PSA: Visas Now Required

[Speedo2]

Last week we had an unexpected surprise: pre-travel visas are now required for a whole bunch of countries that heretofore didn't require them. We're scheduled to cruise to Australia next month and found that the Oz is now one such country. Pre-covid, we visited a whole bunch of countries, including Australia, and had essentially no pre-travel visa requirements. Customs simply stamped our passports when we arrived.

Not exactly a third-world problem, but this close to our departure date, it was a bit of a scramble. Turns out that several European countries (including France) have also jumped on this bandwagon. I found it to be rather aggravating, since the cruise company hadn't previously advised us of this fact. When queried, they directed us to a service organization that for the paltry price of around $120US (each person, each country), they would expedite our visa(s). Turns out that we need 3 visas (Australia, Vietnam, & Cambodia) on this trip. I did a slow burn and investigated a bit.

Anyway, each of those countries has on-line e-visa applications, which do not require sending in our passports and are much less expensive (~$20 each) than the travel service companies charge. Me thinks there's some kick-back shenanigans going on with the cruise companies.

So travelers beware, and be prepared to fork over a few more bucks to those foreign customs bureaucrats for the privilege of spending money in their countries. And don't fall for those visa expediting services, either.
Rant off. -S2

 

[biku324]

I had to get a visa for Oz in 2015. Cambodia required one in 2014.

 

[LVSteve]

Are you sure about France? My wife and I were thinking about taking the Eurostar over to Paris while we were visiting the UK last month. When I checked online it seemed that there was no visa requirement for holders of US passports.

Here ya go. Scroll down to "Particular Situations".

One moment please

American passport holders are not required to obtain a visa prior to visiting France for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

 

[rwsmith]

Exit visas..

Some countries won't let you LEAVE until you fork over a few hundred dollars.

 

[schutz5]

Sounds like California and its exit tax!

 

[BC38]

Thanks for the heads up. Not that it matters much for me.
I let my passport lapse years ago since I have no intentions or desire to leave the good old US of A.
Watching the news of current events in the rest of the world has effectively quenched any desire I ever had to travel abroad.
Color me a provential.
I would still like to take a cruise along the Alaskan inner passage though.
To each his own as they say...

 

[dockmurgw]

How dare they do that. They should strive to follow our lead, where all you need to get in is a pair of waders.

 

[twodog max]

I ain't going anywhere so no problem for me.

 

[ladder13]

We were in France two months ago, no visa was required.

Going to Italy in early Oct, no visa required that we know of.

 

[handejector]

Vietnam and Cambodia? I've been to both. Nahhhhhh............
No offense to anyone from those countries, but I did not see anything that would entice me back, and I traveled VN from far enough north to see NV flags flying on their own dirt to the delta. I'm sure things have changed in 50+ years, but I would drink bottled water and be careful about ice in drinks. Ice in a coke put me in the hospital for 8 days and affected my gut for years after.
The Central Highlands are pretty and the Montagnards were interesting.

 

[James K]

My understanding is Australia has always required a Visa all the way back to the 1980s or longer. Western Europe never, just a passport that doesn't expire in the same year or within at least 6 months, maybe higher now.

 

[TXBryan]

Vietnam and Cambodia? I've been to both. Nahhhhhh............
No offense to anyone from those countries, but I did not see anything that would entice me back, and I traveled VN from far enough north to see NV flags flying on their own dirt to the delta. I'm sure things have changed in 50+ years, but I would drink bottled water and be careful about ice in drinks. Ice in a coke put me in the hospital for 8 days and affected my gut for years after.
The Central Highlands are pretty and the Montagnards were interesting.

We adopted our son from Viet Nam 16 years ago and spent three weeks plus in Ha Noi. Too many impressions to detail here but we had a great time. The food is fabulous - think French and Thai fusion. While I'm confident there are dangerous places we managed to easily avoid them and spent most of our time exploring (we skipped the war museums and remnants of the POW facilities). We found the people outgoing, friendly, and helpful. The only group that was mildly hostile were youngsters fresh out of school indoctrination of the evils of capitalism. Apparently they grow out of it as older folks couldn't have been friendlier. Beautiful place. (I missed the war by about four years.)

Our son wants to visit as he has no recollection (he was 10 months old when we received him). We're planning on a high school graduation trip/gift after his senior year. It'll be interesting as he does not speak the language - despite opportunities. Extremely difficult phonetic language to learn as an adult.

By the way, Viet Nam has the most colorful visa I've ever seen much less had pasted into my passport. Back then we had to send our passports to San Francisco and they mailed them back promptly affixed with the visas good for a 30 day stay.

Bryan

 

[peyton]

My brother who lives in Seattle, is driving to Alaska and told me he needed a visa for Canada!! He also said he was getting a passport as well.
I told him the last time I entered Alaska, they didn't ask for one.
Now Canadian customs questioned me on where my guns were, my gun safe was in back of truck and was full of ammo, I told them the guns were mailed. Forget about looking for drugs, they insisted on finding my evil guns!!

 

[CH4]

Not sure about Australia, but I've always needed a visa for Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam now has a "visa on entry" option which is easier if you're looking for 30 day single entry visa.

 

[Sistema1927]

For Europe, beginning next year. 7 euros for 3 years.
How do you get the Europe 'visa'? What to know about the ETIAS requirements : NPR

 

[BAM-BAM]

IIRCread that visas will be required by a number of European countries [not EU individual countries] starting in 2024.

Not sure of the price but "lots" of paperwork and personal information.

 

[Roofuss]

Staying right here in the good old USA !

 

[Screwball]

They can call it a visa (it isn't), but we have been doing similar with the Visa Wavier Program for years…

Countries that are considered "safer" by the US can allow for entry without a visa. The length of admission is shorter than a traditional B1/B2 (90 days verses 6 months), but need to be screened thru ESTA prior to arriving. This has been the way in airports for years, but the US land border (namely Canadian border, as Canada has a lot of European permanent residents) used to allow a paper form instead of ESTA. That changed last October. The US did a piss poor job getting that info out and still has people thinking they don't need ESTA on the land border. I had a French family argue it with me (work for CBP), saying they are fine because they did one for Canada. Told them it's all well and good, but until they have an approved ESTA (gave them the info sheet), they will remain in Canada. Came back a few hours later, and were admitted after it was approved.

If someone wants to stay longer than 90 days or do something other than visit for tourism or business… they can apply for the correct US visa at any US embassy and done. If someone is refused or is not approved thru ESTA… they have to get a visa to enter.

I tell plenty of people this on a regular occurrence, but if you visit a foreign country… their house, their rules. This ETA system is actually being used by a few countries. UK was the last big one I heard about. Canada needs it for inbound flights, even if it is a layover… unless you are a Canadian citizen or a US citizen with a valid US passport.

If we need a "visa" to enter Canada, someone should let Canada Customs know… as I went over for dinner last week without issue.

 

[Warren Sear]

I do not ever plan to leave the US again.

 

[sjmjax]

Caught me by surprise a few years ago. Found out I needed a visa for a trip to Argentina. At the airport!
Had not been required for previous trips. An, at the time, sudden change in response to some insult from our country.
Some very nice and sharply dressed Argentine officials issued my visa at the gate.