Here's a copy of Derek's tips, together with some tips from other Club members, on avoiding passport and visa disasters, presented at the December, 2004 meeting of the Travel Club:
1. Keep your passport in a safe place, but not in a bank safe deposit, since the latter can be accessed only when the bank is open for business. Apply for passport renewal at least 8 months before the expiration date (see below). If it has expired, you can still apply for renewal up to 15 years from the date of issue. Thereafter, you need a new passport, for which the application process is more complicated. If your passport is full, you can have extra pages inserted (for free!).
2. Your passport must be valid for at least SIX months from the time you enter most foreign countries (NOT six months from the time you leave home or apply for a visa). This applies whether or not the country requires a visa for US citizens.
3. Do not rely on information from travel agents, cruise lines, guidebooks, etc. concerning visas and other entry requirements for any foreign country. ALWAYS get your information on all entry requirements from the web site of the embassy or consulate of EVERY country you plan to visit. Trying to obtain this information by phone can be exhausting. Check if:
a) Visas can be issued on arrival. This is usually the least tedious method, but make sure you carry the requisite fee in cash. Most Immigration Offices do not accept credit cards or travellers' checks. Some third world countries, such as Zimbabwe, insist on US Dollars or another hard currency.
b) Visas can be issued from a consulate or embassy by mail. Make sure you send the application form (which can usually be downloaded from the Internet), passport, photos (if needed), and visa fee to the relevant consulate for Oregon residents. Always use Fedex or a similar courier service that "guarantees" delivery on time and requires a signature for receipt.
c) Visas transactions can be handled only by personal appearance at the Consulate or Embassy by the applicant, a family member or friend, or a Visa Service (see below). One such example is China.
4. Visa services that offer their services on the Internet or by phone can be invaluable, particularly:
• for those countries in category (c) above
• when multiple countries are to be visited, or
• whenever time is of the essence.
These services can also accelerate passport renewal; note that the routine process for US passport renewal can take up to 6 weeks. One service with which Derek was very satisfied is: www.passportsandvisas.com (1-800-860-8610).
