

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Lithuania
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LITHUANIA - NOTICE
 June 19, 1992

Summary:   The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania has moved into
permanent facilities, and can provide a limited range of consular
services to U.S. citizens, including emergency assistance.  Medical
care in Lithuania does not meet Western standards, presenting a
potential risk to those in frail health.  Street crime has recently
increased in Vilnius.  Travelers to Lithuania can obtain a
Lithuanian visa at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., or
upon arrival at the Vilnius Airport.  Visas for Russia cannot be
obtained in Lithuania.  Rail passengers from Warsaw to Moscow are
advised that they should not purchase round-trip tickets with open
returns.  End Summary.

The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, has moved into permanent
facilities, and can provide a limited range of consular services to
U.S. citizens, including emergency assistance.  U.S. citizens
residing or traveling in Lithuania should register with the Embassy
at 6 Akmenu Street, 232600 Vilnius, telephone number 223-031.

Medical care in Lithuania does not meet Western standards.  There
is a shortage of basic medical supplies, including antibiotics and
surgical instruments.  Tourists in frail health or requiring special
medications face potential risks to their well-being.

Lithuania is still a cash-only economy.  Only two banks in Vilnius
will cash travelers checks, charging a five percent fee for this
service.  No restaurants and few hotels accept credit cards.

The three Baltic states - Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia - have
established a reciprocal visa policy, under which a valid visa for
any of the three will be accepted for admission.  Russian visas,
however, cannot be obtained in Lithuania, and must be obtained
either at the Russian Embassy in the U.S. or at a Russian Embassy in
another country.  Visas for the former Soviet Republics are not
available on trains, and passengers must pay attention to their
train's route and stops en route to their final destination.  In
some instances, a visa may be required for a stop in an intermediate
country like Belarus.

U.S. citizens can now obtain three-month Lithuanian visas at the
Lithuanian Embassy in Washington, DC, for a $25 processing fee.  The
address of the Lithuanian Embassy is 2622 16th St. NW, Wash., DC
20009, tel. (202) 234-5860.  At this time, Lithuanian visas may also
be obtained free of charge upon arrival at the Vilnius Airport, but
such visas are only valid for ten days, and require a visit to the
local Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in order to be extended
beyond ten days.

Persons planning to travel by train from Warsaw to Moscow, which
may involve a transit of Lithuania, should not purchase round trip
rail tickets with open return portions, as return space may prove
difficult to arrange in Moscow, and may not be available within the
time limit of their Russian visa.

There has been an increase in street crime, especially in Vilnius,
including wallet and purse snatchings.  American visitors should
exercise particular care when traveling in the city at night.

 No. 92-131

This replaces the advisory dated November 20, 1991, and notes that
the U.S. Embassy has moved into permanent facilities, that
Lithuanian visas are now available in Washington, D.C. or upon
arrival at the airport, that crime has recently increased, and that
use of credit cards and travelers checks is limited.  In addition,
the advisory warns that rail travel to other former Soviet Republics
may require additional visas depending on the train's route.


