Visas and Passports

Zambia has waived visa fees for travelers visiting on package tours. The government hopes to grow the country’s tourism industry.

In August, the Transportation Security Administration imposed at U.S. airports an additional security screening of persons wearing head coverings such as turbans, scarves, cowboy hats or berets, and people who refused to remove them could be denied boarding. However, in October the guidelines were modified.

A Transportation Security Administration requirement that all airlines operating within the US collect the full name, date of birth and gender of each passenger began to be phased in on May 15. The Secure Flight program was put in place by the TSA to help prevent the misidentification of passengers who have names similar to those of people on the “terrorist watch list.”

Every year when I update my guidebook series, I find out what’s new in Europe. Here’s a review of what Americans can expect the next time they cross the Atlantic.

CORRECTION — After reading the item “Argentina Tourist Fee” (Dec. ’08, pg. 19), a reader pointed out that he had never had to pay a visa-application fee to get into Argentina as a tourist.

US Customs & Border Protection has added more airports to the Global Entry program for travelers coming back into the US. Airports with kiosks that offer registered members a speedier alternative to the passport control lines include Miami Int’l, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, George Bush (Houston), Washington Dulles, JFK-New York, Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles.

Most of Mexico’s narcotics-related violence has occurred in the northern border region. In recent months, most notably around Monterrey, drug-trafficking organizations have used stolen trucks to block major highways to prevent the military from responding to criminal activity.

Also in Monterrey, these groups have kidnapped guests out of reputable hotels in the downtown area, blocking off adjoining streets to prevent law enforcement response. They also have attacked Mexican government facilities such as military barracks and a Customs and Immigration post. 

The State Department strongly urges refraining from all travel to the Gaza Strip. The security environment within Gaza and along its borders, including its border with Egypt and its seacoast, is dangerous and volatile. 

Rockets and mortars are still occasionally fired into Israel from Gaza, and the Israel Defense Forces continue to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including air strikes. Border clashes occur.

Caution should be exercised in the West Bank. Violence has decreased there in recent years. Still, demonstrations and violent incidents can happen. 

On Feb. 9, 2010, the State Department proposed increases — possibly to go into effect as soon as mid-April — in all fees for applications for US passports and passport cards.

The total cost of a first-time adult passport now will be $135 (up from $100), and an adult passport renewal will cost $110 (was $95). A set of extra passport pages, which were free, now will cost $82. For the complete table of fees, visit http://travel.state.gov.

Russia and Georgia agreed to reopen the Verkhny Lars border crossing, 30 kilometers south of Vladikavkaz, Russia, in March. The Russia-Georgia border points were closed in July 2006 after a dispute over the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and this mountain pass is the only border crossing that does not go through either region.

Regular flights between the countries were stopped following military action over South Ossetia in 2008 and have not resumed, though a Georgian Airways’ charter flight from Tbilisi to Moscow was allowed on Jan. 8.