How not to get ripped off on phone calls
At the beginning of winter, I was vacationing in Egypt with my grandson. During the holiday, we only called home three times. I am a person who is used to counting money, so I tried to keep conversations short, each time keeping a watch in front of me to know how much time had passed. When we checked out of the hotel, they presented a bill for phone calls amounting to about $30. Naturally, I was outraged because I was sure I couldn't have talked that long. However, they started showing me some receipts supposedly confirming the amount, and insistently demanded payment. I didn't want to end the holiday with a scandal, so I had to pay, but I had the feeling I had been cheated. What should I do if I ever encounter a similar situation again?
According to experts, in Egypt tourists quite often encounter inaccurate phone bills, the amounts of which are usually inflated. But unfortunately, it is almost impossible to dispute them: the bill must be paid. To save your nerves, it is better to avoid the described situation altogether. We can offer a few tips.
You should immediately find out from the tour operator's representative all information regarding calls and learn what rates the hotel charges for calls. Often, calling in the evening and at night is cheaper. We recommend taking advantage of this. Additionally, do not delay paying your bills. Usually our tourists rush to the reception to settle their hotel bill at the very last moment, but it is better to pay your bills in advance, at least a day before departure.
The best option is to call from a public phone: as a rule, it is cheaper than from the hotel, and it is easier to control expenses. Different countries have different payment schemes: in some places you pay with coins, in others with phone cards. If you have some money left on your card at the end of your vacation (this information is displayed on the phone's screen when you insert the card), you can sell it to another tourist who is still staying in the country. Often, city payphones also have lower rates in the evening. Your guide can provide all information on prices and rates for phone calls. Mastering the technology of calling from the city is not that difficult even for a person who does not know the language. Moreover, you can always ask another tourist for help.
Americans are only interested in a valid visa
My international passport is expiring, but it contains a valid US visa. Please tell me, can I transfer this visa to a new passport and how to do it?
US visas remain valid even if the document in which they are located expires. Therefore, having a new passport with a valid visa in the invalid passport, you can travel to the US with two passports. In this case, until the visa expires, you will not have any problems entering the country, unless, of course, other reasons for denying entry are found. There is no need to obtain a new visa in the new passport.
The only thing that needs to be done is to resolve the issue of canceling the old passport at the local OVIR (visa and registration office). The fact is that to preserve the US visa in the old passport, all its pages and cover must remain intact. You cannot simply tear out the visa page (as passport office workers like to do) and insert it into the new passport.
The Germans have their own Green Card for smart foreigners
Does Germany have a system for hiring foreign specialists similar to the US Green Card program? If so, what are the conditions for acceptance, and which organization in Germany handles this?
As reported by German lawyer Thomas Pue, such a program does exist. It is limited to specialists in the field of computer technology. The condition for acceptance is proving a specific job offer from a German company to the interested foreign specialist. The search for a potential employer can be carried out via the Internet, through specialized recruiting firms in Germany, or by placing one's own job advertisements in specialized press or online labor exchanges. German foreign missions in the country of residence of the interested foreigner also provide some assistance in finding a job. The German embassy also issues all necessary visas and permits. Special consultant positions for the Green Card program have been created within the structure of German embassies. Specialists recommend that interested foreigners begin their endeavor by contacting such a consultant.
How to send a passport from abroad
My international passport was accidentally taken abroad. Can they send it back to me by mail?
According to the rules for postal services, approved by Resolution No. 1155 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated August 17, 2002, it is prohibited to send passports in international mail items. But this problem can be solved by contacting any international courier service.
With your own skis – on board the plane
I am going to Germany to ski for the first time. My friends were in Austria last year and told me they had to pay for carrying their equipment. What is the best way to transport skis – in the cabin or in the hold?
90% of airlines operating international flights charge for transporting ski equipment. This does not depend on the destination. Some carriers consider it "oversized baggage" or "excess weight." Hand and checked luggage combined must not exceed 20 kg in economy class and 30 kg in business class. If your skis or snowboard exceed this limit, you will have to pay extra. Others immediately warn that "boards" are not considered baggage, so you pay for their transport in any case. Different airlines have rates ranging from €3 to €7 per kilogram. You will definitely have to pay extra if you travel with regular carriers, both domestic and foreign, including Lufthansa, Swiss Air, Austrian Airlines, Air France, CSA (Czech Airlines).
Nevertheless, there are exceptions. First, some companies still allow one pair of skis or one snowboard to be carried free of charge regardless of total baggage weight. Second, many tour operators, when signing a seasonal contract with airlines for charter flights, also negotiate the transfer of "boards" without additional cost. Sometimes even the most stubborn carriers can be persuaded. Moreover, the rules for transporting skis are updated annually, and before each winter season, a number of operators receive a list of new requirements and rates from airlines. Therefore, if you book a tour with a flight through a travel agency, be sure to clarify this point.
As for the method of transport, such equipment is usually not allowed in the cabin. There are no special requirements for packaging. But you will feel more at ease if you "wrap" your skis and snowboards in protective covers. Remember the conveyor belt at any airport: all baggage items are literally thrown onto the moving belt. Fragile items can easily be damaged.
If Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov do not suit you…
Could you tell us how to properly go through the procedure of changing a surname? What requirements and conditions must be met?
According to Article 162 of the Code on Marriage and Family of Ukraine, the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On the Procedure for Changing Surnames, First Names, and Patronymics by Citizens of Ukraine," the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On Approval of the Regulation on the Procedure for Considering Petitions for Changing Surnames, First Names, and Patronymics by Citizens of Ukraine," changing surnames, first names, and patronymics by citizens of Ukraine is allowed after they reach the age of 16. An application for changing a surname, first name, or patronymic is submitted to the civil registry office at the applicant's place of residence. The following documents are attached to the application for changing a surname, first name, or patronymic:
a) a copy of the applicant's birth certificate; b) a copy of the marriage certificate (if the applicant is married), divorce certificate (if the marriage is dissolved); c) a copy of the children's birth certificates (if the applicant has minor children); d) an extract from the passport; e) a photo.
When submitting a petition for changing a surname, first name, or patronymic, citizens present their passport, and a person who has just reached the age of 16 presents a passport or birth certificate and a certificate of residence. The application indicates which surname the citizen wishes to change to: a) a family name; b) a common surname with the spouse; c) a maiden name, etc.
The civil registry office verifies the information specified in the application against the applicant's documents, warns about administrative liability for providing false information to the civil registry office, and explains the consequences of changing a surname, first name, or patronymic, in particular, the need to exchange certain documents and pay a state fee. In case of refusal to change a surname, first name, or patronymic, the civil registry office draws up a conclusion, a copy of which is given to the applicant.
Changing a surname, first name, or patronymic is not allowed if the applicant is under investigation, under trial, has a criminal record, or if there is an objection from internal affairs bodies.
How not to spoil your vacation with an insurance claim
My friend and I have just returned from India. It is a very interesting country, but from a sanitary point of view, not the most favorable. Perhaps for this reason, or maybe just because the food was exotic, my friend got food poisoning. We did not call a doctor, we decided to manage on our own. We had activated charcoal with us, and we had to buy other medicines. In this regard, I have a question: should the insurance company reimburse us for the cost of medicines (we kept the receipts), since poisoning is an insured event? And what should a tourist do in general if they find themselves in such a situation?
First of all, you must carefully read the terms of the contract you concluded with the insurance company. Most likely, in your case, it will be difficult to get your money back because you acted independently, without interacting with representatives of your insurance company in India. Poisoning is an insured event, just like any injury, so you need to behave in this situation the same way. Each insurance company has its own nuances spelled out in the policy, but there are general rules for all types of travel insurance.
So, if an insured event occurs, first of all you need to contact the service company (its contact details are specified in the contract). The staff will help coordinate all issues related to the provision of medical services or transportation, if necessary. You must provide the surname and first name of the injured person, the insurance policy number, a detailed description of the circumstances of the incident and the nature of the required assistance, the location of the insured person, and a contact phone number for feedback. The center staff will receive the information, call you back after some time, and describe in detail the plan for further actions. If you intend to pay for the treatment yourself, you must coordinate this with the representatives of the service center.
To receive the insurance premium upon returning to your home country, you need to have a medical report and all documents confirming payment for the services provided. The main thing to remember: all your actions must be coordinated with the service company in the host country. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get insurance back home.
It is better to find out which services are included in your policy, the amount of coverage, and how to act in an extreme situation before departure. You don't want to think about all this when you are going on a long-awaited vacation. But it is better to take such matters seriously to avoid unnecessary problems later. Note that the policy will only be valid if the contract includes: passport data; date of birth; validity period of the insurance policy; selected insurance category; territory of the policy; insurance amount per person; total insurance premium; additional conditions.
How to make a child eligible for travel
My ex-husband has been abroad for five years. His whereabouts are unknown to me, he has never paid alimony and has not participated in raising the child. Now my son is 14 years old, and to travel abroad, a notarized permission from the parent is required. How can I obtain this document?
As lawyers note, the only solution in your case is to go to court to deprive the ex-husband of parental rights. The basis for filing a lawsuit is paragraph 2 of part 1 of Article 164 of the Family Code of Ukraine, which states that deprivation of parental rights may result from evasion of obligations to raise the child. Evidence of this may include the divorce certificate, a document confirming the parent's departure abroad, a certificate from the passport office that the father does not live with the child, a certificate of family composition, and other documents indicating that the father does not participate in raising the child.
How to obtain a foreign passport for a person with a criminal record
I am 20 years old, I was convicted in the past, and released under an amnesty. Do I have the right to obtain a foreign passport? The police gave permission to leave, but the passport office is refusing.
According to paragraphs 22-23 of the Rules for the issuance and processing of a passport of a citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad and a travel document for a child, their temporary detention and seizure, approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 231 of March 31, 1995 (as amended by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 380 of March 24, 2004), a citizen may be temporarily refused a passport only in the following cases:
1) he is aware of information constituting a state secret;
2) there are unsettled alimony, contractual or other unfulfilled obligations;
3) a criminal case has been opened against him;
4) he has been convicted of a crime – until the sentence is served or he is released from punishment;
5) he evades fulfilling obligations imposed by a court decision;
6) he knowingly provided false information about himself;
7) he is subject to conscription for compulsory military service;
8) a civil lawsuit has been filed against him;
9) he is under administrative supervision of internal affairs bodies – until the supervision ends.
The decision to refuse the issuance of a passport is made if the territorial body or unit has information about the existence of the above grounds. The reasons for refusing to issue a passport/travel document to a citizen of Ukraine are communicated to the applicant in writing.
If you believe that your rights have been violated and there are no legal grounds for refusing to issue a passport, you can appeal this refusal decision in the manner prescribed by paragraphs 26-28 of these Rules. The decision to refuse to process or issue a passport, its temporary detention or seizure may be appealed by a citizen to a higher territorial body or unit; to the State Department for Citizenship, Immigration and Registration of Individuals; or to the court.
During a re-examination of the application for a passport of a person who was temporarily refused its issuance, previously submitted documents are taken into account if it is confirmed that the information contained therein remains unchanged. If there are grounds, the State Department for Citizenship, Immigration and Registration of Individuals, territorial bodies or units have the right to cancel the decision of the territorial body or unit subordinate to them, send the materials for re-examination, or make a new decision based on them. Information about the results of the consideration of complaints is communicated to the applicant through the relevant territorial body or unit at his place of residence.
Personal cash
Almost every month I travel abroad and, unfortunately, often become a target for pickpockets and scammers. Therefore, when getting ready for a trip, I constantly face the same problem - how much and in what currency to take cash with me, so that I won't regret losing it later. Of course, a plastic card helps a lot in this regard, but it is not always convenient for payment, and withdrawing even a small amount from it requires paying a high commission each time. I heard there is another option - traveler's checks, the same foreign currency cash, but only registered, with the owner's personal signature. Friends say it's convenient. What do you think, is that really the case and is it worth getting them?
If you doubt in what form to transfer your funds, listen to the advice of financial experts. Specialists suggest: when going on a trip, divide your savings into three parts. The smallest amount should be left in cash, as you always need money for small expenses on the way. The second and third parts are more practical to take with you in the form of a plastic card and traveler's checks. But you yourself have to decide which of these two parts will be larger, weighing all the pros and cons.
Of course, plastic is very convenient because the money on the card is reliably kept by the bank, and no one can use it. But if the plastic card is lost, you must immediately notify your bank, giving your surname, first name, code word, and block the card. The sooner you do this, the higher the probability that scammers won't have time to use the money.
But the funds converted into checks cannot be used by a thief, and moreover, they will most likely be caught immediately when trying to cash your 'named money'. Since both signatures of the buyer on the traveler's check (the first at the time of purchase, the second at the time of exchange) must be made in the presence of the cashier, this significantly complicates forgery. And in case of loss or theft, after calling the service of the company that issued the checks, the serial numbers will be blocked and restored, most likely within 24 hours, wherever you are. Moreover, you will not be charged a single kopek for restoring the checks.
The procedure for buying and cashing checks is also very simple and takes only a few minutes. You don't even need to open an account (as in the case of a plastic card), since checks are only sold in banks, and their connection with the bank ends there. This circumstance will work for you if you need to go on a trip urgently, for example, the next day. In many places, you can buy checks not only quickly but also without a bank commission. The denomination of checks varies from 50 to 500 in euros and from 50 to 1,000 in dollars. Checks are also issued in other currencies. Another notable advantage of traveler's checks is that they have no expiration date. Remaining checks do not have to be cashed upon returning home; they can be left for the next trip. They provide reliable protection of savings from theft, loss, and damage, and also reduce the temptation to spend accumulated funds ahead of time.
When preparing answers, materials from the magazine "Voyage and Rest" were used.