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Guatemala Facts Letters: |
Guatemala Facts Sheet Entry Requirements: To travel to Guatemala, U.S. citizens must have a valid passport. A visa or tourist card is not needed for stays up to three months (the three-month period can be extended upon application). U.S. citizens must carry identification with them at all times. For further information regarding entry requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of Guatemala at 2220 R Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 745-4952/3/4, or the Guatemalan consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or San Francisco. Persons outside the United States should contact the nearest Guatemalan consulate. The Government of Guatemala requires all U.S. citizens to have a valid passport to depart Guatemala. U.S. citizens whose passports are lost or stolen in Guatemala must obtain a new passport and present it, together with a police report of the loss or theft, to the main Immigration Office in Guatemala City to obtain permission to depart. An exit tax must be paid upon departure from the Guatemala City Airport. Areas of Instability: The Government of Guatemala and URNG guerrillas signed a final peace accord on December 29, 1996 to end the country's 36-year internal conflict. The final peace accord includes a permanent cease-fire and demobilization of the guerrillas. Medical Facilities: A full range of modern medical care is available in Guatemala City, but medical care outside the city is limited. Care in private hospitals is generally adequate for most common illnesses and injuries. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. The Medicare/Medicade program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation or other emergency, is strongly recommended. Additional health information may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at 1-888-232-3228, their toll-free CDC autofax at 1-888-232-3299, or on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Visitors who suffer criminal assaults are encouraged to contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy (or the duty officer after-hours) for advice and assistance. During normal business hours the U.S. Embassy telephone number is (502) 331-1541, and after-hours (502) 331-8904. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad. This publication, as well as others such as Tips for Travelers to Central and South America, are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Highway Travel: When entering Guatemala by car, most travelers use border crossings at Tecun Uman (Highway CA-2) or la Mesilla (Highway CA-1) from Mexico, at Las Chinamas/Valle Nuevo from El Salvador, and at El Florido or Agua Caliente from Honduras. Travelers need plenty of time to complete border crossing formalities, which can be lengthy, in order to arrive at a major town before dark. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. A 1992 anti-narcotics trafficking law in Guatemala provides tough penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs. Those arrested on drug charges, even for simple possession of very small amounts, can expect to spend several months in jail before their case is decided. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Other Information: Updated information on Guatemalan adoption procedures and the U.S. immigrant visa application process is available from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy. Prospective adoptive parents are urged to check with the Consular Section to be sure that their child's adoption is complete before traveling to Guatemala to apply for their child's immigrant visa. Adoptive parents are also urged to carry with them complete adoption paperwork when traveling with their adopted child to, from and within Guatemala. Additional information is available from the Office of Children's Issues, CA/OCS/CI, room 4811, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520, telephone (202) 736-7000. Care should be taken in swimming in the waters along the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Riptides are frequent and the undertow is strong. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens may register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, and may also obtain updated information on travel and security within Guatemala. The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is located at Avenida La Reforma 7-01 in Zone 10, Guatemala City, telephone (502) 331-1541. Consular Section hours for American Citizen Services are 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and 1:00-3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (except weekends and U.S. and Guatemalan holidays). |
