Anguilla - Tips
Anguilla
June 06, 2007COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, part of the British
West Indies. It is a small but rapidly developing island.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. Citizens traveling by air to
and from Anguilla must present a valid passport when entering or re-entering the
United States. Sea travelers are also strongly advised to have a valid U.S.
passport (or other original proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a certified U.S.
birth certificate with a government-issued photo ID). Persons traveling
with U.S. passports tend to encounter fewer difficulties upon departure than
those who choose to use other documents.
IMPORTANT NEW
INFORMATION:The requirement will be extended to all sea border
crossings as well as sea travel no later than January 1, 2008. The
Department of State strongly encourages all American citizen travelers to apply
for a U.S. passport or “passport card†well in advance of anticipated
travel. American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call
1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on how to apply for their
passports.
In addition to a valid passport required to depart or reenter
the U.S. by air, Anguilla requires that U.S. citizens have onward or return
tickets, and sufficient funds for their stay. A departure tax is charged at the
airport or ferry dock when leaving. See our Foreign
Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Anguilla and other
countries. For further information, travelers may contact the British Embassy,
19 Observatory Circle N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; telephone (202) 588-7800; or
the nearest consulate of the United Kingdom in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,
Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Seattle, or San
Francisco. Visit the British Embassy's web site at
http://www.britainusa.com/ for the most
current visa information.
See
Entry and Exit
Requirements for more information pertaining to dual nationality and the
prevention of international child abduction. Please refer to our
Customs
Information to learn more about customs regulations.
SAFETY
AND SECURITY: For the latest security information, Americans traveling
abroad should regularly monitor the
Department's Internet web site, where the
current Worldwide
Caution Public Announcement ,
Travel
Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.
Up-to-date
information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and
Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take
responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For
general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect
themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet
A
Safe Trip Abroad .
CRIME: While Anguilla’s
crime rate has been relatively low for the past several years, there has
recently been a notable increase in both petty and violent crimes on the island.
Some crimes, including sexual assault, have victimized American citizens.
Travelers should take common-sense precautions to ensure their personal
security, such as avoiding carrying or displaying large amounts of cash or
expensive jewelry. Travelers should keep the doors to their lodgings and
automobiles locked. Valuables should not be left unattended in lodgings,
automobiles or on the beach. Hotel safety deposit facilities should be
used to safeguard valuables and travel documents. Travelers should not pick up
hitchhikers or allow strangers into their lodgings or automobiles, and should
avoid isolated areas at night.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF
CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported
immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If
you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local
police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The
Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical
care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be
transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely
the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to
understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if
needed.
See our information on
Victims
of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Medical facilities are limited. There is only one hospital and
a few clinics on Anguilla. Serious problems requiring extensive care or
major surgery may require evacuation to the United States, often at considerable
expense.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such
as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international
travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's Internet site at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For
information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World
Health Organization's (WHO) website at
http://www.who.int/en . Further health
information for travelers is available at
http://www.who.int/ith.
MEDICAL
INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult
with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm
whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency
expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on
medical
insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD
CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter
road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The
information below concerning Anguilla is provided for general reference only,
and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or
circumstance.
Unlike the U.S., traffic in Anguilla moves on the left. The
few roads on the island are generally poorly paved and narrow. Traffic generally
moves at a slow pace. Although emergency services, including tow truck service
is limited and inconsistent, local residents are often willing to provide
roadside assistance. For police, fire, or ambulance service dial
911.
Please refer to our
Road
Safety page for more information. For specific information
concerning Anguilla's driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and
mandatory insurance, please contact the Anguilla National Tourist Organization
offices in New York. The telephone number is 1 (516) 425-0900. E-mail:
info@wescott-group.com.
AVIATION
SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has
assessed the Government of Anguilla’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in
compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) aviation
safety standards for the oversight of Anguilla’s air carrier operations.
For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s internet website at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES: All Caribbean countries can be affected by hurricanes.
The hurricane season normally runs from June to the end of November, but there
have been hurricanes in December in recent years. General information about
natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the
U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
For more information on hurricane preparedness abroad see the Department of
State’s Hurricane Season Information - Hurricane
Season: Know Before You Go.
Also see our
Customs
Information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign
country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which
sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not
afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for
breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar
offences. Persons violating Anguilla's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled,
arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal
drugs in Anguilla are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail
sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or
disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in
the United States. Please see our information on
Criminal
Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on
international adoption of children and international parental child abduction,
see the Office of Children's Issues
website.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans
living or traveling in Anguilla are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S.
Embassy or Consulate through the
State Department's travel
registration website and to obtain updated information on travel and
security within Anguilla. Americans without Internet access may register
directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American
citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of
emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown in located in the Wildey Business Park
in suburban Wildey, south and east of downtown Bridgetown. The main number
for the Consular Section is (246) 431-0225; after hours, the Embassy duty
officer can be reached by calling (246) 436-4950. The website for Embassy
Bridgetown is
http://bridgetown.usembassy.gov/.
Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except
Barbados and U.S. holidays. Assistance may also be provided by the U.S. Consular
Agency in Antigua. The Consular Agency is located in Suite #2, Jasmine Court,
Friars Hill Rd, St. John’s, Antigua. Contact information is as follows:
telephone 1-268-463-6531, cellular 1-268-726-6531, or e-mail
ANUWndrGyal@aol.com. The mailing address is P.O. Box W-1562, St. John’s,
Antigua. The Consular Agent is available by appointment only. The office
is closed for local and U.S. Holidays.
* * *
This
replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated March 30, 2007 to update the
section on Crime.
*********************************************************** See
http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html for State Department Travel
Warnings
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Anguilla
