Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:596 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!daemon From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Taiwan Message-ID: <940920141933_76702.1202_CHN37-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: daemon@world.std.com (daemons) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Tue, 20 Sep 1994 14:19:33 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 97 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Taiwan ============================================================ Taiwan - Consular Information Sheet September 19, 1994 Country Description: Taiwan is continuing its transition toward democracy and has a strong and well-developed economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. Entry Requirements: A passport is required. Visas are not required for stays up to five days. Visas valid for stays of up to two weeks can be obtained at Chiang Kai Shek International Airport upon arrival, provided that the traveler's passport is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, and the traveler is in possession of a return air ticket. Two-week validity visas may not be extended. Visas for stays of up to two months are free of charge and must be obtained prior to entry. For specific visa information, travelers may contact the Coordination Council for North American Affairs (CCNAA), 4201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016-2137; Telephone: (202) 895-1800. CCNAA also has additional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. Medical Facilities: Health facilities in Taiwan are fully adequate for routine medical treatment. Doctors and hospitals may expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental overseas medical insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation, has proven useful. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services outside the United States. The international travelers hotline at the Centers for Disease Control (404) 332-4559 has additional useful health information. Information on Crime: The overall crime rate on Taiwan is low. Residential burglaries and thefts are the predominant types of crimes which affect foreigners on Taiwan, but other more serious street crimes do occasionally occur. Generally, U.S. citizen visitors to Taiwan should follow the basic security precautions that they would follow in a large city. Local police assistance throughout Taiwan is considered to be good. Local police departments all have foreign affairs sections which are normally staffed by English-speaking officers. Police contact numbers for the major cities on Taiwan are as follows: Taipei - (02) 556-6007, Kaohsiung - (07) 221-5796, Tainan - (06) 222-9704, Taichung - (04) 220-3032. Some foreign businesses have also been the victims of criminal extortion attempts. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police, and to the American Institute in Taiwan, in either the Taipei or the Kaohsiung office. 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. Drug Penalties: Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of the country or area in which they travel. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and/or large fines. Registration: Americans who register at the American Institute in Taiwan may obtain updated information on travel and security within Taiwan. The American Institute in Taiwan does not issue U.S. passports directly; passport applications are sent to the American Consulate General in Hong Kong for processing. Processing time for U.S. passports takes three weeks. If immediate travel is necessary, the American Institute in Taiwan can issue a travel letter for travel to Hong Kong or the U.S., but not for any other destination. Embassy Location: Unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan are conducted through the American Institute in Taiwan whose offices are authorized by law to perform American citizen services. For assistance, U.S. citizen travelers can contact the American Institute in Taiwan at No. 7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road Section 3 Taipei, Taiwan; Telephone: (886-2) 709-2000 or the American Institute in Taiwan at no. 2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th floor, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886-7] 224-0154. In case of emergencies after working hours, the duty officer at Taipei can be contacted at (886-2) 709-2013. No. 94-220 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 24, 1994, to provide updated information on requirements for entry into Taiwan, additional information on crime, and the correct address of the American Institute in Taiwan at Kaohsiung. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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. 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