“He has no visa. We will be keeping him under guard overnight and sending him back on the first flight tomorrow morning.”
My friend and work associate had been stopped at the Belgium customs counter. Two guards walked over to where he was standing. Then two more guards walked over. After about a minute the four guards were escorting him to their office. As I started walking over, they told me to stop. Sternly. Then they asked me if I knew him. When I said yes, they responded with the above quote.
It was 10:30 at night. Forty-three Euro and about a half an hour later, thankfully we were able to work out a one day visa as his return flight was the next night.
Check before you go
No matter where you’re headed, it’s best to do a little research on where you’re going to ensure you have everything you need, before you get there. It’s so easy now to do a quick Google search to find out what the country you’re headed to does and doesn’t require. Wikipedia has a nice chart that explains what’s needed and when you don’t need a visa.
There are countries that will actually refuse entry (sometimes exit) without the proper paperwork. While in Iraq, they changed their process and required an “exit visa”. I already had a valid visa, but was still required to purchase the visa for around $200.
As an example, South Sudan required a passport, visa and working papers. I was asked twice on the street by officials, and if I didn’t have them? Deportation…
Visas
US citizens traveling to most of Europe for short time periods are afforded an automatic approval. If you find you need a visa for a country, you’ll also need to check your passport for two important things.
The expiration date – if your passport expires too close to your trip, some countries will not issue a visa. If that’s the case you’ll need to get another visa and take both with you.
The number of blank pages – if there’s not enough blank pages in your current passport, some countries will also refuse to issue a visa. Usually a half dozen is a minimum, but you’ll want to verify that with your destination country before applying.
Once you have everything straight, you get your visa.
You’ll note that the passport number and birthdate have been blanked out, even the arabic. Never offer anyone any more information than you have to.
And no, Gary never went to Afghanistan, but having a 6 month visa is kind of fun. Vacation anyone?
Special Documentation
If you don’t read anything else, this point is the one to take on a journey with you.
Many countries have their own fees to get into the country. Sometimes they call them visas, sometimes when you ask they may say “no we have no visa fees”, but then you find out there’s a “Reciprocity Entry Fee”. Wait, isn’t that the same thing? Well, to you and us it may be, but you’ll need to pay it all the same. Argentina has one that is good for 10 years (unlimited trips for Americans) and it cost us $150 each. Argentina has since rescinded this requirement for US citizens.
Some countries charge a Transit Visa fee. Even if you’re just passin’ through the country as a layover, they can require you to de-board the plane, go through their customs to pay the fee, then have you board the plane again.
Kenya is one of those countries.
Bahrain is another. Both were about $20 each.
Another reason to take some contingency cash with you.
Yet other countries like South Sudan require a “Travel Permit”. They need to know why you are coming in to their country and for what reasons. Gary was there two months after South Sudan became a country. Note they stamped the back side of the travel permit. Kenya required the travel permit (see their stamp) to get on the plane to Juba, South Sudan.
Similar to above, the passport number and birthdate have been blanked out. Plus, anyone who knows Gary personally will realize that he is not 180cm tall, more like 160cm. Not sure where they got their information from, but he’d love to be 5’10”.