From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Brunei Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 14:51:07 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1208 Path: world!daemon Message-ID: <970108145106_76702.1202_CHN45-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: daemon@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 102 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Brunei ============================================================ Brunei - Consular Information Sheet January 7, 1997 Country Description: Brunei is a small Islamic sultanate on the north coast of the island of Borneo. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is the only major city. Tourist facilities are good, and generally available. Entry Requirements: For information about entry requirements, travelers may consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of the State of Brunei Darussalam, Suite 300, 2600 Virginia Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037; tel. (202) 342-0159. Medical Facilities: Public and private hospitals and medical services are now available in Brunei which provide adequate facilities. It can still be difficult and expensive for foreigners not injured in Brunei to obtain public medical care. Medical care clinics do not require deposits, but insist upon payment in full at time of treatment and may require proof of ability to pay prior to treating or discharging a foreigner. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers may wish to check with their health insurance providers regarding whether their U.S. policy applies overseas. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation may be useful. Travel agents or insurance providers may have information about such programs. Information on health matters may also be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through its international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559 or via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/. Information on Crime: The crime rate in Brunei is very low, and violent crime is rare. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the U.S. Embassy. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. The trafficking in and the illegal importation of controlled drugs are very serious offenses in Brunei. Brunei has a mandatory death penalty for many narcotics offenses. Under the current law, possession of heroin and morphine derivatives of more than 15 grams, and cannabis of more than 20 grams, carries the death sentence. Possession of lesser amounts carries a minimum twenty year jail term and caning. Aviation Oversight: In March 1995, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assessed Brunei's civil aviation authority as in compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for air carriers licensed by Brunei. For further information travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Road Safety: Roads are generally good and most vehicles are new and well-maintained. However, vehicular accidents are now one of the leading causes of death in Brunei. Possibly due to excessive speed, tropical torrential rain, or driver carelessness, Brunei suffers a very high traffic accident rate. Customs Information: Information concerning regulations and procedures governing items that may be brought into Brunei is available from the Embassy of the State of Brunei Darussalam in the United States. Registration/U.S. Embassy Location: U.S. citizens living in or visiting Brunei are encouraged to register in person or via telephone with the U.S. Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country. The U.S Embassy is located on the third floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. The mailing address is American Embassy Box B, APO AP 96440; the telephone number is (673)(2) 229-670. No. 97-004 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 16, 1995. It updates information on entry requirements, medical facilities, crime, criminal penalties, road safety, customs and registration/U.S. Embassy location. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories