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Country Information
Afghanistan
The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against travel
to Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a developing, Islamic country presently
in the midst of a civil war. Fighting and indiscriminate rocket
attacks, aerial bombardments, and other violence can occur without
warning. Land mines are prevalent throughout the countryside.
All U.S. personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul were evacuated
on January 31, 1989, and no other diplomatic mission represents
U.S. interest or provides consular services. The nearest U.S.
Embassy is in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Because of safety and security concerns arising from the civil
war in Afghanistan, all U. S. airlines and aircraft operators
are prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration from overflying
Afghanistan.
Bangladesh
No visa is required for a tourist stay of up to two weeks if
you have an onward ticket; all business travelers must have visas,
however. Bangladesh is an Islamic country, and visitors should
dress modestly - shorts are considered inappropriate.
Crime is a serious problem in Dhaka. Foreigners have not been
especially targeted, but are often the victims of crime. Travelers
should also be wary of and give a wide berth to politically-based
street agitation, protests, and general strikes. These can flare
into random violence without warning and result in attacks on
nearby persons and property.
Travelers should pay special attention to preventive health
measures because medical facilities, especially in rural areas,
are not always available. River ferries are necessary for travel
throughout much of Bangladesh, but travelers should exercise caution
when using them. Accidents frequently occur from overcrowding
and from hazardous navigation during poor weather. Trekkers may
not go to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which are off-limits to
foreigners.
Kingdom of Bhutan
While Bhutan and the United States do not have formal diplomatic
relations, informal contact is maintained through the U.S. Embassy
in New Delhi, India. Restrictions on tourism to Bhutan have been
relaxed recently. Tourists are no longer limited to traveling
in organized groups; however independent travelers must book through
a travel agency. Visas must be requested in advance and are stamped
on arrival in Bhutan. Entry must be via Bangladesh, India or Nepal.
The border with China is closed. For information, contact Bhutan
Travel Inc., 120 East 56th Street, Suite 1130, New York, NY 10022
(tel. 212-838-6382).
India
India is the South Asian country most frequently visited by
U.S. citizens. Visas must be obtained before arrival. Persons
arriving without visas must leave on the next plane. If you plan
to travel from India to Nepal or another country and return to
India, be sure to request a multiple entry visa. Tourist visas
are issued for a maximum of 90 days. Once in India, visitors who
wish to extend their stay must apply to a Foreigners Regional
Registration Office. Extensions, if granted, may not bring the
total visit to more than six months. Customs regulations prohibiting
the importation of gold or Indian currency, and regulating importation
of electronics, foreign currency, and firearms are strictly enforced.
Offenders of these regulations may be jailed, fined and/or charged
duty at rates exceeding 300 percent of the item's value. Laws
against drug smuggling carry heavy penalties, including a ten-year
prison term.
Political or communal and inter-caste violence occurs intermittently
in many parts of the country. Major civil disturbances can pose
risks to a traveler's personal safety and can disrupt transportation
systems and city services. In response to communal violence, Indian
authorities may occasionally impose curfews. Foreigners have rarely
been the targets of communal or political violence in India, and
are principally at risk of becoming inadvertent victims only if
they stray into demonstrations. Whether dangerous or not, many
areas of India have been declared off-limits to foreigners by
the Indian authorities. Permits are required for: Mizoram, Manipur,
Nagaland, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim,
parts of Kulu District and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh,
border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, certain areas of Uttar Pradesh,
the area west of National Highway No. 5 running from Ganganagar
to Sanchar in Rajasthan, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the
Union Territory of the Laccadive Islands. Persons of Indian origin
can usually obtain permits to visit relatives in restricted areas.
Other visitors may have to wait a long time for a permit or be
unable to obtain one. Consult the latest Department of State Consular
Information Sheet on which areas are restricted. Once in India,
consult the U.S. Embassy or the nearest U.S. consulate for information
on restricted areas and advice on obtaining permits to visit them.
None of the popular tourist sites in India are in restricted areas.
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