Christine Gilbert of Almostfearless.com published a guide book and I got the privilege to review it. Consider yourself lucky, too, since by getting to hear about it from me, you can make a more informed decision to buy it.

Too little time to read all below?  Read my 20 word review:

“The Visa Book” is a great reference for the traveler on the go.  Simple, single-purpose structure.  Comprehensive coverage.  Worth the $10.

A Full Review of “The Visa Book”

Here is Christine’s skinny on her newest book:

And My Feedback:

• pages are well laid out; 1 page = 1 country/territory
• a single-purpose, no frills structure
• little of Christine’s fun personality – the “Visa Book” is all business
• can’t imagine a place in the world that’s not covered here
• greatest value: for tourists en-route wanting to quickly compare, offline

Who the Visa Book is Not For

I believe the newbie American tourist traveling to their first country in their life would simply google for needed information on the US State Department.

That said, most anyone would at least verify what “The Visa Book” says, but Christine makes that ultra easy with direct links to do so.

Also, the book isn’t for people looking to answer “How do I work in XYZ country?”  This is for tourist visas, not work permits or residency visas.

Where the Visa Book Shines

Where this book really shines is as a quick, comparative reference that’s already handily on the traveler’s laptop, smartphone or any e-reader for PDFs.

For travellers already on the go, perhaps in between destinations, this book provides fast “how about XYZ country?” answers.  It’s a sweet no-frills reference book that way.

I randomly picked a few countries for the tourist visa information.  I picked Canada, Chile and Croatia.  Sure enough, Christine lays out the essential information, then provides easy links to verify it.

Not only could I read up on these 3 countries on their respective, dedicated full info page, but in an earlier section “The Quick Country-by-Country Guide”, I see and compare my trifecta and all other countries together.  It’s beautiful.

All told, this guide is handy.  At $10, it’s also cheaply priced.  Granted, there’s not a lot of information per country, but that’s not its purpose. This guide answers only a few questions (for every country in the world):

1. Do I need a visa?
2. How many days am I allowed to stay?
3. Any cost to visiting?

Yeah, the guide is well, well worth it.  Even if you don’t travel, if you want a fast PDF-portal to every country’s visa information, pick this guide up at Christine’s site. (book will be released April 5th 2011, but sign up for an alert)

Note: Christine offers other bloggers an “affiliate” commission for reviewing and linking to this book.  However, I turned it down, since she so clearly deserves the entire but meagre $10 sale.

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Tourists. Gotta love them.
At least for the entertainment factor.

In June, me and the family will be joining the crowd.

Depending how you voted (did you vote yet?), we may even look like this:

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Here’s my situation…
Me and the family will take a long vacation before moving.
We rented a motorhome for the month of June.
We pick up our motorhome in Frankfurt, Germany.

Ah, but where do we go?
That’s the snag. Frankly, we can’t decide. West? South? North?? East???
So, since I so love this blog, I decided to let you pick.

My plan is simple: I make a poll. You vote. We travel.
I set up my very first poll below. It was actually fun to make.
I also offer a map, sort of, showing our choices. Of course, I’m no artist, so each route is hardly exact, but you get the idea.

Check them out. You vote. That’s it.
The result? Whatever “wins” – we spend the month driving that way for our June vacation.
Really, we will go wherever the winning votes tell us to go. Don’t get too excited, though. It’s not like you’re coming with us or anything, unless you can get here by 1 June.

Oh, one last word. If you’ve got an idea I didn’t mention, or you have an itinerary that you really think we should do, then leave a comment below. Be compelling; I’ll reply to all.

Thanks for your vote. I can’t wait to see where we’re going!
-Jeff

[poll id="2"]

Red, Green, Orange or Yellow?

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A friend just shared with me something made by the Discovery Channel. “I Love The World” is a cute song routine with players ’round the world. The editing is heavy and so is the message.

Damn, I was blown away by these videos – great stuff!! Have you seen these before? Well, in case you haven’t, I’ll post them for you here.

2008
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5BxymuiAxQ

2009
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbwCH1rd0LU

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In a prior post, I mentioned how most countries do not require a visa just to visit. But some do. Some examples include Bolivia, India, Russia (& most of the former Soviet Republics), Cambodia, Vietnam. This post will set your expectations about getting a tourist visa for those countries.
[quote]
Filling out Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork
Needing a visa doesn’t mean someone does it for you. You’ll need to fill out a visa application.

Yes, every country has its own visa application form. The form could be available online or you must visit the nearest embassy. Nothing is standard across all forms. And you’d better fill it out as it’s expected.

What Does The Visa Application Ask?
Just “name, rank & serial number” would be nice, but don’t count on it.

Generalizing here, but as a minimum, you will provide:
Name, nationality, birthday, passport number, address (both yours and where you’ll stay) and contact information like phone number/fax/e-mail (both yours and where you’ll stay), why and for how long you expect to stay

You may also be asked your marital status, your occupation and employment history. Some countries even ask you to write a short, personal essay explaining why you want to see their country!

After finishing the form, it is also common to provide:
Bank statement or proof of financial support, a copy of HIV vaccinations, confirmation or invitation from a local hotel or friend (both cases sometimes called your “sponsor” and copies of your hotel confirmation & return flight.
Tack on 1 or 2 passport photos and you’re all set!

Why so personal? They want to ensure you not only intend to visit, but you intend to leave, too.

Click for bigger picture

Paying for Permission to Visit
Well, of course we have to pay. And of course, payments are always “non-refundable and subject to change without notice.” {shrug}
Now, you may be thinking about the poor desk clerk who has to handle all this. You’re paying for his time, right? No, actually in modern countries, visa processing is outsourced. Those 3rd party services are the most expensive portion of your fees.

On top of that, expect to pay for consular fees and postage to send it back to you, typically performed by some private courier like FedEx or DHL.
How much you ask? Could be anything from $15 (Australia) to $130+ (Bolivia, Chile, Brazil). Typical is $30-$50. Is it fair? Well, unlike the price, that answer is negotiable.

Recall that visas and their respective fees are typically reciprocity for the same requirement placed on their citizens. Visas are commonly required because it’s tit-for-tat for them. That helps explain why a country has different visa fees for different visitors.

Take the USA for example. Their site clearly has the attitude “Well, they do to us, so we do it to them” (“however, when a foreign government imposes such fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a “reciprocal” fee to nationals of that country…“)

What Does It Matter Why I Am Going?
If you’re entering a foreign country and you need permission to enter that foreign country, then it’s reasonable to expect them to be curious why you are entering that foreign country. Yes?

If you are visiting their zoo and miniature toy museum, then you’re a tourist. Prepare for the easiest visa process.
If you are going to sell or for negotiations, then you are on a business trip. Expect questions such as “Are you bringing any goods? Will they stay?”
If anything else, e.g. work, study, adoption, immigration, then you can expect much more paperwork.

Mark your answers wisely.

Click for bigger picture

How Long Does it Take?!?
Time to approve a tourist visas differs. (no surprise, right?)
First, the fastest… to visit Australia, we Americans do need a visa. And Americans need just 30 seconds.
Wow, the necessary tourist visa takes 30 seconds to approve! That is, if you use their Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). For Americans who typically demand fast gratification, that’s a welcome visa process!

Unfortunately, the vast majority of countries take far longer.

I made pictures of my tourist visas to India and Russia. India took about 2 weeks and Russia took 1 week.
Keep in mind, here in Prague, I live only a 5 minute walk away from the Russian embassy, so I knew of the morning lines. I was prepared for waiting a couple hours per visit. I was prepared for the the paperwork that reminded me of the Soviet Union. But after all was filed properly, I got it after 1 week.

A sharp contrast from my buddy, Bill, who after 3 weeks, still didn’t get his visa & passport mailed to him. I felt bad, but I left for Moscow without him.

My tribute video to Bill.

How to shorten the time?
Call into the embassy and check the visa’s approval status. These people are human. They surf the web, too. They forget things. Call after 3 or 4 days to check its status. Call again if its been 2 weeks.
If you don’t live near the embassy, factor in the time for the courier to deliver your passport back.
And, as my friend Bill above can testify to, do not depend on their “expedited service!”

Anything else?
Speaking of time, be sure your passport is good for long enough after the visa should expire.
I’ll use Chile as the example again. Your passport must be good for minimum 90 days after expected departure, else no visa granted.
Most countries have a US embassy which offers “expedited passport services” if you get in a jam while visiting. But think about that … do you really want to surrender your passport and fate to government processing while you’re traveling?
Also – be sure to have two blank pages left in your passport. A very standard request, but often overlooked if a tourist travels enough.
I can’t stress enough to do your own homework for a specific country. Prime example is Russia. They have special demands on sponsorship and things like migration cards that make even a well-seasoned traveler cringe.

I want to repeat two big points I said in the beginning:

• This post talks about the short-term visa. Another post to come for extended stay or long-term visa (like to work or stay over 90 days).
• It’s very important to do your own homework.

As Americans, you can feel (somewhat) secure that your own Department of State has the latest info. Check this site to get the latest on your specific destination.

Sure hope this was helpful to somebody. Let me know

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I’m not just adventurous in real life (yeah, right), I’m adventurous in website administration.

My dream of helping people live overseas suddenly found a glass ceiling – enough time to answer e-mails.
So, one idea I came up with is to create a forum where people could ask questions (and I still answer them), but future people could see the same questions (& answers!).

A central place for questions. Easy access to (everyone’s) answers. It’s a win-win idea.

I present the world’s newest Expat’s Questions and Answers forum: www.expatyourself.com/forum

You may think it’s light on the questions so far…you’re right. You need to ask them first.

Please post your questions there and I will be very diligent about answering them.

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Quick story for you.

Over the summer, I went to Moscow for 3 days. (Yes, a short vacation even just flying from Prague.)

I went to Moscow alone, but I wasn’t supposed to be alone.
An old friend, we’ll call him Bill M., was flying from the US to visit me here in Prague, then we planned to hop over to Moscow for a couple days’ adventure. We bought our flights, booked our Moscow hotel rooms – everything was set. Except Bill’s passport, which was held captive by the Russian embassy in New York city in some bureaucratic visa foul-up. For Bill, no visa meant no trip to Moscow. And also, no passport meant no trip at all. Poor Bill ended up watching time pass as no delivery man came, eventually missing his flight to Prague.

I went to Moscow alone. And I spent an afternoon making this video in Bill’s honor. Enjoy:

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We (I) here at ExpatYourself Headquarters (my desk at work) wish you a very happy holiday (a very, very happy holiday).

Just some insight into the expat lifestyle:
Tomorrow morning, my family and I leave for Rome, Italy. (In case I hadn’t said, we live in Prague, Czech Republic.)

We’ll spend a week in Rome, returning home on the 26th, Boxing day. For my 4 year daughter, Italy will be the fourth country where she’s woken up Christmas morning to see what Santa left her.

Only an expat kid would consider it perfectly fine to vacation in US, Czech Republic, Egypt and now Italy for Christmas.
Ever thought of doing the same?

Have a great one & see you next year!!!!

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Tipping - extra or mandatory?

Fact #1: Only in the US do we tip 15-20%.

Fact #2: Tipping is not expected in all countries. In fact, not in most countries.

Fact #3: In many Asian countries, tipping can be insulting.

Do I tip there or not?
The big question you should answer before you go.
To be very general:
In western developed countries such as Canada, UK, Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, you give 10%.
In some Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam – no tipping! (While in China, a few percent tip is okay and well received.)

How much do I tip?
First, before I add any general advice, listen to local friends in that specific country. If you’re not there yet, or have no local friends, then read on.

In the US, tip is calculated based on the paid service. In the US, that’s 15%, period.
I do the math also in Canada, UK, Australia, where I give 10%. Western Europe in general is 10%.

Not in Central and Eastern Europe (Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic), where tipping is not a calculated 10%. Instead you just “round up.”
It’s a convenient way. For example, when paying for lunch in the Czech Republic, you round up to the nearest 10 Koruna (~50 cents). Say your meal is 147 Czech Koruna. You pay by saying “150 please.” Same if your meal were 141 or 149: “150, please.” While the tip varies from 1% to several percent, it’s not so important as making it easier on the staff to return little change.
This brings up the next question: “How do I give my tip?”

How do I give my tip?
Best advice is to watch others as they pay or leave their table. Note if they leave money aside on the table, or maybe as they pay their bill, they then return more to the staff? Or, in some places like in Prague, you hear the amount, then tell them how much you’re giving.
Some examples:
In the USA:
Waiter asks for $15. You leave $17 or $18.
In China:
Waiter asks for 100 yuen. You leave 100 yuen.
In Prague:
Waiter asks for 147 koruna. You give 150 and say “150.” (else he’ll return 5 to you with no issue).

So my tip Is too much – So What?
It’s easy to feel there’s little wrong with tipping too much. Especially when it doesn’t feel wrong to you. But check out these 2 scenarios:
Firstly, imagine a place called “Somewheregistan.” Imagine your friend visiting from Somewheregistan and you go out for breakfast. Your friend tips the server 75%, just because that’s how they do it in Somewheregistan. That friend stands out as a bit odd, perhaps a bit foolish and spent more money than needed to express his appreciation for the service. A healthy 20% tip in the US or rounding up another 10 Koruna in Prague would have made the same point – for much less.
Second scenario: a servant assists you in a country based on hierarchy and ” one’s place” in society. A tip is an acknowledgment against their defined role to serve you. Perhaps better to express appreciation by a smile and a nod of gratitude. In short, a tip just insulted them and put an awkward spin on your ‘relationship.’

Lastly, be mindful of whenever “Service charge” is put on a restaurant bill. This is gratuity already applied. One crazy exception is Hong Kong, where one gives 10% above the service charge.

Everyone’s different, so be glad you did your homework!

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Need a reason to become an expat? Here are the most popular:
• “I have no job. Now what?” – There are countries begging for English speaking workers.
• “I want to retire cheaply.” – Go retire for cheap in a country with a low cost of living.
• “Looking for adventure and whatever comes my way!” – Plenty of adventure abroad.
• “Wanted by the Man.” – “I understand extradition from Rio is very complicated.” (Fletch, 1984)

Other popular reasons for US citizens:
• Broadening children with new cultures, new languages, new sights.
• Making your first $92,000 tax-free from the US government (for 2009 tax year)
• Speaking of taxes, you get an extra 2 months to file. April 15th – No. June 15th – Yes!
• Finding that special someone.

Hey, if these reasons aren’t quite enough, how about 100 reasons more? Enjoy!

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