Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:497 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!compuserve.COM!76702.1202 From: 76702.1202@compuserve.COM (Wally Doerge) Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Venezuela Message-ID: <940629134624_76702.1202_CHN5-1@CompuServe.COM> Sender: daemon@world.std.com (World Mail) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Wed, 29 Jun 1994 13:46:24 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 120 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Venezuela ============================================================ Venezuela - Consular Information Sheet June 27, 1994 Country Description: Venezuela is a middle income country. Its tourism infrastructure varies in quality according to location and price. Scheduled air service and all weather roads, some poorly marked and congested around urban centers, connect major cities and all regions of the country. Entry Requirements: A valid passport and a visa or tourist card are required. Tourist cards are issued on flights from the U.S. to Venezuela. For current information concerning entry, tax, and customs requirements for Venezuela, contact the Venezuelan Embassy at 1099 30th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007; tel: (202) 342-2214, or the Consulates in Baltimore, New York, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Houston, San Francisco, and San Juan. Areas of Instability: Cross-border violence occurs frequently in remote areas along the Colombian border in Zulia, Tachira, Apure and Amazonas states. A U.S. citizen was kidnapped from a fishing camp in southern Apure state in February 1993. Most recently, a bomb exploded in the Caracas subway causing damage and minor injuries to passengers. A corporate aircraft was recently hijacked in Valencia with its passengers. The probable motives were kidnapping for ransom and/or use of the aircraft for drug trafficking. There have been no recent terrorist actions against visitors. Health and Medical Facilities: The beaches near Caracas and Puerto La Cruz are polluted. Cholera is present in Venezuela; however, travelers who follow proper precautions with food and drink are not usually at major risk. Dengue fever and malaria are endemic especially in the jungle and swampy areas of the states of Amazonas, Apure, Bolivar and Delta Amacuro. Good private hospitals and clinics provide U.S. level medical care at U.S. level prices and often expect immediate cash payment. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services outside the United States. In some cases, medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage has proven useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: Pickpockets are concentrated around crowded bus and subway stations, along with the area around "Parque Simon Bolivar" near the "Capitolio" downtown. There have been cases of theft from hotel safe deposit boxes. The "Barrios" (the poor neighborhoods that cover the hills around Caracas) and isolated urban parks such as "El Calvario" in the "El Silencio" area of Caracas are dangerous. Most criminals are armed with guns or knives, and have used force. There is also a potential for theft of unattended valuables on the beach, from rental cars parked in isolated areas, or on city streets. A guarded garage is not always a guarantee against theft. Other Information: Sporadic political demonstrations occur in urban centers. These tend to focus near university campuses or secondary schools, and sometimes turn violent. Most tourist destinations, however, remain unaffected. The number and intensity of demonstrations have fluctuated widely over the past several months. Merida, a major tourist destination in the Andes, is traditionally the scene of regular student demonstrations. Travelers may keep informed of local developments by reading the local newspapers ("The Daily Journal" is an English language daily newspaper), following Spanish radio and TV and consulting their local hosts including U.S. and Venezuelan business contacts, their hotels, tour guides, and travel organizers for current information on demonstrations, the purpose and location of which are usually known in advance. Driving Information: Outside the major cities in rural areas, night driving can be dangerous because of unmarked road damage/repairs, unlighted vehicles and livestock. Local drivers often disregard no passing lines and pass on blind curves. Passing on the right on divided highways and crossing intersections on red lights are also common. Stops at national guard and local police road check points ("Alcabalas") are frequent and required. Drivers should follow all national guard instructions and be prepared to show vehicle and insurance papers and passports. Cars may be searched. In 1990, a U.S. citizen passenger in a car that resisted a search was shot and killed by a soldier. Very economical but less safe bus service is available to most locations. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs in Venezuela are strict and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Prison conditions are abject. Adoptions: The National Institute for Minors "Instituto Nacional Del Menor" (INAM) will not place a child under 5 years of age in an adoption abroad. However, such minors can be adopted through private judicial procedures. Adoption is generally possible only by couples who cannot have children. Single persons cannot adopt. Prospective adoptive parents should not accept or take custody of any child for adoption and transfer to the U.S. without assuring themselves that the child meets U.S. immigration requirements. Consular officers cannot act as agents for U.S. citizens seeking to adopt in Venezuela. Additional information is available from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas or the Office of Citizens Consular Services, CA/OCS/CCS, Room 4817, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-3712. Embassy Location/Registration: All U.S. citizens who register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at Avenida Principal De La Floresta and Avenida Francisco De Miranda, La Florests, telephones (58-2) 285-3111/2222, fax (58-2) 285-0336 may obtain updated information on travel and security within Venezuela. The Consulate in Maracaibo was closed in February, 1994. No. 94-106 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet of August 11, 1993, it provides updated information on crime, medical facilities and adoptions in Venezuela.