Sunday, March 7. 2010
The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs is rolling out a new online application process for nonimmigrant visas aimed at reducing processing time. The bureau decided to deploy application DS-160 worldwide after a yearlong pilot program ended in September 2009. Eighty-eight consulates and embassies accept visa applications using DS-160, and more are making the transition each week. A spokeswoman for Consular Affairs, said the bureau expects that DS-160 will be used at every overseas visa-issuing post by the end of April. State rolls out new online visa application for temporary visitors
Monday, March 1. 2010
What does the use of forged passports from multiple countries in an assassination mean for border security, for dual nationality, and for diplomatic relations. It will certainly support the U.S. State Department's claim that they need to start charging more to maintain the needed level of security for U.S. Passports. On Thursday Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs said "we have taken steps in recent years to strengthen the security surrounding U.S. passports. Obviously, this has been an area where the United States has talked to other countries. We are very alert to attempts to use forged or stolen passports, and as a major effort to limit the travel of terrorists around the world. So it is something that we have spent a lot of time focused on." U.S. State Department
Expect some changes in how dual nationality is handled. When someone can hold passports from 2 different countries, they can have a much easier time of disappearing. While restrictions usually make it difficult, it is still possible to leave a country on one passport and enter another country with the passport from another country. In an article The UAE to be ?€?careful?€™ with holders of dual passport Dubai Police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim is quoted saying ?€?In the future, those we suspect of carrying dual nationality will be treated very carefully,?€?.
Although the UAE officially bans Israeli passport holders not on an official visit as well as travelers who have Israeli stamps in their passports, both types of traveler have been granted entry into the country. What will happen now? For the time being the only response has been to say "travelers suspected of being Israeli will not be allowed into the United Arab Emirates even if they arrive with alternative passports." Emirates: No Entry for Suspected Israelis Will other Arab countries step up their practice of denying entry to anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport?
Thursday, February 25. 2010
On February 9th, The U.S. Department of State proposed increases in the fees charged for various U.S. Passport procedures. Passports for applicants 16 and over are set to increase by $35. This includes first time passports and renewals. Applicants under 16 that only receive passports valid for 5 years will see their application fee go up by $20. Having extra pages added to your passport, which was free, will cost $82. Passport cards for adults will go up $10 and for those under 16 to $5. The complete proposal can be found in the Federal Register at Federal Register. "The Department intends to implement this proposed rule, and initiate collection of the fees set forth herein, as soon as practicable following the expiration of the 30-day public comment period following this proposed rule's publication in the Federal Register, and after the Department has had the opportunity to fully consider any public comments received."
Thursday, February 18. 2010
Plans to impose a fee of about $15 on all Visa Waiver Program travelers could be required when travelers apply for their required Electronic System of Travel Authorization or ESTA. The fee makes ESTA look increasingly like a visa in disguise. Add to that other concerns mentioned in Will recent squabbles hurt visa waiver hopefuls? and it is not hard to see the start of an immigration fight that ends with visas being required on both sides.
Thursday, October 29. 2009
The world spent $929 billion on business travel in 2008. Here is a global travel database, forecasts, and report created from research to inform strategic and tactical decisions. Global Business Travel Analysis
Monday, October 19. 2009
We have decided to create a Facebook page to see how well it works for our blog and updates. Perry International on Facebook
Wednesday, October 14. 2009
The global police organization Interpol began issuing special passports Tuesday to its senior investigators, aimed at allowing them to enter any of the group's 188 member countries without visas. Associated Press Article
Sunday, September 27. 2009
Being an international news connoisseur, I often wonder if I have become better at finding what I am interested in, or is the world truly offering more information from around the globe. Seeing, interviews with the rulers of both Libya and Zimbabwe on the same day that CNN adds a 2nd show to their Sunday international news line up makes me wonder. HOW fast will we all just be be people?
Tuesday, September 15. 2009
I had to make an entry when the Nightly Business Report mentioned that the removal of Macau's visa restrictions on Chinese citizens caused a 7% surge in the casino company, Las Vegas Sands, stock price. To find some mention of this on the web I found The Business Insider.
Monday, August 3. 2009
A University of Minnesota Duluth graduate student was arrested and his passport was taken by the Brazilian government because he entered the country on a tourist visa and disregarded the fact that researchers are required to obtain scientific visas. Brazil Releases UMD Student After Six Weeks
Wednesday, July 22. 2009
Anyone who thinks World Trade or the idea of globalization is bad, must watch the Wide Angel episode that explains how 1 MILLION people in Northern Ethiopia died of starvation while the Southern part of the country had so much surplus that the farmers plowed crops under. Globalization has NOTHING to do with some elite group controlling the world. It is how YOU earn a dollar at your job and trade it to put FOOD on YOUR table so your children do not STARVE TO DEATH. Anyone looking for inspiration in world trade will find it in the following Wide Angle Episode.
Wednesday, July 8. 2009
Global consciousness promotes peace because it makes one aware of more than
their own view. I was watching an interview on Farred Zakaria's GPS where British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband talked about how in a country such as Iran, the more people feel international the less confrontational they want to be, and the more points of view that are available to them. I can not think of a better way to obtain global consciousness than travel and studying abroad.
Wednesday, May 20. 2009
A WorldPublicOpinion.org survey of people in 21 nations from around the world finds that people who get to know people from other countries or who travel outside their country are more likely to view themselves as global citizens. WorldPublicOpinion.org Article
Sunday, May 10. 2009
Kenya cut its tourist visa fee in half on May 1st. Argentina has yet to begin collecting the $131 entrance fee that was scheduled to begin in January. Could the U.S. benefit from a reduction in its visa fee? I do not deal with many statistics on incoming travelers. I do believe that much of the U.S. tourism industry thinks so.
Wouldn't the U.S. benefit by having money created in other countries spent in the U.S.? Would it not also be some positive U.S. diplomacy? We could spend some of our our stimulus money on a program that is in place now. Plans would not need to be drawn up, then approved, then implemented and then begun. The money would be spent on a program that is already in place.
Reciprocity, when the U.S. government imposes fees on foreign citizens for visas other countries will impose a reciprocal fee to U.S. nationals, would push the benefit up the ladder to benefit the world with an increase in World Trade. In January 2008, within weeks of the U.S. raising its visa application fee to the current $131, all 4 of the BRIC, Brazil, Russia, India and China, had invoked reciprocity and increased their fees. For some countries this was over a 100% increase in fees.
We talk about the world governments needing to prop up economies around the world. Reducing global government fees would appear to be a simple and quick way to get money back in to the hands of businesses, tourists, and students.
International Trade, International Education and International Exploration unite the world socially, improve economies of scale to a global level, and improve humanities collective knowledge.
Friday, May 1. 2009
With the arrest of Iranian-American journalist by Iran on charges of spying for the United States, the concept of dual nationality comes into play. Roxana Saberi held both U.S. and Iranian citizenship and while she may have lived in the U.S., Iran claims she is an Iranian citizen and her arrest is a matter of internal affairs.
The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy.Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. citizen parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth. U.S. State Department - Dual Nationality.
Dual U.S./Russian nationals who enter Russia on Russian passports face several possible difficulties. Russian authorities will not permit departure from Russia if the person?€™s Russian passport has expired or has been lost, whether or not the traveler also has a valid U.S. passport. In these cases the traveler will be required to obtain a new Russian passport, a process that can take several months. In order to apply for a Russian visa in a U.S. passport, however, Russian consular officials normally require a person to renounce his or her Russian citizenship.
U.S. citizens also possessing Brazilian nationality cannot be issued Brazilian visas and must obtain a Brazilian passport (from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate nearest to their place of residence) to enter and depart Brazil. In addition to being subject to all Brazilian laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on Brazilian citizens. Note that children adopted from Brazil are still considered Brazilian citizens and must be documented as such should they return to Brazil.
Monday, April 27. 2009
I wasn't sure if I should even write about this since it currently appears to be reaching a state of panic. However, overreacting in the opposite direction is no better.
My first thought is how many people die from the common seasonal influenza virus. "Between 1990 and 1999, the average annual number of deaths from any cause that were attributable to influenza was 51,000, and the number of hospitalizations for respiratory and circulatory diagnoses attributable to influenza was 365,000." New England Journal of Medicine. That appears to be in the U.S. alone, although I am not positive. 51,000 and no news coverage. How about deaths from Heart Disease or Car Accidents?
I then wanted to learn more from those who have planned for a pandemic for years. First I read WHO Pandemic Alert. Then I found U.S. Health and Human Services.
Thursday, April 16. 2009
In my 19 years at Perry International, I have talked with many diplomats at various consulates and embassies and have worked with tens of thousands of international travelers. I have seen the complications created by the clash of cultures, even before clients leave the United States. Many of them cannot believe that they cannot get what ever they want, when they want it. They have no idea that many other nationalities must setup appointments and travel, sometimes thousands of miles, just to be told that they can not get a visa to come to the United States.
I have also seen a rise in the amount of international news. We seem to be bombarded by events happening around the world that have an impact on us. We are fast becoming global citizens, where we all need to be citizen diplomats. Two organizations that have a great wealth of information to help individual travelers, and thereby help the U.S. and the world are Business for Diplomatic Action and U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.
Tuesday, April 14. 2009
It looks like we have a lot to read on the new Cuban Travel Regulations. Most of the current regulations come from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. On March 11th they issued a General Guidance on Implementation of the Bill that was passed and a general license for visits to close relatives. This authorized persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to travel to Cuba to visit close relatives for an unlimited period of time once every 12 months and to engage in travel-related transactions. OFAC action on Cuba Travel
On March 13th the President issued a Presidential Memorandum eliminating all remaining restrictions on travel, remittances and gift parcels to Cuba for people who have relatives on the island.
There is still a list of Authorized Cuba Travel Service Providers and all visitors must hold a valid passport. U.S. citizens will require a visa unless born in Cuba, in which case a Cuban passport is required.
While current regulations only allow travelers with family members on the island, the president's memorandum allows U.S. telecommunications companies to obtain licenses to operate in Cuba. The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act introduced in February by the House of Representatives would remove travel restrictions on all Americans and U.S. residents. There is also a bill in congress and while the bills have bipartisan sponsors, it isn't clear whether they will come up for a vote anytime soon.
Sunday, April 12. 2009
With the increase in pirate attacks off Somalia, or at least an increase in news coverage of the attacks, a couple of questions regarding international boundaries come to mind. Are the oceans and seas all part of one country or anothers territory? If there is no central government, is a country really a country?
From the United Nations we have the Law of the Sea Convention.
For an understanding of Somalia see the country description at the U.S. State Department's Somalia page.
Friday, April 10. 2009
At a conference Monday in Baltimore, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proposed expanding the 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty to include restrictions on tourism that are now voluntary. News Story
Monday, April 6. 2009
One must prepare for travel. All moments are preparation for the next moment. How do we live the moment and prepare for the next? By accepting that the timing may not be within our control.
We should pursue goals.
We MUST accept that obstacles will present themselves to be overcome.
Life is all travel. Very few people truly spend more than a few minutes in any one place. If every moment is traveling, every moment is preparing for the next step of the journey.
Learning how to enjoy traveling teaches us how to enjoy the Journey. A student is someone who is already trying to learn. We should emphasize the synergy of International and Student.
The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) reports that during the 2008-2009 school year nearly 28,000 international students came to the U.S. as exchange students. Additionally, over 2,000 U.S. students are spending a semester or year abroad. Interest in International Study
Sunday, March 8. 2009
A visa service gets them for them in advance, along with some decoy visas for countries the racers aren't actually going to. The biggest difficulties are almost certainly for the crew members who have to get valuable video and sound equipment through customs under bond, rather than for the relatively unencumbered racers. Practical Nomad Blog Entry
Monday, March 2. 2009
The $131 entry fee that was to go into affect in January and then again in March has been postponed again with no specific date of implementation. US Embassy, Argentina Newsletter
Monday, March 2. 2009
Foreigners who enter Iraq through the Kurdish north of the country without a visa issued by the authorities in Baghdad may face arrest and legal charges. AFP Article
Sunday, February 8. 2009
In April 2008, the Department of Homeland Security proposed having air carriers take biometrics (fingerprints) from departing international travelers. Subsequently, the FY2009 DHS appropriations bill required DHS to conduct several pilots for the US-VISIT Exit program, and DHS is planning one by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the security checkpoint, one by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the departure gate, and one by the airlines at the check-in counter.
The airlines continue to oppose their involvement in the data collection process, which they believe is a government responsibility. As of yet, DHS has been unable to find an airline to conduct their portion of the pilots.
As for the CBP and TSA pilot programs, they will move ahead with them beginning in May or June. Each pilot program is scheduled to run for 45 days and cover around 1500-2000 travelers per day at one airport per pilot.
The ability of DHS to expand the Visa Waiver Program ends on June 30 unless a full biometric exit program is in place.
Sunday, February 8. 2009
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Model Ports of Entry program is designed to make the entry experience for returning U.S. citizens and foreign guests arriving in U.S. airports more pleasant and welcoming, including improving signage, showing multilingual welcome videos, and improving entry procedures.
The Model Ports Working Group met on January 29 to discuss new model ports and CBP?€™s spending for the program.
CBP informed the group that of the $40M appropriated in FY08 for the Model Ports program, 20M was spent on CBP officers, 6.5M on overtime pay, and 8.5M on equipment. As part of its equipment spending, a flat screen TV will be installed and running at all 20 model ports by August 2010. CBP has also increased the number of Passenger Service Managers (PSM), CBP employees who focus on strengthening customer service at model ports of entry. There are now 45 PSMs between the 20 model ports.
Data collected by DHS?€™s Public Affairs Office has shown that wait times at Dulles International and Houston Airport, the first two model ports, are 30-40% and 10-20% less compared to other ports, respectively.
Tuesday, January 27. 2009
Tuesday, January 13. 2009
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a new site with detailed information on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) at www.getyouhome.gov
Wednesday, December 24. 2008
Each year, thousands of Americans adopt a child from overseas. The process of adopting a child from another country, however, can be difficult.
How does the adoption process work? Who can adopt? Where do Americans adopt from? Learn the answers and more. That?€™s where we come in. This website aims to provide what you need to know about the adoption process. The U.S. Department of State's Office of Children's Issues.
Wednesday, December 24. 2008
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) currently allows travelers from 34 different countries to enter the U.S. without applying for a visa for up to 90 days. Under a final rule issued November 13, travelers from VWP countries will be required to have an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for international flights by January 13, 2009. Once an individual has filed and been approved for an ESTA it is valid for two years. CBP has informed international air carriers about flexibility with the enforcement deadline, but has not made such promises publicly. ESTA Application
Wednesday, December 24. 2008
Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) travel facilitation program, provides frequent low-risk business travelers expedited processing through U.S. immigration checkpoints. The program currently operates at Dulles, Houston, JFK, Los Angeles, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, and Miami and will expand to an additional 13 airports in 2009.
CBP unveiled their Global Entry mobile enrollment unit at the NBTA Committee Summit on November 17. Summit attendees who had received approval for their online application from CBP were interviewed and enrolled on site at the Summit, instead of having to schedule an interview at one of the participating airports.
NBTA issued the following press release regarding the mobile enrollment: NBTA Press Release.
The online application and information on the Global Entry program can be found at the following link: Global Entry Application.
Monday, October 27. 2008
Nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Republic of Korea and the Slovak Republic continue to require visas to travel to the United States during that period. Nationals of these countries are expected to be able to travel without obtaining a visa for tourist and business travel of 90 days or less beginning in mid- November provided they possess a biometric passport and register on-line through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Saturday, September 6. 2008
There have been a number of programs discussing Passports. Visas, Biometrics and the future of international Travel. You may find them at CNN Business Traveler Archive
Saturday, August 30. 2008
Global Entry is a new program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection which allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. Online applications are now available. Customs and Border Protection
Thursday, August 28. 2008
New microchipped passports designed to be foolproof against identity theft can be cloned and manipulated in minutes and accepted as genuine by the computer software recommended for use at international airports. ?€?Fakeproof?€™ e-passport is cloned in minutes
Thursday, July 31. 2008
International travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are now subject to enhanced security requirements. All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization through the Department of Homeland Security's new web site for. Electronic System for Travel Authorization
Sunday, June 8. 2008
We note that the European Commission has discussed publicly creating its own electronic travel authorization system and we would not oppose the creation of such a system. In addition, the Visa Waiver Program is an agreement the United States enters into bilaterally with each respective member country. US Department of State
Tuesday, June 3. 2008
Once ESTA is mandatory, all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship. The requirement will go into effect next year and does not affect U.S. citizens traveling overseas. DHS Announces Pre-Travel Authorization Program for U.S.-Bound Travelers from Visa Waiver Countries
Tuesday, May 20. 2008
The Global Entry program is a new pilot program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Saturday, May 17. 2008
There are 192 members of the United Nations. The United States' State Department recognizes 194 independent countries around the world. About.com Geography 's Matt Rosenberg considers there to be 195 countries in the world.
Monday, April 28. 2008
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today condemned the new U.S. Government proposal that airlines and their employees collect biometric information from all non-U.S. citizens when departing the U.S. in the U.S. Exit Plan. U.S. Exit Proposal A Step Backward
Saturday, April 26. 2008
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today a notice of proposed rulemaking that will establish biometric exit procedures at all U.S air and sea ports of departure. The majority of non-U.S. Citizens and non-permanent residents except for Canadians are already required to submit digital fingerprints and a digital photograph for admission into the country.* The US-VISIT Exit proposal would require non-U.S. citizens who provide biometric identifiers for admission to also provide digital fingerprints when departing the country from any air or sea ports of departure. DHS Exit Procedures
Wednesday, April 9. 2008
Now, in addition to handing over a passport to Customs and Border Protection agents, every noncitizen visitor has to place all four fingers and thumb from each hand on the glowing screen. Within seconds, CBP has their 10 digital fingerprints on file. US Fingerprinting
Monday, April 7. 2008
On 21 December 2007, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia became part of the Schengen area. On Sunday 30 March 2008 at 0:00, the enlargement process will be completed by lifting air border controls between these countries and with the 15 states that were already part of the Schengen system. Europa Press Release
Sunday, January 13. 2008
The U.S is planning to expand it's registered traveler program to international travel. Registration to ease international travel
Thursday, January 3. 2008
Ann Barrett, deputy assistant secretary for passport services at the State Department answered some questions regarding the new passport card at New passport card may be ready by April. The complete ruling can be found in the Federal Register at Federal Register Page 74169.
Saturday, December 29. 2007
Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131. U.S. Department of State, Media Note
Friday, December 14. 2007
State-issued enhanced drivers licenses provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. These new documents are being developed by many states to comply with travel rules under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Department of Homeland Security
Wednesday, December 5. 2007
Nearly two years after it was first proposed, the government still hasn't finished work on a wallet-size passport card intended to ease the financial and logistical crunch on residents in border communities who need to cross frequently. New passport cards still not ready
Saturday, November 3. 2007
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will join the current 15 Schengen countries. They will begin to implement the agreement on 21 December 2007 for overland borders and seaports, and on 29 March 2008 for airports. For all of the details on the Schengen agreement, see the Wikipedia Entry
Wednesday, September 5. 2007
The temporary accommodation, allowing U.S. citizens to travel by air within the Western Hemisphere using a receipt of passport application, will end as scheduled at midnight on September 30, 2007. Department of Homeland Security Memo
Tuesday, May 8. 2007
For those who have not seen the U.S. Department of State's Web Site Redesign, it may be found at http://travel.state.gov/.
Thursday, April 19. 2007
The IRIS (Iris Recognition Immigration System) program is a fast and secure way to clear immigration at British security checkpoints. Successfully enrolled passengers can save time when entering the United Kingdom since they can proceed through automated immigration control barriers after looking into an iris recognition camera. U.S Passport holders can apply for IRIS membership as long as they travel through the UK at least twice in a six-month period. Registration takes about 10 minutes and can be done at most UK airports. More information can be found at http://www.iris.gov.uk./
Thursday, December 7. 2006
European Union nations agreed Tuesday to expand the bloc's borderless travel zone to the 10 new members that joined the EU in 2004. The deal foresees a phased-out removal of land border checks starting Dec. 31, 2007 and remaining airport and sea border checks will be removed by March 2008. More details can be found at EU ministers expand borderless travel.
Wednesday, December 6. 2006
According to the Associated Press, "Nationals from all 12 South American nations will soon be able to travel freely throughout their region without needing visas, a regional foreign ministers summit in Chile has agreed.
The decision exempts the visa requirement for nationals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The decision 'represents a step in our efforts to eliminate our traditional divisions,' said Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley who inaugurated the daylong conference. The visa exemption is expected to become effective within 90 days. Regional integration is the main subject in the ministers' agenda."
Saturday, November 25. 2006
Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of State announced the official requirement to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere beginning January 23, 2007. They say this is the final rule for the air portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. More information may be found at the DHS website at New Document Requirements for Air Travel and the complete rule from the Federal Register may be found at Documents Required for Travelers.
Tuesday, November 21. 2006
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did announce "the United States has decided this year to recognize the APEC business travel card''. The 17 other APEC members that recognize the card are Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Each country is responsible for issuing the card to its own citizens. There is no information on when or even IF the U.S. will begin issuing the card to U.S. citizens.
For more see APEC Business Mobility Group
Wednesday, November 8. 2006
Many business travelers may not be aware that they can have the contents of their laptops inspected. This has caused concern among corporate travel managers because of the proprietary information typically carried on an executives laptop. The law that gives U.S. government officials the right to examine, download or even seize laptops is being tested in federal court. Read more at Laptop seizure raises concerns over firms data
Saturday, November 4. 2006
"The federal government disclosed details yesterday of a border-security program to screen all people who enter and leave the United States, create a terrorism risk profile of each individual and retain that information for up to 40 years. The details, released in a notice published yesterday in the Federal Register, open a new window on the government's broad and often controversial data-collection effort directed at American and foreign travelers, which was implemented after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks." Read the full Washington Post article at U.S. Plans to Screen All Who Enter, Leave Country
Wednesday, November 1. 2006
Business for Diplomatic Action, a group of educators, executives and citizens is working to combat the spread of anti-American sentiment. They have put together a World Citizens Guide featuring tips on how Americans can help improve America's battered international image. The federal government is even considering distributing the guide with every U.S. passport.
Monday, October 30. 2006
Could the new U.S. PASS card be your next frequent shoppers card for business on the border? Because of the design of the RFID chip in the PASS card, it would be possible. These RFID chips will be more like those found in highway toll payment systems. PASS card: RFID "passport light" has more details.
Tuesday, October 24. 2006
More and more clients are registering their international trip at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country they will be visiting. This allows the U.S. State Department to contact them in an emergency. The coup in Thailand and the war in Lebanon have shown that one never knows when an unforeseen event can occur. Some of the ways the State Department can assist in an emergency can be found in
" Register Your International Travel With the State Department".
Friday, October 20. 2006
The legislation dealing with the new rules to enter the U.S. is Section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), Public Law 108?€“458, 118 Stat. 3638 (Dec. 17, 2004).
"Section 7209 does not apply to Lawful Permanent Residents, who will continue to be able to enter the U.S. upon presentation of a valid Form I?€“551, Alien Registration Card, or other valid evidence of permanent resident status. Section 211 (b) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1181(b). It also does not apply to alien members of U.S. Armed Forces traveling under official orders. Section 284 of INA, 8 U.S.C. 1354. Additionally, section 7209 does not change current requirements for nonimmigrant aliens from anywhere other than Canada, Mexico, or Bermuda. See section 212 (d)(4)(B) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182 (d)(4)(B) and 8 CFR 212.1.
Wednesday, October 18. 2006
The New PASS card will utilize Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. It will only be used to store and transmit a unique reference number. This will serve as a link to information safeguarded in a secure database managed by Customs and Border Protection. The Department of State will assign the reference number when the passport card is issued and no personal or biographic information will be stored or transmitted using the RFID technology.
Time magazine spoke with the acting director of DHS's U.S. VISIT program and the director of DHS's newly created Screening Coordination Office in " EZPass for the Border".
Tuesday, October 17. 2006
The U.S. Department of State announced the first official information regarding the new passport card. The passport card is intended as a lower cost means of establishing identity and nationality for American citizens crossing U.S. land borders and traveling by sea between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda. The rule, published today, proposes a wallet-sized card that would cost $35 for children and $45 for adults.
The rules are open for public comment. If you would like to make a comment or review the text of the rule, the docket ID is DOS-2006-0329. Because of the way the web site is setup, you will need to enter the docket ID in the search found at Regulations.gov.
Monday, October 16. 2006
Wikipedia has a great deal of information on passports. While I have not read all of the information, what I have read does appear to be correct and up to date. Some examples of what can be found there include:
"Many Arab and Muslim countries will not allow entries to people with evidence of visits to Israel or used or unused Israeli visas in their passports, since the existence of the state of Israel is not recognized by these countries. To help foreigners circumvent these restrictions, Israel does not require visitors to have their passports stamped upon entry or advanced visas, making it difficult for those countries to tell if a citizen or tourist went there."
"Citizens of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua do not require a passport to travel between any of the four countries. A National ID card is sufficient for entry. In addition, the CA-4 agreement implemented the Central American Single Visa for citizens of all other countries, eliminating the need for separate entry visas for each of the countries"
For further information see Passports on Wikipedia
Thursday, October 12. 2006
At a presentation I was giving before a Chamber of Commerce, I was asked if a passport was required to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
No, I said. They are a part of the United States and U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. and do not need to present a passport. (U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.)
The chamber member proceeded to tell the story of an airline employee who was not going to let him board a flight to the U.S. Virgin Islands without a passport. He was finally allowed to board, after a lengthy discussion and being asked to sign a waiver.
I came across another story, Beware Your Passport, of a traveler with a similar experience. This traveler was not as lucky.
With the new passport regulations coming into effect in phases, with airlines that can apply their own rules, and with immigration officials who are given a broad allowance for interpreting the rules, traveling with a valid passport can reduce the stress and headaches.
Monday, October 9. 2006
Congress has passed a bill that changes the passport requirement for travelers. Passports will still be required for air travel as of Jan. 8, 2007. The requirement to have a passport for land crossings and cruise passengers has been delayed until June 1, 2009.
In 2004 the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) was implemented. This required that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. It was to be implemented in phases. For those who want to learn more about the original requirements, the U.S. State Department has information at WHTI.
An amendment was added to the Homeland Security Department appropriations bill that makes some changes to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. There is an article in Travel Weekly that contains some of the details about these changes. You may be required to create a user ID before viewing the article, entitled " Congress passes bill delaying passport rule for land, sea travel".
Saturday, October 7. 2006
We continue the discussion of the new ePassport. Currently only the Colorado Passport Office is issuing the new e-Passport, with the rest of the offices scheduled to begin before the first of the year. An article that takes the opposite view of the new computer chip that will be embedded in U.S. passports can be found at " Fears of ePassport technology vastly overblown".
Thursday, October 5. 2006
We have decided to start a blog as a place to reference the many articles we come across that deal with the changing requirements of International Travel. Most of the entries will not qualify as specific procedural updates. Those are already covered on Updates and travel warnings are covered on Travel Warnings. This will be a place to see what others have to say.
We begin with an article on the computer chip new U.S. passports will contain. E-Passports, the name the U.S. State Department has given them, will contain an RFID or radio-frequency identification chip. Washington Post columnist, Bruce Schneier, recommends renewing your passport now in " The ID Chip You Don't Want in Your Passport".
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