Consular information and special information for business travelers to Nigeria

US Department of State Dispatch, Sept 9, 1996

Consular Information Program: This program provides information for U.S. citizens traveling and living abroad. Two categories of information are available under the consular information program: Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a particular country. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include such information as immigration practices, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security information, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates in the subject country. Consular Information Sheets generally do not include advice. Instead, they contain factual information so that travelers can make informed decisions concerning travel to a particular country. Consular Information Sheets are constantly reviewed and normally will be reissued every 12 months or when conditions warrant change.

Contact: Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings are available at 13 U.S. passport agencies (see local telephone book listing: "U.S. Government, Department of State, Passport Agency") and from field offices of the Department of Commerce and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

Write to: Overseas Citizens Services Bureau of Consular Affairs Rm. 4811, Main State U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520-4818

(For copies, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and indicate for which country you wish to receive a Consular Information Sheet.)

Phone: Overseas Citizens Services: (202) 647-5225 from a touchtone phone (recorded information).

Fax: From a fax machine, dial (202) 647-3000, using the handset as you would a regular telephone. The system instructs on how to proceed.

Computer Networks:

* The Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CARE) enables users to access Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings and other consular subjects. Users also are able to access information from the Overseas Security Advisory Council's (OSAC) electronic bulletin board, maintained by the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. To access CARE, dial (202) 647-9225 from your modem. (Also see Dispatch Vol. 3, No. 35, p. 681.)

* The State Department also directly maintains a database of Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings on CompuServe (type GO STATE at any "!" prompt for access).

* Call the Official Airline Guides (OAG) Electronic Edition at (800) 323-4000 to obtain information on accessing Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings through the OAG on any of the following computer services: CompuServe, Dialcom, Dialog, Dow Jones News/Retrieval, General Videotext-Delphi, GEnie, iNet-America, iNet-Bell of Canada, NewsNet, IP Sharp, Telenet, Westem Union-Easylink.

* Infosys America, Inc. provides full texts through Travel Online BBS on the SmartNet International Computer Network in the United States, Canada, and overseas (modem telephone number: (314) 6254054).

* Interactive Office Services, Inc. (for information on access, call Travel+Plus at (617) 876-5551 or (800) 544-4005) offers on-line travel information through: Delphi, MCI (RCA Hotline), Unison, NYNEX Info Look, Bell South TUG, Graphnet, FTCC Answer Bank.

* Airline Computer Reservation System (CRS): APOLLO--for index enter S*BRF/TVLADV, for full text enter TD*DS/ADV; DATAS II--enter G. (country); PARS--for index enter GIAAI/TVL; SABRE--enter N*/ADVISORY INDEX; SYSTEM ONE--enter GG SUP TD ADV.

In Europe, SYSTEM ONE is accessed through AMADEUS and APOLLO through GALILEO.

* Internet: Users must subscribe to this by getting on the mailing list. Send a message to LISTSERV@VTVM2.BITNET; text of message should read USBSCRIBE INTER-L Your Name. To receive Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings, enter travel-advisories-REQUEST @ stolaf.edu.

Special Information for Business Travelers to Nigeria: A major development affecting business travelers to Nigeria is commercial fraud or scams. The Department of State has prepared "Tips for Business Travelers to Nigeria" to help you identify business scams and to provide you with information about what the U.S. Government can or cannot do to assist you if you become involved in a scam. The brochure also provides information on how you can protect yourself.

Single copies can be obtained from Overseas Citizens Services by writing to the address or by fax as described at left.