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
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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
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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
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•
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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
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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