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If you’ve heard the call of Costa Rica, and are thinking of heading there for your next adventure, you’ll be happy to know that a valid passport is all you’ll need to enter this tropical and unique country. U.S. citizens may stay up to 3 months in Costa Rica without a visa.  

However, you may very well fall so madly in love with the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines or tropical jungles of Costa Rica that you’ll want to go back for a much longer visit. In that case, you’ll need a Multiple visa. A Multiple visa allows you to enter and exit Costa Rica over and over. Cruise line crewmembers or business visitors most often apply for this type of visa.

You can download the Multiple visa application from the Embassy of Costa Rica web site. Fill it out completely and start gathering the additional documentation such as a birth certificate and a criminal background check plus copies of your passport. These must all be certified. A notary stamp should do the trick.

You must also show that you can support yourself during your stay. Submit copies of your most recent bank statements or other financial documents that support this claim.  

In addition to certification, your documents must be authenticated by the Consulate of Costa Rica here in the U.S. They will charge between $40.00 and $80.00 for this service.

Once you have all your documentation together, send it and your completed application to one of the consulates located in Washington DC, Atlanta GA, Los Angeles CA, New York NY, Houston TX, Miami FL and Tampa FL. If you live near one of the consulates, you can deliver your forms in person. Otherwise, contact the closest consulate for details on mailing your application. In general, you’ll need to use a traceable method such as UPS, Express Mail or FedEx.

Once you’ve received your Multiple visa, pack your bags and tell your friends you’re heading for a tropical paradise!

C.L. Hendricks has been a Jill-of-all-trades and become an expert in some. She has also traveled extensively and now writes about travel destinations around the world for Vacation Things to Do and How to Get a Passport

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/costa-rica-beckons-1512460.html

In 2009, President Obama lifted many of the existing travel restrictions for U.S. citizens who wish to visit family members living in Cuba. This initiative eliminated the limits on how often U.S. visitors can travel to Cuba as well as how long they are allowed to stay.  U.S. citizens will still need to apply for a Cuban visa but the process will be quicker.

Cuba requires that visitors first apply for a general license to document the amount of money that they’ll spend in Cuba. Since the embargo is still in place, the U.S. Treasury department must approve all general licenses.  

You can apply for a general license by writing the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20220.  In your letter, explain the reason you wish to visit Cuba. You’ll also need to send copies of any documents that support your request, such as birth certificates or letters from business contacts inviting you to come to Cuba. If you’ll be visiting a family member, you’ll also need to submit this form: “Request for a Specific License to Visit an Immediate Family Member” – OMB No: 1505-0202 and TDF 90-22.60.

After receiving your approved license, contact the Cuban Interests Section/Consular Office located at 2630 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009 to apply for a Cuba visa.

You can call this office between 9:00am and 12:00pm Monday through Friday at 202-797-8407. This office is located within the Embassy of Switzerland and handles all visa applications. This is the only place you can get a visa form and find detailed answers for questions about the application process.

One word of warning: Do not assume that a prepaid travel package, booked through a Cuban travel agency, will meet all the entrance requirements. It’s always best to check the web site for the U.S. Department of State, and the Cuban Interests Section/Consular Office, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control for the most current travel information.

C.L. Hendricks has been a Jill-of-all-trades and become an expert in some. She has also traveled extensively and now writes about travel destinations around the world for Vacation Things to Do and How to Get a Passport

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/cuba-travel-restrictions-ease-1512466.html