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Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
Foreword
The information in this pamphlet has been gathered for you by
consular officers-- both here and in South Asia-- to assist you
with your trip. We hope this brochure will be of help to you in
making your trip both safe and enjoyable.
Always keep in mind, though, that wherever you are abroad, if
you come into serious difficulties, contact the U.S. consul at
the nearest United States embassy or consulate for information
or assistance.
General Information
Your trip to South Asia can be a rich and rewarding experience.
There are ancient cultures and artistic traditions to appreciate
and a wealth of natural wonders to see - all co-existing with
modern societies. However, the customs and local conditions can
be as distant from home as the miles, and travelers should plan
their trips carefully.
Consular Information Program
For travel information on any country, see the Department of
State's Consular Information Sheet for the country. Consular Information
Sheets cover such matters as health conditions, unusual currency
and entry regulations, crime and security conditions, drug penalties,
and areas of instability. In addition, the State Department issues
Travel Warnings when we recommend Americans defer travel to a
country because of unsafe conditions. Regulations may also prohibit
the use of U.S. passports to visit certain countries. This prohibition
will be included in the Travel Warnings issued for affected countries.
Travel Warnings are under continuous review by the Department
of State. Before you depart for a country that has a Travel Warning,
make certain that you have the most recent revision of the Warning.
The Department of State also issues Public Announcements. Public
Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information
quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term
and/or trans-national conditions which would pose significant
risks to the security of American travelers.
There are several ways to access Consular Information Sheets,
Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. You can listen to them
24-hours a day by calling 202-647-5225 from a touchtone phone.
You can receive copies of them by sending a self-addressed, stamped
envelope to Overseas Citizens Services, Room 4800, Department
of State, Washington, DC 20520-4818. (Write the name of the requested
country or countries on the outside of the envelope.) You can
also find Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings at the
13 regional passport agencies and at U.S. embassies and consulates
abroad. They can also be accessed through an airline or travel
agent's computer reservation system, the Bureau of Consular Affairs'
24- hour automated fax system at 202/647-3000, or through many
computer bulletin boards, including the Consular Affairs Bulletin
Board (CABB). You may call the CABB on modem number 301-946-4400.
The login is travel; the password is info.
Travelers to areas where conditions are unsettled or communication
is poor are encouraged to register at the nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate (see list at end of document). All travelers are
encouraged to leave a detailed itinerary and their passport numbers
at home in case of an emergency.
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