Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP 39
Rd., Dublin 4, Ireland (& 353/1-
668-8777), or by checking the “Consular
Services” section of the website at
www.usembassy.ie.
Australian citizens can obtain upto-date
visa information by contacting
the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah
Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (& 02/
6214-5600), or by checking the U.S.
Diplomatic Mission’s website at
http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/
consular.
Citizens of New Zealand can
obtain up-to-date visa information by
contacting the U.S. Embassy New
Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace,
Thorndon, Wellington (& 644/472-
2068), or get the information directly
from the “Services to New Zealanders”
section of the website at http://
usembassy.org.nz.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Unless you’re arriving from an area
known to be suffering from an epidemic
(particularly cholera or yellow
fever), inoculations or vaccinations are
not required for entry into the United
States. If you have a medical condition
that requires syringe-administered
medication, carry a valid signed prescription
from your physician—the
Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) no longer allows airline
passengers to pack syringes in their
carry-on baggage without documented
proof of medical need. If you
have a disease that requires treatment
with narcotics, you should also carry
documented proof with you—smuggling
narcotics aboard a plane is a serious
offense that carries severe penalties
in the U.S.
For HIV-positive visitors, requirements
for entering the United States
are somewhat vague and change frequently.
According to the latest publication
of HIV and Immigrants: A
Manual for AIDS Service Providers, the
Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS) doesn’t require a medical
exam for entry into the United States,
but INS officials may stop individuals
because they look sick or because they
are carrying AIDS/HIV medicine.
If an HIV-positive noncitizen
applies for a nonimmigrant visa, the
question on the application regarding
communicable diseases is tricky no
matter which way it’s answered. If the
applicant checks “no,” INS may deny
the visa on the grounds that the applicant
committed fraud. If the applicant
checks “yes” or if INS suspects the person
is HIV-positive, it will deny the
visa unless the applicant asks for a special
waiver for visitors. This waiver is
for people visiting the United States
for a short time, to attend a conference,
for instance, to visit close relatives,
or to receive medical treatment.
It can be a confusing situation. For
up-to-the-minute information, contact
AIDSinfo (& 800/448-0440 or
301/519-6616 outside the U.S.;
www.aidsinfo.nih.gov) or the Gay
Men’s Health Crisis (& 212/367-
1000; www.gmhc.org).
DRIVER’S LICENSES Foreign
driver’s licenses are mostly recognized
in the U.S., although you may want to
get an international driver’s license if
your home license is not written in
English.
PASSPORT INFORMATION
FOR RESIDENTS
OF CANADA
You can pick up a passport application
at one of 28 regional passport offices
or most travel agencies. Canadian
children who travel must have their
own passports. However, if you hold a
valid Canadian passport issued before
December 11, 2001, that bears the
name of your child, the passport
remains valid for you and your child
until it expires. Passports cost C$85
for those 16 years and older (valid 5
years), C$35 for children 3 to 15
(valid 5 years), and C$20 for children
under 3 (valid 3 years). Applications,