TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

CHAPTER 3

OBJECTIVES

• 3.1 Identify documents needed for international travel

• 3.2 Understand international customs and immigrations

• 3.3 Understand document requirements for international travel

• 3.4 Identify five prohibited items while traveling abroad

PASSPORT

• Government-issued• Identifies the bearer as a citizen of the

country that issued it• Used to travel between foreign countries• Used to request protection while in a

foreign country

PASSPORT

• Everyone, including infants must have one to travel in country requiring them

• Adult is good for 10 years• Child under 18 is good for 5 years• Traveler must complete an application

PASSPORT

• Must have proof of US citizenship-birth certificate, Naturalization Papers

• Proof of identity-driver’s license, witness• 2 recent 2x2 photos• Passport fee (were $65)• If married-marriage certificate• If divorced-copy of divorce papers

PASSPORT

• You must appear in person if it is first passport

• Get passport at major post office, passport agency, federal or state court building

• Takes about 4-8 weeks to process• Can get emergency one in 3 days

KINDS OF PASSPORTS

• Regular: most common in U.S., for people traveling on business or vacation

• Diplomatic: diplomats traveling on government assignment

• Official passport: for all other government workers

VISA• An endorsement on one page of the passport• Allows traveler to enter another country• Issued by the governments of the countries being

visited• Confirms that passport has been accepted and

traveler can enter country• Shows length of stay and reason for entry• Stamped on passports• Cost of visas vary according to number of days

KINDS OF VISAS

• Business: person traveling in country on business, applied by business with letter head from business-company is financially responsible for trip

• Student: full time student abroad, not allowed to work

VISA

• U.S. citizens are tourist visa exempt in many countries-Most of Western Europe, a few nations in Asia

• Some countries are only open to tour groups• Some countries deny request to enter• Some countries may allow you in however

an Immigration inspector may refuse to allow you to enter

GREEN CARD

• A document that verifies the holder has permanent resident status in a country, not necessarily a citizen

STATE DEPARTMENT ADVISORIES

• Issued by government• Advise about visiting other countries• Sometimes state foreign laws• May be country entry requirements,

medical facilities, crime information drug penalties, Nationality information, terrorist activities and Embassy registration

Embassies and Consulates

• Government agencies of other countries• Designed to protect their citizens in other

countries• Protect the interests of their citizens• REMEMBER: when you leave your

country, you are then under the laws of the foreign country and they may not be like the U.S.

TOURIST CARD

• Piece of paper used to identify traveler• Regulates who entries and leaves country• Has replaced the passport in some countries• Valid for 6 months• U.S. citizens staying fewer than 6 months

can sometimes enter countries without a passport-Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico

CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATIONS

• U.S. has over 300 international ports of entry and protects over 90,000 miles of borders

• The busiest port of entry is New York City

CUSTOMS INSPECTION

• Customs officers search personal baggage for prohibited items of arriving travelers

• Some passengers are questioned and sometimes asked to undress for body search

• Some countries search departing travelers• Thailand carries out the death penalty for

the possession of drugs• Israel has strict drug laws too

CUSTOMS OFFICERS

• Regulate items entering a nation• Inspect baggage• Assess and collect taxes or customs duties• Incoming travelers must declare all items

purchased or received as gifts abroad and pay tax on them

CUSTOMS PROCEDURES

• Purpose: to regulate items coming into and out of the country

• To help prevent smuggling• Officers also assess and collect taxes called

customs duties on the retail value of items

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

• Items are not subject to sales tax• However, Americas sets limits upon duty-free

items• U.S. resident staying abroad for less than 48 hours

have a $25 duty-free limit• U.S. residents staying abroad for more than 48

hours have a $400 limit• Some areas of travel have higher limits up to

$1,200

RESTRICTED ITEMS

• Illegal drugs• Weapons• Ammunition• Pornographic materials• Hazardous articles (fireworks)• Switchblade knives• Most fruits, vegetables, plants, animals, meats

because of high risk of carrying infectious diseases

RESTRICTED ITEMS

• Weapons for hunting must be registered and have an import permit

• Drugs with a doctor’s prescription do not require import permits

• Items made from endangered animals are illegal such as alligator skin, whalebone, tortoise shell, crocodile skin, African ivory

MONEY MATTERS

• U.S. dollar is not universally accepted as currency around the world

• Local currency may often have to be used• You may have to exchange U.S. dollars for

foreign currency based on the BSR or banker’s selling rate

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

• EXAMPLE: Exchange U.S. dollars for Italian Lire

• $500 X Exchange rate (1514.90)= 757,450 • Italian Lire

• Exchange rates can be found on the computer, at the bank or in the newspaper, it may be costly

TRAVELER’S CHECKS

• Traveling with traveler’s checks in U.S. currency is the easiest and safest

• Many foreign banks cash traveler’s checks• If checks are stolen or lost, they can be

replaced• A few dollars should be exchanged for

foreign banknotes for food or bus fair

CURRENCY CODE

• Each country in the world has a 3 letter currency code

• The currency has two letters that represent the country and the third letter represents the name of the currency

• Example: U. S. Dollar = USD• Japan Yen = JPY

VALUE ADDED TAX

• In Europe: is equal to a sales tax• Ranges from 6.5% in Switzerland to 25% in

Denmark• Some shops have Europe Tax-Free

Shopping which refunds tax to tourists

SUMMARY• A passport is a document that identifies the bearer

as a citizen of the country-usually where the person was born

• A visa is an endorsement on a passport that permits the traveler to enter another country

• Immigration inspectors decide if travelers may enter their country

• Most countries prohibit certain items: drugs, weapons, knives, products made of endangered animals

• U.S. residents staying abroad over 48 hours can bring back $400 in tax free merchandise