YOUR TRIP ABROAD
Before You Go
There is a lot you can do to prepare for your trip, depending upon
where, how long and why you are going.
LEARN ABOUT THE PLACES YOU WILL VISIT
Here are some good sources:
A travel agent can provide brochures and tourist information about the
countries you plan to visit.
Your travel agent should also be able to provide you with the Department
of State travel warning for any country you plan to visit, if one has
been issued for the country. If your travel agent cannot provide travel
warnings, you can obtain them 24-hours a day by calling (202) 647-5225.
Look in your local bookstore and public library for books on foreign
travel.
Many countries have tourist information offices in large cities that can
give you brochures and, in some cases, maps. International airlines may
also supply you with travel brochures on the countries they serve.
Foreign embassies or consulates in the United States can provide
up-to-date information on their countries. Addresses and telephone
numbers of the embassies of foreign governments are listed in the
Congressional Directory, available at most public libraries. In
addition to their embassies, some countries also have consulates in
major U.S. cities. Look for their addresses in your local telephone
directory, or find them in the publication, Foreign Consular Offices in
the United States, available in many public libraries.
Check on Travel Warnings
The Department of State issues travel warnings to alert U.S. citizens to
conditions overseas that may affect them adversely.
Travel warnings are posted at U.S. passport agencies, Department of
Commerce field offices, and at U.S. embassies and consulates around the
world. They are distributed to the travel and airline industry and can
be found through airline computer reservation systems. If you plan
travel to an area or country where there is some concern about existing
conditions, find out if there is a travel advisory by contacting the
nearest passport agency or your travel agent or airline. You may also
listen to recorded travel warnings, 24-hours a day. Call the Department
of State's Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 202-647-5225.
THINGS TO BE SURE YOU HAVE
Travel document requirements vary from country to country, but you will
need the following: a passport or other proof of citizenship, plus a
visa or a tourist card. You may also need evidence that you have enough
money for your trip and/or have ongoing or return transportation
tickets.
A VALID PASSPORT
WHO NEEDS A PASSPORT?
A U.S. citizen needs a passport to depart or enter the United States and
to enter and depart most foreign countries. Exceptions include
short-term travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, and some
countries in the Caribbean. Your travel agent or airline can tell you
if you need a passport for the country you plan to visit.
WARNING! Even if you are not required to have a passport to visit a
country, U.S. Immigration requires you to prove your U.S. citizenship
and identity when you reenter the United States. Make certain that you
take with you adequate documentation to pass through U.S. Immigration
upon your return. A U.S. passport is the best proof of U.S.
citizenship. Other documents to prove U.S. citizenship include an
expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate, a
Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Report
of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. To prove your
identity, either a valid driver's license or a government identification
card that includes a photo or a physical description is adequate.
With the number of international child custody cases on the rise,
several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent
child abductions. For example, Mexico has a law that requires a child
traveling alone or with only one parent to carry written, notarized
consent from the absent parent or parents. No authorization is needed
if the child travels alone and is in possession of a U.S. passport. A
child traveling alone with a birth certificate requires written,
notarized authorization from both parents.
Beware of a Passport That Is About to Expire! Certain countries will
not permit you to enter and will not place a visa in your passport if
the remaining validity is less than 6 months. If you return to the
United States with an expired passport, you are subject to a passport
waiver fee of $100, payable to U.S. Immigration at the port of entry.
All persons must have their own passport. Since January 1981, family
members are not permitted to be included in each others' passports.
WHEN TO APPLY
Every year, demand for passports becomes heavy in January and begins to
decline in August. You can help reduce U.S. Government expense and
avoid delays by applying between September and December. However, even
in those months, periods of high demand for passports can occur. Apply
several months in advance of your planned departure, whenever possible.
If you need visas, allow additional time, approximately two weeks per
visa.
HOW TO APPLY IN PERSON
For your first passport, you must appear in person with a completed Form
DSP-11, Passport Application, at one of the 13 U.S. passport agencies or
at one of the several thousand federal or state courts or U.S. post
offices authorized to accept passport applications. You may be able to
find the addresses of passport acceptance facilities in your area in the
government listings of your telephone book. If you cannot find a
listing, contact one of the 13 U.S. passport agencies listed on page 39
at the end of this pamphlet.
Applicants between age 13 and 18 must appear in person, accompanied by a
parent or legal guardian. For children under age 13, a parent or legal
guardian may appear on their behalf.
If you have had a previous passport and wish to obtain another, you may
be eligible to apply by mail (see page 10 below for details).
WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOU APPLY
1. A properly completed, but unsigned, passport application (DSP-11). Do
not sign it!
2. Proof of U.S. citizenship (a, b, or c):
a. Use your previously issued passport or one in which you were
included. If you are applying for your first passport or cannot
submit a previous passport, you must submit other evidence of
citizenship.
b. If you were born in the United States, you should produce a
certified copy of your birth certificate. This must show that the
birth record was filed shortly after birth and must be certified
with the registrar's signature and raised, impressed, embossed, or
multicolored seal. Certified copies of birth records can be
obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the city, state,
county, or territory where you were born. (Notifications of Birth
Registration or Birth Announcements are not normally accepted for
passport purposes.) A delayed birth certificate (one filed more
than one year after the date of birth) is acceptable provided it
shows a plausible basis for creating this record.
If you cannot obtain a birth certificate, submit a notice from a
state registrar stating that no birth record exists, accompanied
by the best secondary evidence possible. This may include a
baptismal certificate, a hospital birth record, affidavits of
persons having personal knowledge of the facts of your birth, or
other documentary evidence such as an early census, school
records, family Bible records, and newspaper files. A personal
knowledge affidavit should be supported by at least one public
record reflecting birth in the United States.
c. If you were born abroad, you can use:
- A Certificate of Naturalization.
- A Certificate of Citizenship.
- A Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of
America (Form FS-240).
- A Certification of Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350).
If you do not have any of these documents and are a U.S. citizen, you
should take all available proof of citizenship to the nearest U.S.
passport agency and request assistance in proving your citizenship.
3. Proof of identity.
You must also establish your identity to the satisfaction of the person
accepting your application. The following items are generally
acceptable documents of identity if they contain your signature and if
they readily identify you by physical description or photograph:
- A previous U.S. passport.
- A certificate of naturalization or citizenship.
- A valid driver's license.
- A government (federal, state, municipal) identification card.
The following are NOT acceptable:
- Social Security card.
- Learner's or temporary driver's license.
- Credit card of any type.
- Any temporary or expired identity card or document.
- Any document that has been altered or changed in any manner.
If you are unable to present one of the first four documents to
establish your identity, you must be accompanied by a person who has
known you for at least 2 years and who is a U.S. citizen or a permanent
resident alien of the United States. That person must sign an affidavit
in the presence of the same person who executes the passport
application. The witness will be required to establish his or her own
identity. You must also submit some identification of your own.
4. Photographs.
Present two identical photographs of yourself that are sufficiently
recent (normally taken within the past 6 months) to be a good likeness.
Passport Services encourages photographs where the applicant is relaxed
and smiling.
The photographs must not exceed 2x2 inches in size. The image size
measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head (including
hair) must be not less than 1 inch or more than 1-3/8 inches with your
head taking up most of the photograph. Passport photographs may be
either black and white or color.
Photographs must be clear, front view, full-face, and printed on thin
white paper with a plain, white or off-white background. Photographs
should be portrait-type prints taken in normal street attire without a
hat and must include no more than the head and shoulders or upper torso.
Dark glasses are not acceptable except when worn for medical reasons.
Head coverings are only acceptable if they are worn for religious
reasons.
Applicants may use photographs in military uniform only if they are on
active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and are proceeding abroad in the
discharge of their duties.
Newspaper, magazine and most vending machine prints are not acceptable
for use in passports.
5. The correct fee.
Applicants age 18 and over who are required to appear in person, must
pay $65 for their passport. This includes a $10 execution fee. Their
passport is valid for 10 years. Applicants under age 18 must pay $40
for their passport. It is valid for 5 years.
You may pay in person by check, bank draft, or money order. You may
also pay in cash at a passport agency and at some, but not all post
offices and clerks of court.
HOW TO APPLY BY MAIL
You may apply by mail if all of the following are true:
- You have been issued a passport within 12 years prior to your new
application.
- You are able to submit your most recent U.S. passport with your new
application.
- Your previous passport was issued on or after your 16th birthday.
- You use the same name as that on your most recent passport or you have
had your name changed by marriage or court order.
HOW TO PROCEED
Obtain Form DSP-82, Application for Passport by Mail, from one of the
offices accepting applications or from your travel agent, and complete
the information requested on the reverse side of the form.
(1) Sign and date the application.
(2) Include your date of departure. If no date is included, passport
agents will assume that your travel plans are not immediate, and
your passport will be processed in about two to three weeks.
(3) Enclose your previous passport.
(4) Enclose two identical 2x2 photographs (Specifications listed
later in this file.).
(5) The $55 passport fee. (The $10 acceptance fee is not required
for applicants eligible to apply by mail.)
(6) If your name has changed, submit the original or certified copy of
the court order or marriage certificate that shows the change of
name.
(7) For processing, mail the completed application and attachments to
one of the passport agencies listed at the back of this pamphlet. An
incomplete or improperly prepared application will delay issuance of
your passport.
HOW TO PAY THE PASSPORT FEE
The following forms of payment are acceptable when you apply by mail:
- Bank draft or cashier's check.
- Check: either certified, personal, or travelers (for exact amount).
- Money order: U.S. postal, international, currency exchange, or bank.
Do NOT send cash through the mail!
WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT
Sign it right away! Then fill in page 4, the personal notification data
page. Your previous passport and the original documents that you may
have submitted will be returned to you with your new passport.
OTHER PASSPORT INFORMATION
OBTAINING A PASSPORT IN AN EMERGENCY
Passport agencies will expedite issuance in cases of genuine, documented
emergencies. If you are leaving within five days and need a passport,
you can pay to have your passport delivered to you by express mail. But
you must arrange and pay for this in advance. Check with the post office
or court house that accepts your application or with the nearest
passport agency for specific details.
If you plan to travel abroad frequently or if you stay overseas for long
periods of time, your relatives or associates in the United States
should have valid passports as well. That way, should you become
seriously ill or involved in some other emergency, they could travel
without delay.
DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL PASSPORTS
If you are being assigned abroad on U.S. government business and are
eligible to apply by mail for a no-fee passport (no-fee regular,
official, diplomatic), you must submit the mail-in application form,
your authorization to apply for a no-fee passport, your previous
passport, and two photographs to the Passport Agency in Washington, D.C.
for processing.
ADDITIONAL VISA PAGES
If you require additional visa pages before your passport expires,
obtain them by submitting your passport to one of the passport agencies
listed at the back of this pamphlet. If you travel frequently to
countries requiring visas, you may request a 48-page passport at the
time you apply. There is no additional charge for extra pages or for a
48-page passport.
CHANGE OF NAME
If you have changed your name, you will need to have your passport
amended. Fill out Form DSP-19, Passport Amendment/Validation
Application, which is available from any office that is authorized to
accept passport applications. Submit the DSP-19 along with proof of the
name change (a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or certified court
order) to the nearest passport agency. There is no fee for this
service.
AN ALTERED OR MUTILATED PASSPORT
If you mutilate or alter your U.S. passport in any way (other than
changing the personal notification data), you may render it invalid,
cause yourself much inconvenience, and expose yourself to possible
prosecution under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code).
Mutilated or altered passports should be turned in to passport agents,
authorized postal employees, or U.S. consular officers abroad.
LOSS OR THEFT OF A U.S. PASSPORT
Safeguard your passport. Its loss could cause you unnecessary travel
complications as well as significant expense.
If your passport is lost or stolen in the United States, report the loss
or theft immediately to Passport Services, 1425 K Street, N.W.,
Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20524 or to the nearest passport
agency.
Should your passport be lost or stolen abroad, report the loss
immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate. If you can provide the consular officer with the information
contained in your passport, it will facilitate issuance of a new
passport. Therefore, photocopy the data page of your passport and keep
it in a separate place. In addition, leave the passport number, date,
and place of issuance with a relative or friend in the United States.
OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT PASSPORTS?
Additional passport information may be obtained from the passport
agencies listed at the end of this pamphlet.
OBTAIN VISAS
A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed in your passport by a foreign
government that permits you to visit that country for a specified
purpose and a limited time, for example, a 3-month tourist visa. It is
advisable to obtain visas before you leave the United States because you
will not be able to obtain visas for some countries once you have
departed. Apply directly to the embassy or nearest consulate of each
country you plan to visit, or consult a travel agent. Passport agencies
cannot help you obtain visas.
"Foreign Entry Requirements"
Department of State publication M-264, Foreign Entry Requirements, gives
entry requirements for every country and tells where and how to apply
for visas and tourist cards. It can be ordered for $0.50 from the
Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, Colorado 81009. Note: The
publication is updated annually but may not reflect the most current
requirements. It is advisable to verify the latest visa requirements
with the embassy or consulate of each country you plan to visit.
Because a visa is stamped directly onto a blank page in your passport,
you will need to give your passport to an official of each foreign
embassy or consulate. You will also need to fill out a form, and you
may need one or more photographs. Many visas require a fee. The process
may take several weeks for each visa, so apply well in advance of your
trip.
TOURIST CARD
If the country you plan to visit only requires a tourist card, obtain
one from the country's embassy or consulate, from an airline serving the
country, or at the port of entry. There is a fee for some tourist
cards.
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
Check with the embassy or consulate of each country you plan to visit to
learn what proof of citizenship is required of visitors. Even if a
country does not require a visitor to have a passport, it will require
some proof of citizenship and identity. Remember that no matter what
proof of citizenship a foreign country requires, U.S. Immigration has
strict requirements for your reentry into the United States.
Information on U.S. Immigration requirements are later in this file..
IMMUNIZATIONS
Under international health regulations adopted by the World Health
Organization, a country may require international certificates of
vaccination against yellow fever and cholera. Typhoid vaccinations are
not required for international travel, but are recommended for areas
where there is risk of exposure. Smallpox vaccinations are no longer
given. Check your health care records to insure that your measles,
mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis immunizations
are up-to-date. Medication to deter malaria and other preventative
measures are advisable for certain areas. No immunizations are needed
to return to the United States.
Information on immunization requirements, U.S. Public Health Service
recommendations, and other health hints are included in the book, Health
Information for International Travel, available for $5.00 from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. You may also obtain
such information from local and state health departments or physicians.
This information is also available on the Centers for Disease Control
24-hour hotline: 404-639-2572.
It is not necessary to be vaccinated against a disease you will not be
exposed to and few countries refuse to admit you if you arrive without
the necessary vaccinations. Officials will either vaccinate you, give
you a medical follow-up card, or, in rare circumstances, put you in
isolation for the incubation period of the disease you were not
vaccinated against. Check requirements before you depart.
If vaccinations are required, they must be recorded on approved forms,
such as those in the booklet PHS-731, International Certificates of
Vaccination as Approved by the World Health Organization. If your
doctor or public health office does not have this booklet, it can be
obtained for $2 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or Government Printing Office
bookstores. Keep it with your passport.
Some countries require certification from long-term visitors that they
are free of the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). Generally, this
has little bearing on tourists and short-term visitors. Check with the
embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit for the latest
information.
HEALTH INSURANCE
For travelers who become seriously ill or injured overseas, obtaining
medical treatment and hospital care can be costly. The Social Security
Medicare program does not cover hospital and medical services outside
the United States. Before you leave the United States, learn what
medical services your health insurance will cover abroad.
If your health insurance policy does not cover you abroad, you are urged
to purchase a temporary health policy that does. There are short-term
health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. You
can find the names of such companies from your travel agent, your health
insurance company, or from advertisements in travel publications. In
addition to health insurance, many policies include trip cancellation,
baggage loss, and travel accident insurance in the same package. Some
travelers check companies have protection policies available for those
who purchase travelers checks.
MEDICAL EVACUATION
One of the chief advantages of health and emergency assistance policies
is that they often include coverage for medical evacuation to the United
States. Medical evacuation can easily cost $5000 depending upon your
location and medical condition. Even if your regular health insurance
covers you for emergencies abroad, consider purchasing a supplemental
insurance policy to cover medical evacuation.
Whichever health insurance coverage you choose for overseas, remember to
bring your policy identity card and claim forms with you.
HOW TO BRING MONEY
TRAVELERS CHECKS
Do not carry large amounts of cash. Take most of your money in
travelers checks and remember to record the serial number, denomination
and the date and location of the issuing bank or agency. Keep this
information in a safe and separate place so if you lose your travelers
checks you can get replacements quickly.
CREDIT CARDS
Some credit cards can be used worldwide, even for cash advances. Keep
track of your credit card purchases so as not to exceed your limit.
Travelers have been arrested overseas for mistakenly exceeding their
credit limit! Leave all unnecessary credit cards at home. Record the
numbers of the credit cards that you do bring and keep the list in a
separate place from the cards.
Always report the loss or theft of your credit cards or travelers checks
immediately to the companies and notify the local police. If you will
stay in one place for some time, consider opening an account for check
cashing and other transactions at a U.S. bank that has an overseas
affiliate. U.S. embassies and consulates cannot cash checks for you.
PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY FUNDS
Keep the telephone number for your bank in the United States with you in
the event you run out of cash and need to transfer money. In some
countries, major banks and certain travel agencies can help you arrange
a transfer of funds from your account to a foreign bank. If you do not
have a bank account from which you can obtain emergency funds, make
arrangements in advance with a relative or friend to send you emergency
funds should it become necessary. If you find yourself destitute,
contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance in
arranging a money wire transfer from a relative or friend in the United
States.
FOREIGN CURRENCY
Before departing, you may wish to purchase small amounts of foreign
currency to use for buses, taxis, phones, or tips when you first arrive.
Foreign exchange facilities at airports may be closed when your flight
arrives. You can purchase foreign currency at some U.S. banks, at
foreign exchange firms, or at foreign exchange windows or even vending
machines at many international airports in the United States.
Some countries regulate the amount of local currency you can bring into
or take out of the country; others require that you exchange a minimum
amount of currency. For currency regulations, check with a bank,
foreign exchange firm, your travel agent, or the embassy or consulate of
the countries you plan to visit.
If you leave or enter the United States with more than $10,000 in
monetary instruments of any kind, you must file a report, Customs Form
4790, with U.S. Customs at the time. Failure to comply can result in
civil and criminal proceedings.
VALUABLES - DON'T BRING THEM!
Do not bring anything on your trip that you would hate to lose such as
expensive jewelry, family photographs, or objects of sentimental value.
If you bring jewelry, wear it discreetly to help avoid grab-and-run
robbery.
OTHER THINGS TO ARRANGE AHEAD
LODGING
RESERVE IN ADVANCE
Many travelers wait until they reach their destination before making
hotel reservations. Some train stations and airports have travel desks
to assist you in finding lodging. However, when you arrive, you may be
tired and unfamiliar with your surroundings, and could have difficulty
locating a hotel to meet your needs. Therefore, when possible, reserve
your lodging in advance and reconfirm your reservations along the way.
During peak tourist season, it is important have a hotel reservation for
at least the first night you arrive in a foreign city.
An alternative to hotels and pensions is the youth hostel system,
offering travelers of all ages clean, inexpensive, overnight
accommodations in more than 6,000 locations in over 70 countries
worldwide. Hostels provide dormitory-style accommodations with separate
facilities for males and females. Some hostels have family rooms that
can be reserved in advance. Curfews are often imposed and membership is
often required. You may write to: American Youth Hostels, P.O. Box
37613, Washington, D.C. 20013-7613.
ORGANIZED PROGRAMS
The majority of private programs for vacation, study, or work abroad are
reputable and financially sound. However, some charge exorbitant fees,
use deliberately false "educational" claims, and provide working
conditions far different from those advertised. Even programs of
legitimate organizations can be poorly administered. Be cautious.
Before committing yourself or your finances, find out about the
organization and what it offers.
STUDENT TRAVELERS
Students can save money on transportation and accommodations, and obtain
other discounts if they have an International Student Identity Card.
This card is available with proof of student status and a small fee
from: Council on International Educational Exchange; 205 East 42nd
Street; New York, New York 10017. Membership also provides some
accident and health insurance while abroad.
TRANSPORTATION
At the time of publication, U.S. citizens traveling abroad are required
to pay a $12 federal inspection fee and a $6 federal departure tax that
are included in the price of the air ticket.
CHARTER FLIGHTS AND AIRLINES
There have been occasions when airlines or companies that sell charter
flights or tour packages have gone out of business with little warning,
stranding passengers overseas. If you know from the media or from your
travel agent that an airline is in financial difficulty, ask your travel
agent or the airline what recourse you would have if the airline ceased
to operate. Some airlines may honor the tickets of a defunct airline,
but they usually do so with restrictions.
Before you purchase a charter flight or tour package, read the contract
carefully. Unless it guarantees they will deliver services promised or
give a full refund, consider purchasing trip insurance. If you are
unsure of the reputation of a charter company or tour operator, consult
your local Better Business Bureau or the American Society of Travel
Agents at 1101 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, Tel. (703) 739-2782,
to learn if the company has a complaint record .
DRIVER'S LICENSE/AUTO INSURANCE
If you intend to drive overseas, check with the embassy or consulate of
the countries you will visit to learn their driver's license, road
permit, and auto insurance requirements. If possible, obtain road maps
before you go.
Many countries do not recognize a U.S. driver's license. Most, however,
accept an international driver's permit. Before departure, obtain one
at a local office of an automobile association. You must be at least
age 18, and you will need two passport-size photographs and your valid
U.S. license. Certain countries require road permits instead of tolls
to use their divided highways and will fine drivers without a permit.
Car rental agencies overseas usually provide auto insurance, but in some
countries, the required coverage is minimal. A good rule of thumb when
renting a car overseas is to purchase insurance coverage that is at
least equivalent to that which you carry at home.
In general, your U.S. auto insurance does not cover you abroad. However,
your policy may apply when you drive to countries that neighbor the
United States. Check with your insurer to see if your policy covers you
in Canada, Mexico, or countries south of Mexico. Even if your policy
is valid in one of these countries, it may not meet its minimum
requirements. For instance, in most of Canada, you must carry at least
$200,000 in liability insurance, and Mexico requires that if vehicles do
not carry theft, third party liability, and comprehensive insurance, the
owner must post a bond that could be as high as 50% of the value of the
vehicle. If you are under-insured for a country, auto insurance can
usually be purchased on either side of the border.
U.S. CUSTOMS PRE-REGISTRATION
Learn about U.S. Customs regulations. Foreign-made personal articles
taken abroad are subject to duty and tax unless you have proof of prior
possession such as a receipt, bill of sale, an insurance policy, or a
jeweler's appraisal. If you do not have proof of prior possession,
items such as foreign-made watches, cameras, or tape recorders that can
be identified by serial number or permanent markings may be taken to the
Customs office nearest you or at the port of departure for registration
before departing the United States. The certificate of registration
provided can expedite free entry of these items when you return.
DOCUMENTATION FOR MEDICATIONS
If you go abroad with preexisting medical problems, carry a letter from
you doctor describing your condition, including information on any
prescription medicines you must take. You should also have the generic
names of the drugs. Leave medicines in their original, labeled
containers. These precautions make customs processing easier. A
doctor's certificate, however, may not suffice as authorization to
transport all prescription drugs to all foreign countries. Travelers
have innocently been arrested for drug violations when carrying items
not considered to be narcotics in the United States. To ensure you do
not violate the drug laws of the countries you visit, consult the
embassy or consulate of those countries for precise information before
leaving the United States.
If you have allergies, reactions to certain medicines, or other unique
medical problems, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or carrying
a similar warning.
Several private organizations provide listings of physicians to
international travelers. Membership in these organizations is generally
free, although a donation may be requested. Membership entitles the
traveler to a number of traveler's medical aids, including a directory
of physicians with their overseas locations, telephone numbers and
doctors' fee schedules. The physicians are generally English-speaking
and provide medical assistance 24 hours a day. The addresses of these
medical organizations are in travel magazines or may be available from
your travel agent.
PLACES TO RECEIVE MAIL
If you are traveling for an extended period, you may want to arrange to
pick up mail or messages. Some banks and international credit card
companies handle mail for customers at their overseas branches. General
Delivery (Poste Restante) services at post offices in most countries
will hold mail for you. U.S. embassies and consulates do not handle
private mail.
LEARN ABOUT DUAL NATIONALITY
Whether you are a U.S. citizen from birth or were naturalized as a U.S.
citizen, a foreign country may claim you as its citizen if:
- You were born there.
- Your parent is or was a citizen of that country.
- You are married to a citizen of that country.
If any of the possibilities for dual nationality applies to you, check
on your status (including military obligations) with the embassy or
consulate of the country that might claim you as a citizen. In
particular, Americans may have problems with dual nationality in certain
countries in the Middle East, in South America, and in Africa. Some
foreign countries refuse to recognize a dual national's U.S. citizenship
and do not allow U.S. officials access to arrested Americans.
Page 2 YOUR TRIP ABROAD
Back to VacationParadise.com Travel Tips
