine each application, focusing on identifying issues that may require additional attention and offering hands-on help for complex or time-sensitive cases.
The company says the combination of AI screening and detailed human review has led to a high first-attempt approval rate.
David Perez, iVisa’s founder and now co-CEO of the combined company, said the merger came down to one question: could the two businesses achieve more together?
“We’ve always said we’d only join forces with another company for the right reasons: would we be stronger together than apart?” Perez said. “With HelloGov, the answer was obvious.”
One Platform for n International Audience
According to HelloGov, the merged company expects to handle over 1.5 million passport and visa applications a year for travelers across 100+ destinations and multiple languages.
The company holds an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot from more than 73,000 reviews and says customer data stays encrypted throughout the process.
Convenient access could also extend to more points along the travel journey. “Together, we’re continuing to add to our network of global commercial partners so government applications are available exactly where people are already thinking about their application, from airports to travel brands and beyond,” said Sergio Merino, co-founder of iVisa.
The Ambition Goes Beyond Travel
Even though passports and visas are the current focus, HelloGov and iVisa see a bigger opportunity in making government services easier to navigate. Their long-term goal, as Boalt put it, is to become the premier provider of citizen services.
Brian LaBasco, co-founder of HelloGov, stated that the merger would enable the company to “optimize and enhance the entire customer journey” through AI support, real-time tracking and human assistance.
HelloGov has already introduced business formation services, with vehicle registration and tag-and-title services planned for later this year — all involving the same complicated requirements, unfamiliar terminology and small margin for error as travel documentation.
Supporting a Smoother Start to the Journey
Technology has already transformed travel. Travelers can book flights from their phones, save their boarding passes in digital wallets and make and adapt to itinerary changes in real time. Passport and visa applications have remained one of the more complicated parts of the journey.
The merger between HelloGov and iVisa aims to make that process more convenient. The government will always have the last word, but with both technology and expert support in one place, dealing with changing requirements could be far less stressful.
HelloGov AI, Inc. (“HelloGov”) is a private company registered with the U.S. Department of State as a hand-carry passport courier, and it operates a marketplace of independent registered couriers. HelloGov is not a government agency and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State. Using HelloGov’s service may not get your passport processed any faster than applying in-person, directly at a passport agency. HelloGov’s service, however, aims to increase efficiency, reduce errors and avoid the travel, time and expense associated with the in-person application process, by having a registered courier submit your application on your behalf, always while following State Department requirements. HelloGov’s fees do not include any government, adjudication or passport photo fees.