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Welcome to the Casto Visa/Passport Updates

Here you'll find pertinent information to your international travel. This information is updated weekly detailing any matters relating to any important changes, requirements, and issues with International Travel.

All of this information is gathered directly from the Consulates and Embassies therefore it is all up to date and accurate.If you have any questions about any of the following information please contact a Casto Visa/Passport specialist at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 408.553.4735.

All passengers travelling to the affected regions will be contacted by a Casto representative.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization
08/26/08
WHO: Citizens of countries eligible to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. No impact on US passport holders re-entering the US.

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program and is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission of 2007. The objective of ESTA is to obtain basic information about who is traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

The following countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program:

Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Currently, passport holders of the above countries are allowed to enter the United States, for leisure or business, for up to 90 days without a visa. They must, however, complete a written I-94W form providing basic biographical, travel, and eligibility information while en-route to the U.S ESTA will replace the paper I-94W. Travelers coming to the United States will be required to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship. The requirement will go into effect next year.

ESTA will determine if an individual is eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, or if the individual poses any law enforcement or security risk prior to boarding a plane or ship in route to the US. Those covered by the Visa Waiver Program can apply at anytime before traveling to the United States as ESTA is granted for 2 years or the life of the passport, which ever is less, for multiple entries into the US. It is suggested by Homeland Security that the ESTA application is completed at least 72 hours before travel. The ESTA application must be filled out on line at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov . Most travelers will be granted approval almost immediately. Possible responses include: Authorization Approved, Travel Not Authorized, or Authorization Pending. If the authorization is Pending, the applicant will be advised to check back in 24 hours, if Travel Not Authorized, the applicant will be directed to www.travel.state.gov for information on how to apply for a visa to the United States.

A Visa Called Schengen
08/19/08
A Schengen visa allows those nationals requiring a visa to travel freely throughout the Schengen territory with 1 visa, very much like traveling from state to state in the United States, rather than a visa for each country. The Schengen agreement does allow for customs control as long as there is no passport check. It is advisable the traveler carry his/her passport and visa at all times.
Countries making up the Schengen territory:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden

All the above countries, with the exception of Norway and Iceland, are part of the European Union. The United Kingdom and Ireland are part of the European Union, but not part of the Schengen territory. Switzerland will join the Schengen territory in November, 2008.

A single entry Schengen visa allows the holder a single stay (tourism or business) of up to 90 days in a 6 month period in the Schengen territory. A multiple entry visa allows the holder to leave and return to the Schengen territory any number of times as long as the combined stays do not exceed 90 days in a 6 month period.

Since a Schengen visa holder is allowed to travel freely throughout the Schengen territory, it is important the visa application is submitted to and the visa issued by the appropriate country. The guidelines are simple. If staying for an equal amount of time in 2 or more countries, the visa is issued by the first country to be visited. If staying longer in one country than any other, the country of longest stay issues the visa.

Transiting the Schengen territory should be simple, and it is if there is only 1 stop in each direction when traveling from one non-Schengen country to another. No visa required. IF the itinerary from a non-Schengen country transits more than one Schengen country in route to a 3rd, non-Schengen country, a visa is required because the traveler is considered to have entered Schengen territory and is not allowed to travel to a 2nd Schengen territory without a visa.

Just a few more wrinkles for a visa named Schengen. Some of the supporting documents required when applying include: Recent bank statements Proof of international health insurance up to $35,000 or more. Most Schengen countries require a personal appearance by the visa applicant, a visa service cannot submit the application on the traveler's behalf. This requirement can be a major issue for those living a distance from the consulate or embassy. Some consulates do have exception procedures for those applicants when asked.

Important reminder: US passport holders do not need a visa for travel throughout the Schengen territory, but are limited to stays totaling 90 days in a 6 month period.

Passports for Traveling Internationally with Children
08/12/08
Passports and Traveling Internationally with Children One Parent or Guardian

Traveling internationally with children or applying for a passport for a child under 16, is easy when both parent are accompanying the child or are available when requesting a passport. It becomes problematic when only one parent or guardian is taking the child out of the country or is applying for a passport.

The United States Department of State has a standard form used when only one parent or guardian applies for a passport for a child under the age of 16, called a DS-3053. The link to the form is:

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/80106.pdf

This form should be notarized and submitted (within 3 months of being notarized), along with the DS-11 Application for Passport, for minors under age 16 as evidence of parental permission if:

You are a non-applying parent or guardian consenting to passport issuance for your child, or You are an applying parent or guardian, and the written consent of the non-applying parent or guardian cannot be obtained.

Duration of Consent: The written consent (from the non-applying parent) that accompanies an application for a new passport must not be more than 3 months old. The applying parent will need to submit a new written consent if the consent on file pre-dates the new application.

Download Letter of Consent and Print

Now that the child’s passport has been issued, can one parent or guardian travel internationally with the child? Not really. Because of the fear of international kidnapping among other worries, the parent or guardian traveling with the child will need to show proof the 2nd parent or parents have granted permission for the child to leave the country.

Unfortunately, there is not a standard form from the government for a single parent or guardian to travel with a child internationally. Below is a sample letter that can be used. Please note, it must be notarized:

One other consideration is the requirements of the country being visited may have for children leaving with one parent or guardian traveling. It is impossible to list the requirements for each country, but the US Department of State has listed, in it’s country specific information any special requirements for children traveling alone or with one parent or guardian. The link is:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

With proper documentation in hand, a single parent or guardian should have no problem getting a passport or traveling internationally with minor children.

A Lesson on Yellow Fever
08/11/08
Yellow Fever is the only vaccination specifically required in normal travel and only under certain conditions for certain countries. Many countries require the vaccination if arriving or transiting, within 6 to 9 days, from and endemic or infected areas, except for infants under 1 year of age.
Transiting an endemic or infected country, but not leaving the airport, proof of Yellow Fever vaccination may not be required. Please check with Visa/Passport for specifics. Yellow Fever only occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. Yellow Fever is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. The countries in Africa with endemic areas are:

  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Nigeria
  • Niger
  • Rwanda
  • Sierra Leone
  • São Tomé and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Equatorial Guinea

1 South American countries with endemic areas are:

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • French Guiana
  • Guyana
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela

A number of countries require all arriving passengers show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination, an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), with an “official stamp" Most travel clinics and individual health care providers in the United States are designated sites for Yellow Fever vaccinations and the required ICVP. Countries requiring proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever for all travelers are:

  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Bolivia (or signed affidavit at point of entry)
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • French Guiana
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Mauritania (for a stay >2 weeks)
  • Niger
  • Rwanda
  • São Tomé and Principe
  • Sierra Leone
  • Tanzania
  • Togo

The actual requirements for all the countries in the world are too cumbersome to list here. The CDC has a page on their Website listing Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements, and information on Malaria risk and Prophylaxis by country. It can be found at this link:

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh5-MalariaYellowFeverTable.aspx

The United States, Canada and most European countries do not require Yellow Fever vaccinations for visitors or returning citizens.