European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse High seas by Bob hover staff writer our mind is made up. Conv that Visil to France will be both pfc and rewarding. The reasons arc he usual g language sumptuous food and he Chance to meet the ind Openden mind Eden citizen whose Devotion to Justice and Liberty pan your own Outlook. The Countryside so wild in appearance com the ordered neatness of German and dutch Tan reminds you of Home but wait1 before your expectations run rampant youth know that As an american the rules or Youngl have been tightened merely showing up at the French Border Whf passport in hand May no be enough. If you a i License on your car you May be waved the nigh i Border guards. Bui you also May be stopped itt Don t have a visa in your passport you could by entry. American civilians now need a visa even h Thi Are in route to another country a Rute impose French government last september to count k military members Are exempt from the dependents travelling with them Are no visas Are issued at French consulates the Phi sounds reasonable but in practice it has Basenb Down As thousands of foreigners seek Dean i Cross the French Border in the Peak tour isl my for weeks now consular clerks have been to in a tide of multinational visa applicants. Two in. Consulate one to Complete and turn in the a with your passport and the second to pick up i passport with visa stamp normally Are required. But during the summer Rush season some an Are making tour and five visits to consulates lop visas. Ii took me four trips to the French consulate if Frankfurt. Germany and including shed Rivar Darmstadt to Frankfurt More than 10 noun to visa. Crowds milling about outside the main ent nov consulate on Betlina Platz Lell a Story of Rusu Atic paperwork before you go by Linda White travel editor nce upon a time crossing country Borders was a simple matter. No passports no visas required. But like most things these Days Ravel is a bit More complicated than it used to be. For military personnel and civilian Dod employees there is a lot of extra paperwork that the Ordinary tourist does t have to Deal with. Here is a Roundup of documentation currently required for non duly travel in major european countries subject to change of course. It s a Good idea to Check with your administrative Section Well in Advance of a trip to make sure your papers Are in order and that you have everything you need to enter the country you plan to visit. Regulations concerning travel in foreign countries Are found in Safe Reg 30-21 and in Usa eur Reg 550 80. Quito a lot of attention has been Given to the French visa requirement in the past year bul Many other countries also require visas from americans. Before you complain remember that the in led slates requires visas of every non citizen. Some visas must be acquired in Advance others Are Given at Border Crossings visas Are available from the consulates of the countries to be visited to the Are available at Borders. There will be visa stations at Road Crossings and in Airport arrival Halls usually they Are not available on Board trains most travellers Are advised not to Lake photos of y installations in communist countries but the same Rule applies in Switzerland. Few have heard of the technicality in Spain thai your passport must be valid for Al least six months after the Date of entry. Ii seems that this Rule is not enforced bul to be on the Safe Side renew your passport before you go in it is about to expire since Many european countries allow . Military personnel to travel without passports some rules for military and civilians differ. Civilians in All cases must have passports. Military personnel May travel with their id cards and leave orders except in Bulgaria Cyprus Czechoslovakia East Germany Finland Gibraltar Hungary. Malta Poland Romania and the user. Travel in communist countries requires military clearance for civilian Dod employees and family members As Well As for military personnel. The request for clearance must reach Headquarters 40 Days before inc m a saturday a
