Every Country should emulate the Cambodia E-Visa program

Having solidified my plans of visiting both Vietnam and Cambodia, with some apprehension I turned my attention over to the matter of procuring visas for both countries (which in itself surprised me, as most countries don't require visas for US nationals). The memories of schlepping to the Honduran embassy twice only to be given the runaround by ignorant staff are still fresh in my mind, despite occurring a few years ago (here and here). Luckily, my travel agent informed me that she could handle the Vietnam visa bit, and sent me the appropriate application forms and requirements. The steep cost ($125) caught me by surprise - but looking on the bright side, I guess this means they have shed their Communist ways and become capitalist pigs as well.

Turning to Cambodia, I learned somehow of their innovative e-Visa program, where the application process is conducted entirely online. Initially skeptical of a small, impoverished country managing to offer such a convenience, curious how anti-terrorist background checks can be performed and incredulous as to how visas can be "bought" online as if it were a book on Amazon, I decided to give it a shot anyway.

After filling in the standard biographical information, the website requires the applicant to upload a passport-size photograph, and provides several hysterical illustrations of unacceptable pictures. Digital camera in hand, I commandeered Indra who sat in the next cubicle and off we went in search of the suitable white background demanded. Eventually we decided that the pillar beside the printer would suffice, and Indra by trial-and-error managed to snap a photo that showed just the right balance of face and shoulders. Not such an easy task, what with other employees picking up their printouts and shooting amused glances.

Picture having been uploaded, the final step was payment. Amazingly enough, Paypal was an option, so I selected that. Compared to Vietnam, price wasn't so bad, only $20 + $5 fee. (The same cost as procuring the visa on arrival in Cambodia). A confirmation email arrived in my Inbox indicating that approval notification would follow in three business days. I was thoroughly impressed up to this point, but was blown way further when the approval email arrived the next day and I was able to download my e-Visa in PDF format!!! Not quite the emotional sort, but tears of joy almost (almost!) came running down my cheeks. Convenient? Check. Hassle-free? Check. Has the Honduran embassy made plans to copy this innovative program yet?!

Note: At the time this blog post was written, the Cambodia e-Visa site had recently undergone an upgrade process and encountered "problems" (sigh, those IT guys). In short, the site is off-line and non-functioning, and has been so for almost a month (uh oh). However, as the site states, "the government official in-charge of the Cambodia e-Visa operation currently rectifying the problem in order to ease the operation to the normal operational function". Let's hope so.

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.

High-Ho, Off to Honduras We Go

Note: This is the second part of my misadventures in obtaining a Honduran visa. Click here to read the first part.

Still feeling a bit uneasy even after my visit to the NYC consulate, the next day I decided to pretend that my work deadlines didn't exist and concentrate instead on resolving this matter once and for all. I had a bright idea: I would seek answers from the other consulates (LA, Chicago, DC) who would then hopefully confirm the New York consulate's verdict. As bad luck would have it, all three conversations pretty much followed the same script: A non-English speaking staffer picks up the phone. I then draw a deep breath and forge ahead in explaining the problem as best I could en Espanol. Afterwards, the staffer would state that, "Yes, you do need a visa", and then recite the same laundry list of required documents. I say goodbye, slam the phone in disgust, and draw a deep sigh of despair.

Spurred into action, the following morning I showed up promptly at 9am at the NYC consulate and was the only person in line. There I was assisted by Jessica, who immediately told me that I DID NOT need a visa, but they would have to put a stamp on my passport which stated that I did not need a visa. Confusing? As I digested this information, she handed me the same exact five page application form that I had filled up a couple of weeks ago!!! After having secured the official exemption stamp, I dared ask her why all the consulates (or even colleagues working in the same branch) give out wildly different information, thus confusing every Honduras-bound traveller born in a third world country. Matter of factly, Jessica replied, "Because no one in any of the offices can understand the manual!! Only I, since I have read it so many times!". Normally this would've presented a perfect opening for dishing out a sarcastic comment, but I just kept my mouth shut and thanked my lucky stars she was on hand this particular day.

So after enduring all these, those Mayan ruins at Copan and the Bay Islands better be worth the trouble!

Hapless Hondurans

So i had the morning off today and thought that I might as well schlep over to the Honduran consulate in NYC. A month or so ago, I had called them up and much to my dismay,was told that I did indeed need to procure a visa at the stupendous cost of $60 ("Who the hell do these people think they are?!", I cried out, with smoke coming out of my ears),and among the documents to be presented were my bank statements, letter of employment, etc. Not trusting this information, decided to let a couple of weeks pass by and then called up the consulate again. This time a cheerful young woman actually asked me some questions, and having ascertained that I had a green card, cheefully told me that yes, I DO need a visa to visit Honduras, but with the halo of the green card over my head I was deemed trustworthy enoughnot to have to present bank statements and such, and more importantly nor did I have to shell out the $60 fee. Thus, armed with this information, I made my way over there. Upon arrival, I immediately stepped up to the counter (no lines, some Honduran natives milling about) and informed the guy about my intentions, as well as the fact that I possessed the magical "tarjeta verde". He ushered me into the office of the consul general herself. After I explained the situation to her, she consulted a handbook and said, "No, you DO NOT need a visa to visit Honduras. However, we will give you a letter which states this, and you should present this letter to the border guards." She then instructed me to fill out the lengthy application form right there in her office. (Strangely enough, people kept on coming in, usually Hondurenos applying for passports, visas, etc and she efficiently questioned the applicants and handled each case with aplomb - I took delight in playing the dumb foreigner, all the while eavesdropping on the platicos en espanol lol). As I finally finished with the forms and handed them to her, she scanned the forms, uttered some remarks under her breath, and told me, "Excuse me, I'll be right back". After a few minutes, she re-entered the room and at the same time triumphantly declared,

"You don't need a visa...have a nice trip. Goodbye!".
"Are you sure??? What if they don't let me into the country?". (incredulous at turn of events)
"Yes, bec you have a green card.", (smiling at this extranjero tonto and not taking any offense)
"Do they know this?". (still in disbelief)
"Yes, they have the reference book." (firmly to get rid of me)

So that was my experience with those hapless Hondurans. On one hand I was relieved to have gotten over the whole thing quickly, yet at the same time it was a waste of time and effort. Remains to be seen if the border guards will indeed let me into Honduras. Promises to add an element of excitement (and apprehension) to the trip, don't you think?