I am on the Board of a nonprofit that runs a medical clinic and orphanage in Bolivia. About a year ago the Bolivian government announced that it would institute a visa requirement for Americans entering the country. Yesterday (Sept. 11) they finally announced the requirements, which become effective Dec. 1, 2007

I am on the Board of a nonprofit that runs a medical clinic and
orphanage in Bolivia.  About a year ago the Bolivian government
announced that it would institute a visa requirement for Americans
entering the country.  Yesterday (Sept. 11) they finally announced the
requirements, which become effective Dec. 1, 2007.  It is clear that
the Bolivian Consulates in the US will not be able to handle the
paperwork anytime soon - they simply don't have the staff - so it will
almost certainly take several weeks, if not months to obtain the
visas, at least for the bulk of 2008.  This will affect how some of us
plan our proposed mission trips for the first half of 2008.   I would
appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with these types of
requirements or any suggestions anyone may have to help group leaders
who may be taking people to Bolivia.

The requirements, as announced yesterday, are:

- Payment of $134 fee for the visa (visa is good for 90 days)
- Fill out a form with basic personal information (likely similar to
that now required for business travel to Bolivia)
- Provide a 4x4 cm color photograph with a red background
- Passport that expires later than 6 months from the date of the trip
(this will need to be sent to the Consulate and will likely be there
for several weeks, causing problems for people who need their
passports during that period of time)
- Certification of no criminal record
- Proof of a hotel reservation for stay or a notarized letter of
invitation from someone in Bolivia who promises to pay your costs of
being in Bolivia
- Round trip airline ticket or itinerary
- Documents demonstrating financial solvency in the U.S.
- Proof of yellow fever immunization

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

Sharon Alexander