Do I Need a Visa???

Unfortunately I find myself asking this question every time my travel plans involve going outside the good ol' US of A, much to my annoyance. U.S. citizens by and large get a free pass into other countries, with the notable exception of Brazil, China, and Cuba (you know you ain't supposed to go there haha), among others. Lucky bums. Unfortunately, this privilege doesn't extend to unlucky souls holding a passport from a third-world country. Moreover, each country's entry rules vary wildly even for different groups of citizens of the same country, depending on their alien residency status - for example, being a permanent US resident, I've been exempted from obtaining (and paying for) a visa to Switzerland, Canada, and Guatemala - while my non-US permanent resident friends didn't share in this same good fortune.

So, as someone who's almost been denied boarding on two flights due to ignorance of the flight crew regarding entry requirements (the first time on the verge of tears before the Swissair staff came to their senses), almost been denied entry by land in Central America (same reason), had to suffer the indignity of schlepping to consulates with reams of paperwork and waiting in line for eternity and paying ridiculous amounts for visas, compounded by similar ignorance exhibited by other countries' consulates and tourism boards of their own regulations, it was a godsend to stumble upon a site which gives an authoritative answer to the question, "Do I need a visa?". Check out official passport and visa requirements which are supplied and updated regularly by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) before making your holiday plans.