Job Discussion Forums

[James Hetfield]

from US STATE DEPARTMENT
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html

WORLDWIDE MANY NATIONS MATCH USA FEE OF $130, some each time, some one time only, always be ready to pay VISA FEE $130

ARGENTINA
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.embassyofargentina.us/en/home/news.htm1245
90 days visa renewed border run up to US$130 fee
Just work with a tourist visa. Take a day trip out of the country every three months. As of January 2009 if you leave the country you will have to pay a USD130 "visa" fee to enter the country. No paperwork, no criminal check, no nothing. British don't pay to enter the country because the UK consulate doesn't charge Argentines money for a visa to the UK, but the US and Australia do. It's just a reciprocal fee You pay at the border, your passport gets stamped, and you're in.
Buenos Aires extensive Subte and bus system.
Mendoza public transport system includes buses, trolleybuses. In 2008, Translink in Vancouver, Canada sold their old trolley fleet to Mendoza

PERU
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.peruvianembassy.us/en.html
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required to enter and depart Peru. Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel. U.S. citizens may enter Peru for short-term tourist- or business-related visits of up to 90 days; however, the actual period authorized is determined by the Peruvian immigration officer at the time of entry into Peru. After admission, travelers may apply to extend their visa for an additional three months. Persons who remain beyond their period of authorized stay without obtaining a visa extension or a residence visa will have to pay a fine to depart Peru. Peru does not require any immunizations for entry, although it recommends vaccination against Yellow Fever. An international flight airport fee, payable in U.S. or local currency and assessed on a per-person basis, must be paid when departing Peru. There are also separate airport taxes for domestic flights charged at most domestic airports that must be paid before embarking. U.S. citizens whose passports are lost or stolen in Peru must obtain a new passport from the U.S. Embassy and present it, together with a police report on the loss or theft, to the main immigration office in downtown Lima, located at Prolongacion Espana 734, Brena, to obtain permission to depart. An additional immigration office is located within Lima�s Jorge Chavez International Airport international departure terminal. For further information regarding entry requirements, travelers should contact the Peruvian Embassy at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 833-9860; http://www.peruvianembassy.us.

U.S. Embassy employees are prohibited from nighttime overland travel anywhere outside major urban areas because of the risks posed from robbery and unsafe road conditions. The only exception is that nighttime travel by commercial bus on the Pan-American Highway is permitted for official or personal travel. Violent crime, including carjacking, assault, and armed robbery is common in Lima and other large cities. Resistance to violent crime often provokes greater violence, while victims who do not resist usually do not suffer serious physical harm. "Express kidnappings," in which criminals kidnap victims and seek to obtain funds from their bank accounts via automatic teller machines, occur frequently.

Thieves often smash car windows at traffic lights to grab jewelry, purses, backpacks, or other visible items from a car. This type of assault is very common on main roads leading to Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, specifically along De la Marina and Faucett Avenues and Via de Evitamiento, but it can occur anywhere in congested traffic, particularly in downtown Lima. Travelers are encouraged to put all belongings, including purses, in the trunk of a car or taxi. Passengers who hail taxis on the street have been assaulted. It is safer to use telephone-dispatched radio taxis r car services associated with major hotels. Travelers should guard against the theft of luggage and other belongings, particularly U.S. passports, at the Lima airport.

Passengers arriving at Lima�s Jorge Chavez International Airport should be cautious in making arrangements for ground transportation. Upon exiting the airport, travelers may be approached by persons seeming to know them, or who claim that a pre-arranged taxi has been sent to take them to their hotel. Some travelers have been charged exorbitant rates or taken to marginal hotels in unsafe parts of town. Travelers who are not being met by a known party or by a reputable travel agent or hotel shuttle are advised to arrange for a taxi inside the airport.

Visitors are advised to keep cash and identification in their front pockets and to limit their cash on hand and unnecessary credit cards. Handbags should not be carried, but if they are, they should be tucked into the crook of an arm or, if carrying a bag with a shoulder strap, do not allow the bag to hang freely, but keep a hand over the clasp.

Lima population of 7.6 million for the urban area, 9.2 million for the metropolitan area features a very complex mix of racial and ethnic groups. Traditionally, Mestizos of mixed European (mostly Spanish) and Amerindian descent are the largest contingent. The second group has its origins in Europe, the biggest being people of Spanish descent, followed by significant numbers of Italians, Germans, French, English, Polish and Eastern Europeans. Also there is a large number of Jews, and Middle Easterners. Asians make up a large number of the metropolitan population, especially of Chinese (Cantonese) and Japanese descent. Afro-Peruvians, whose African ancestors were initially brought to the region as slaves, are yet another part of the city's ethnic quilt.

Lima's climate is quite mild, despite being located in the Tropics. Lima has a subtropical and desert climate, yet the microclimate also makes it very humid throughout the year. The temperatures vary from mild to warm (neither very cold or hot).The average temperature in winter ranges from 13 �C to 20 �C.[4] These days usually come accompanied by continuous overcast skies, fog, and mist.[citation needed] In the summer, the high averages around 28 �C with lows around 19 �C. [4] During El Ni�o events, the climate of Lima gets severely disrupted, the water temperatures along the coast which usually average around 17 - 19 �C (65 - 68 �F) get much warmer, (as in 1998 when the water temperature reached 26 �C (79 �F)) which causes the high and low temperatures to rise by several degrees. Rainfall is very low.

Lima has a rapid transit rail system under development called the Lima Metro. This project was paralyzed in the late 1980s due to lack of funds but is now expected to be relaunched with private funding. The Metropolitan Transportation System (Sistema de Transporte Metropolitano), is an urban transport project that envisages the implementation of Corridors of High Capacity Buses (COSAC) through Lima. The COSAC-South Corridor I is currently under implementation, it runs for 15 kilometers between Construction Matenilli in Chorrillos and the Plaza Grau in downtown Lima.

Public transport in Lima is handled by buses. Micros are the most common means of public transportation in Lima and many other cities in Peru. While the bigger vehicles are known as micros, the smaller ones are known as combis. These privately-owned vehicles are known for being cheap and convenient but also rather risky. Due to large margins of unemployment faced Peru in the eighties, the free importation of used cars and the fact that no authorization is required to provide municipal services, there is an over-supply of taxis. Lima is serviced by air through Jorge Ch�vez International Airport.

Alan Gabriel Ludwig Garc�a P�rez (born May 23, 1949 in Lima) is the current President of Peru, won the 2006 elections. He is the leader of the Peruvian Aprista Party and the only APRA party member ever to have served as President of Peru. Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana is a left wing Peruvian political party.

COLOMBIA
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.colombiaemb.org/
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: All U.S. citizens who are not also Colombian citizens must present a valid U.S. passport to enter and depart Colombia, and to return to the United States. U.S. citizens traveling to Colombia do not need a Colombian visa for a tourist stay of 60 days or less. Travelers entering Colombia are sometimes asked to present evidence of return or onward travel, usually in the form of a round-trip plane ticket. Americans traveling overland must enter Colombia at an official border crossing. The length of stay granted to travelers is determined by the Colombian immigration officer at the point of entry and will be stamped in your passport.

Extensions may be requested by visiting an office of the Colombian immigration authority, known as the Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad, or DAS, after arrival in Colombia. Fines are levied if a traveler remains in Colombia longer than authorized, and the traveler cannot leave Colombia until the fine is paid. Any traveler possessing a Colombian visa with more than three months� validity must register the visa at a DAS immigration office within 15 days of arrival in Colombia or face fines. The DAS immigration office in Bogota is located at Calle 100 and Carrera 11B. No arrival tax is collected upon entry into Colombia, but travelers leaving by plane must pay an exit tax at the airport, in cash. The tax varies with the dollar/peso exchange rate, but is usually between $50 and $70. U.S. citizens whose U.S. passports are lost or stolen in Colombia must obtain a new U.S. passport before departing. Information about obtaining a replacement U.S. passport in Colombia is available on the U.S. Embassy�s website at http://bogota.usembassy.gov. Contact information for DAS is available in Spanish at http://www.das.gov.co. The Embassy in Bogot� or the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla can provide guidance on contacting DAS when you apply for your replacement passport. Visit the Embassy of Colombia website at http://www.colombiaemb.org for the most current visa information.

Violence has decreased markedly in Bogota, Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. Cali has made less progress combating crime than most other large cities. The level of violence in Buenaventura remains high. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade. Nevertheless, terrorist groups, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and other criminal organizations, continue to kidnap and hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. On July 2, 2008, the GOC effected a successful military rescue of three Americans. President Uribe called on the FARC to release the remaining hostages and seek peace.

CRIME: Robbery and other violent crimes, as well as scams against unsuspecting tourists, are common in urban areas. Generally speaking, if you are the victim of a robbery, you should not resist. Some of the most common methods used by criminals in Colombia are noted below: Robberies of ATM customers: Tourists and others have been robbed after using automatic teller machines (ATMs) on the street. In some cases, robbers have used motorcycles to approach their victims and later flee the scene. Americans are urged to use ATMs only inside shopping malls or other protected locations.

Robbery of taxi passengers is a serious problem in Bogota. Typically, the driver � who is one of the conspirators � will pick up the passenger and then stop to pick up two or more armed cohorts, who enter the cab, overpower the passenger, and take his/her belongings. If the passenger has an ATM card, the perpetrators may force the passenger to withdraw money from various ATM locations. Such ordeals can last for hours. In almost every case of taxi-related crime, the victims have been riding alone and have hailed taxis off the street. Rather than hailing a taxi, you should use the telephone dispatch service that most taxi companies offer. Many hotels, restaurants, and stores will call a taxi for you, and the taxi usually arrives within minutes.

Robberies on Hiking Trails: Several U.S. citizens were robbed in 2007 while hiking on nature trails in and around Bogota. Because hiking trips generally take place in isolated settings, participants are especially vulnerable. The Embassy continues to receive reports of criminals in Colombia using disabling drugs to temporarily incapacitate tourists and others. At bars, restaurants, and other public areas, perpetrators may offer tainted drinks. Typically, victims become disoriented or unconscious. Be suspicious if a stranger offers you something to eat or drink.

Bogot�'s TransMilenio rapid transit system, created during Enrique Pe�alosa's mayoral term, is a form of bus-rapid transit that has been quickly and affordably deployed as an appropriate stopgap measure to compensate for the lack of a metro system. Despite the city's chronic congestion, many of the ideas enacted during the Pe�alosa years are regarded worldwide to be cost-effective, efficient and unique solutions.

Buses remain the main means of mass transit. There are two bus systems: the traditional system and Trasmilenio. The traditional system runs a variety of bus types, operated by several companies on normal streets and avenues: Bus; large buses. Buseta; medium size buses. Colectivo; vans or minivans. The buses are divided into two categories: "Ejecutivo", which is supposed to be a deluxe service and is not supposed to carry standing passengers, and "corriente" or normal service. Bus fares range, as of March 2008, from $1100 to $1250 (US$ 0.60-0.70 approx.) Bogot�'s principal airport is El Dorado International Airport.

CHILE
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.chile-usa.org/
ENTRY FEE: There is a reciprocity fee of US$131 dollars to be paid in cash (U.S. dollars) or credit card. The one-time charge is good for the life of your passport. No visa is necessary when you travel to Chile, only a valid passport. When entering Chile you'll need to fill out a Tourist Card that allows visitors to stay for up to 90 days and will allow multiple entries. You'll need to show this Tourist Card to Customs when leaving the country as well, so be sure you don't lose it.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens entering Chile must have a valid passport. U.S. visitors will be charged a reciprocity fee at the port of entry, and a small receipt for the fee will be stapled in the last page of the passport. This visa is valid for multiple entries and remains valid until the expiration of the passport. In addition, visitors will be issued a tourist visa consisting of a single sheet of paper placed in the passport. This visa is valid for a stay of up to 90 days. An extension of stay for an additional 90 days is possible, but requires payment of an extension fee. The visa document must be surrendered to immigration authorities upon departure. Visit the Embassy of Chile web site www.chile-usa.org for the most current visa information and entry/exit requirements.

Santiago has a mild Mediterranean climate: relatively hot dry summers (November to March) with temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) on the hottest days; winters (June to September) are more humid with cold mornings, typical maximum daily temperatures of 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit).

Santiago Metro has five operating lines. Two subway lines (Line 4 and 4A) and an extension of Line 2 were inaugurated during late 2005 and 2006. The system is under expansion, and extensions are going to be built on Lines 1 and 5 throughout 2009 and 2010. A new Transantiago system articulated bus. Transantiago is the name for the city's public transport system. It works by combining local (feeder) bus lines, main bus lines and the Metro network.

Michelle Bachelet Jeria (born September 29, 1951) is a center-left politician and the current President of Chile�the first woman to hold this position in the country's history. She won the 2006 presidential election in a runoff, beating center-right billionaire businessman and former senator Sebasti�n Pi�era, with 53.5% of the vote. A moderate Socialist, she campaigned on a platform of continuing Chile's free market policies, while increasing social benefits to help reduce the country's gap between rich and poor, one of the largest in the world. Bachelet, a pediatrician, is a separated mother of three and a self-described agnostic.

URUGUAY
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.uruwashi.org/
Uruguay is a constitutional democracy with a large, educated middle class and a robust developing economy. The capital city is Montevideo . ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: All United States citizens entering Uruguay for business or pleasure must have a valid passport. U.S. citizens traveling on a regular passport do not need a visa for a visit of less than three months. Air travelers are required to pay an airport tax upon departure. Travelers may also contact the Consulate of Uruguay in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. Visit the Embassy of Uruguay web site at http://www.uruwashi.org/ for the most current visa information.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Petty street crime is prevalent in Montevideo . The criminals tend to be non-violent. However, criminals often resort to violence if the victims resist. Travelers should exercise reasonable caution to minimize their exposure to crime. Criminals prey on the unaware, particularly those carrying cameras, pocketbooks, laptops, or backpacks.

Montevideo is the largest city, the capital and chief port of Uruguay. Montevideo has one of the most important harbours in the Americas. Also, it has beautiful beaches, such as Pocitos, Buceo, Malv�n, Playa de los Ingleses, Playa Verde, Punta Gorda and Carrasco. According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Montevideo has the highest quality of life in Latin America.

PARAGUAY
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required. U.S. citizens traveling to Paraguay must submit completed visa applications in person or by secure messenger to the Paraguayan Embassy or one of the consulates and pay a fee. Paraguay issues visas for one-entry or multiple entries up to the validity of the U.S. passport. Travelers entering or departing Paraguay with regular U.S. passports will be fingerprinted. If the tax is not included in the airline ticket then payment would be required upon departure in either U.S. or local currency (no credit cards or checks accepted). Visit the Embassy of Paraguay web site at http://www.embaparusa.gov.py for the most current visa information.

As established in Decree No 7240/06, the requirements for obtaining a non-immigrant visa are the following:
A signed passport (valid for at least 6 months prior to its expiration date, and with at least one blank page available for the visa stamp) along with two photocopies of its first page where the personal information is written. Two copies of the visa application form per applicant, properly and completely filled in.
Two recent 2" x 2" passport photos in color. A letter from the employer or sponsoring company and a photocopy of said letter when traveling for business purposes
A visa fee payment of US$ 65.00 per visa will be charged for multiple entry visas and a fee of US$45.00 for one-entry visas. Payments can be made in cash, money order in the name of the Embassy of Paraguay.

Asunci�n population 1,212,112 (2002), is the capital and largest city of Paraguay. Public transportation is used heavily and is served through buses that reach all the regions of the city. Asunci�n is served by the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport.

BRAZIL
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.brasilemb.org/
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil for any purpose. Brazilian visas must be obtained in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or consulate nearest to the traveler's place of residence. There are no "airport visas" and immigration authorities will refuse entry to Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. All Brazilian visas, regardless of the length of validity, must initially be used within 90 days of the issuance date or will no longer be valid. Americans reentering Brazil must be able to show an entry stamp in their passport proving that the visa was issued within 90 days; otherwise they will not be allowed reentry. Immigration will not allow entry into Brazil without a valid visa. Showing contempt to a Brazilian government official at the port of entry, or elsewhere, is a serious offense.

Additionally, travelers who have recently visited certain countries, including most other Latin American countries (check Brazilian Embassy website linked below), may be required to present an inoculation card indicating they had a yellow fever inoculation or they may not be allowed to board the plane or enter the country. The authorization (in Portuguese) must be notarized and then authenticated by the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. For current entry and customs requirements for Brazil, travelers may contact the Brazilian Embassy at 3009 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone 1-202-238-2828, e-mail [email protected]; web site at http://www.brasilemb.org.

CRIME: Crime throughout Brazil has reached very high levels. The Brazilian police and the Brazilian press report that the rate of crime continues to rise, especially in the major urban centers � though it is also spreading in rural areas. Brazil�s murder rate is more than four times higher than that of the U.S. Rates for other crimes are similarly high. The majority of crimes are not solved. There were several reported rapes against American citizens in 2006. Street crime remains a problem for visitors and local residents alike, especially in the evenings and late at night. Foreign tourists are often targets of crime and Americans are not exempt. This targeting occurs in all tourist areas but is especially problematic in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife. Robbery and �quicknapping� outside of banks and ATM machines are common. In a �quicknapping,� criminals abduct victims for a short time in order to receive a quick payoff from the family, business or the victim�s ATM card.

The incidence of crime against tourists is greater in areas surrounding beaches, hotels, discotheques, bars, nightclubs, and other similar establishments that cater to visitors. This type of crime is especially prevalent during Carnaval (Brazilian Mardi Gras), but takes place throughout the year. While the risk is greater at dusk and during the evening hours, street crime can occur both day and night, and even safer areas of cities are not immune. Incidents of theft on city buses are frequent and visitors should avoid such transportation.

At airports, hotel lobbies, bus stations and other public places, incidents of pick pocketing, theft of hand carried luggage, and laptop computers are common. Travelers should "dress down" when outside and avoid carrying valuables or wearing jewelry or expensive watches. "Good Samaritan" scams are common. If a tourist looks lost or seems to be having trouble communicating, a seemingly innocent bystander offering help may victimize them. Very poor neighborhoods known as "favelas," such as those located on steep hillsides in Rio de Janeiro, are found throughout Brazil. These areas are sites of uncontrolled criminal activity and are often not patrolled by police. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid these unsafe areas.

Travelers using personal ATMs or credit cards sometimes receive billing statements with non-authorized charges after returning from a visit to Brazil. The Embassy and Consulates have received numerous reports from both official Americans and tourists who have had their cards cloned or duplicated without their knowledge.

RIO DE JANEIRO: The city continues to experience a high incidence of crime. Tourists are particularly vulnerable to street thefts and robberies on and in areas adjacent to major tourist attractions and the main beaches in the city. Walking on the beaches is very dangerous at night. 2006-07, the Consulate General assisted many Americans who had had incapacitating drugs slipped into their drinks at bars or in their hotel rooms and then robbed. Tourists continue to suffer attacks along trails leading to the famous Corcovado Mountain, on the road linking the airport and the South Zone and on the beaches of Copacabana.

SAO PAULO:Sao Paulo has a high rate of armed robbery of pedestrians at stoplights. There is a particularly high incidence of robberies and pick pocketing in the Praca da Se section of Sao Paulo and in the eastern part of the city. Armed holdups of pedestrians and motorists by young men on motorcycles (�motoboys�) are an increasingly common occurrence in Sao Paulo. Victims who resist run the risk of violent retaliation. The number one item of choice by robbers in Sao Paulo is laptop computers.

Rio de Janeiro buses are the main means of mass transportation. There are nearly 440 municipal bus lines serving over four million passengers each day, in addition to intercity lines. Although cheap and frequent, Rio's transportation policy has been moving towards trains and subway in order to reduce traffic jams and increase capacity. Rio de Janeiro has two subway lines (Metro Rio) with 42 kilometres (26 mi) and 32 stations plus several commuter rail lines.

S�o Paulo has three rapid transport systems: The underground rail system (called "metr�", short for "metropolitano"), with three complete lines. The fast-lane bus system: there are many such bus lines in the city, called "Passa R�pido", which are street-level, placed on large avenues, and connected with the underground or suburban train stations.

MEXICO
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa/
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For the latest entry requirements, contact the Embassy of Mexico web site at http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa/ or contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 736-1000 or any Mexican consulate in the United States for the most current information. All Americans traveling by air outside the United States are required to present a passport. Further information is available at http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html and upcoming changes to U.S. passport policy can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. Tourist Travel: U.S. citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FM-T, available from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico. The fee for the tourist card is generally included in the price of a plane ticket.

CRIME: Crime in Mexico continues at high levels, and it is often violent, especially in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Acapulco, and the state of Sinaloa. Low apprehension and conviction rates of criminals contribute to Mexico�s high crime rate.

Mexico City is served by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro, an extensive metro system (207 km), which is the largest in Latin America, 11 lines with 175 stations.

Monterrey Public Transit includes a modern but limited in length, rapid transit system or metro with only two lines [17][18], the Metro L�nea 2 was expanded to the north of the city, and construction works finished in October 2008. There are many city bus lines that vary in quality and route.

[Justin Trullinger]

I appreciate you not including Ecuador. As mentioned in on the other thread, these USSD web resources are notoriously cautious. (Or alarmist, depending on your point of view.)

So be careful what you repost- What're you putting these here for? Are you saying that people should read these? Believe them? plan accordingly? Laugh at them? Or what?


Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

I don't understand why it was posted here either.

[bje]

I'm fully capable of accessing this stuff myself, thank you very much. Next?