Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:693 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!daemon From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Poland Message-ID: <950308151303_76702.1202_CHN72-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: daemon@world.std.com (daemons) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 15:13:04 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 94 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Poland ============================================================ Poland - Consular Information Sheet March 7, 1995 Country Description: Poland is a moderately developed European nation working to build a new political system and a market economy. Tourist facilities are not highly developed in all areas, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other European countries can be difficult to find. Entry Requirements: A passport is required. A visa is not required for stays up to 90 days. Visitors must register at a hotel or with local authorities within 48 hours of arrival. An AIDS test is required for student visas; U.S. test results are accepted. Further information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Consular Section at 2224 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, tel.: (202) 232-4517 or 4528 or the nearest Polish consulate in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York. Medical Facilities: Adequate medical care is available in Poland, but generally does not meet Western standards. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline, tel.: (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: Crime is a serious problem throughout Poland and is on the rise, particularly in large cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk. Organized groups of thieves and pickpockets appear to be operating in the train stations, and on trains, trams, and buses in major cities. A number of thefts have occurred on the overnight trains, including thefts from passengers in closed compartments. In Warsaw, car thefts and break-ins, street crime, and residential burglaries are increasingly prevalent. There have also been incidents of harassment and threats of violence directed against African-Americans by so-called "skinheads" in several Polish cities. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Department of State's pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad" is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. It provides information on travel to the region and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Currency Information: Polish law prohibits the import or export of Polish currency (zlotys). Upon entry into Poland visitors must declare in writing all money and valuable items they are bringing in. The declaration form should be stamped by Polish customs and retained by the traveler for presentation on departure. Undeclared cash may be confiscated upon departure if the customs declaration is unavailable. Throughout Poland, particularly outside Warsaw, it is difficult to cash traveler's checks or obtain cash advances on credit cards. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, and dealing in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Registration: U.S. citizens planning to be in Poland for longer than a brief visit are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy or the nearest U.S. consulate after arriving in Poland. All offices maintain updated information on travel and security within Poland and the region. Embassy and Consulate Locations: The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is located at Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31. The consular entrance is located around the corner at Ulica, Piekna 12, tel. (48) (2) 628-3041; fax 625-0289. There are also U.S. Consulates in Krakow, at Ulica Stolarska 9, tel. (48) (12) 221-400; fax 218-292; and in Poznan, at Ulica Chopina 4, tel.: (48) (61) 551-088; fax 530-053. No. 95-036 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 28, 1994, to update information on crime in Poland and to reflect new telephone numbers for the U.S. Consulate in Krakow. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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