US and Canada - U.S. Members Traveling Abroad

On effective dates below, all travelers to or from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have a passport or other document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States.

Effective January 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens traveling by air to and from Bermuda and the Caribbean are required to have a valid passport to enter the United States.
As early as January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Bermuda/Caribbean by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid U.S. passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries. American citizen travelers are encouraged to apply for a U.S. passport, or the passport card when it becomes available, well in advance of anticipated travel. American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on applying for a passport.

VISAS: If a visa is required, obtain it from the appropriate foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad. Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail. Most foreign consular representatives are located in principal cities, and in many instances, a traveler may be required to obtain visas from the consular office in the area of his/her residence. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRAVELER TO OBTAIN VISAS, WHERE REQUIRED, FROM THE APPROPRIATE EMBASSY OR NEAREST CONSULATE OF THE COUNTRY YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT.

As soon as you receive your visa, check it to make sure no mistakes were made. Processing and visa fees vary, and most fees may not be refundable. For specific details, consult the Embassy or Consulate of the country you plan to visit.

IMMUNIZATIONS: Under the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Organization, a country may require International Certificates of Vaccination against yellow fever, especially if you are traveling from an area of the world that is infected with yellow fever. Prophylactic medication for malaria and certain other preventive measures are advisable for travel to some countries. No immunizations are required to return to the United States. Detailed health information may be obtained from your local healthcare provider or by contacting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, telephone 1-877- 394-8747 or Internet: www.cdc.gov.

HIV/HIV TESTING: An increasing number of countries have established regulations regarding HIV testing, particularly for long-term visitors. Although many are listed here, check with the Embassy or Consulate of the country that you plan to visit to verify if this is a requirement for entry.

ADDITIONAL FEES: All international flights are subject to U.S. Immigration and U.S. Customs fees paid in advance as part of your ticket. In addition, many countries have departure fees that are sometimes collected at the time of ticket purchase or upon exiting the foreign country.

For more details, please visit the US Dept of State website listed below.

U.S. Department of State

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RAVC attempts to provide timely and accurate information on various conditions around the world that could affect your travel plans. However, due to the nature of such information, RAVC must rely on various outside sources for this information and due to the pace of events or conditions or the unavailability of certain information, the information listed on this web site may not be complete or up to date. Therefore, you should check with the sites recommended on this web site or seek additional information elsewhere. RAVC is not responsible for ensuring the information it receives and provides through this web site is accurate, complete or up to date and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever arising out of, or resulting from, your reliance upon any information provided herein.