
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Lebanon
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LEBANON - WARNING
 December 20, 1991

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all travel
to Lebanon.  While all of the remaining American hostages have been
released, the organizations which abducted them continue to operate
within the country.  The situation in Lebanon is still so dangerous
that no U.S. citizen can be considered safe from terrorist acts.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is not fully staffed and personnel remain
there under exceptionally tight security.  Due to the limited staff
and heightened security, the Embassy cannot perform normal consular
functions.  In addition, local telephone service is highly
unreliable and it is extremely difficult to contact the Embassy by
phone or to place a local call from most of the country.

The Department of State has learned that several international
carriers are now making intermediate stops in Beirut.  U.S. citizens
are advised not to board such flights because of the danger of
traveling to or transiting Lebanon.  Such stops are not always
announced.  Travelers should therefore inquire, before making travel
arrangements in the region, whether a flight will make a stop in
Beirut.  Travelers are reminded that U.S. passports are not valid
for travel to, in or through Lebanon, which includes landing at the
Beirut airport.

U.S. passports remain invalid for travel to, in or through Lebanon
and may not be used for that purpose unless a special validation has
been obtained.  Use of a U.S. passport for travel to, in, or through
Lebanon may constitute a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1544, and be
punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

Exceptions to this restriction are being reviewed carefully on a
case-by-case basis.  The categories of individuals eligible for
consideration for a special validation are set forth in 22 C.F.R.
51.74.  Passport validation requests for Lebanon should be forwarded
in writing to the following address:

Ms. Pamela J. Covington
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services
U.S. Department of State
1425 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20522-1705
Attn:  Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance (Rm. 300).

The request must be accompanied by substantiating documentation
according to the category under which validation is sought.  The
four regulatory categories are as follows:

[1]  Professional Reporter:  Includes full-time members of the
reporting or writing staff of a newspaper, magazine or broadcasting
network whose purpose for travel is to gather information about
Lebanon for dissemination to the general public.  The request must
come from the applicant's employer, and contain information
attesting to the reporter's status with that organization.

[2]  American Red Cross:  Applicant establishes that he or she is a
representative of the American Red Cross or International Red Cross
traveling pursuant to an officially sponsored Red Cross mission.

[3]  Humanitarian Considerations:  Applicant must establish that
his or her trip is justified by compelling humanitarian
considerations.  At this time, "compelling humanitarian
considerations" are being interpreted as either those situations
where the applicant can document that an immediate family member is
critically ill in Lebanon, or "family unification" cases where
spouses or minor children are residing in Lebanon, with and
dependent on, a Lebanese national spouse or parent for their
support.  Documentation concerning family illness must include the
name and address of the relative, and be from that relative's
physician attesting to the nature and gravity of the illness.

[4]  National Interest:  The applicant's request is otherwise found
to be in the national interest.

In all requests for passport validation for travel to Lebanon, the
name, date and place of birth for all concerned persons must be
given, as well as the U.S. passport numbers, if any exist.
Documentation as outlined above should accompany all requests.
Additional information may be obtained by writing to the above
address or by calling the Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal
Assistance at [202] 326-6178 or 326-6168.

 No. 91-247

This replaces the travel advisory dated October 12, 1991 and
reflects the release of all remaining U.S. hostages and reminds
travelers that the situation in Lebanon is still so dangerous that
no U.S. citizen can be considered safe from terrorist acts.

