Glo'buZz - July/August 2010
Paguro Newsletter - To stay on top of everything expat!
Glo'buZz keeps you up-to-date on worldwide events, travel advisories, news, information, and more!
brought to you by www.paguro.net
WORLDWIDE TIDBITS
Clearing custom faster and faster (PRIVIUM, FLUX), ESTA, online duty free shopping, russian new law on import duties, flu screening for international travelers, outbreaks warning, Paguro funny video, In search of a cure, book review: vado all'estero, expat survival guide, investment opportunity in Houston
TRAVEL UPDATES
Clearing custom faster and faster
In the panorama of services to expedite the custom clearing procedures you should know about Privium and FLUX.
PRIVIUM
A service programme at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol that gives you quick border passage and access to various facilities. To qualify and apply you need to be in possession of a valid passport from one of the countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland or of a European identity card and to have a minimum height of 1.50 metres (as the iris scan is mounted at about this height).
Countries participating in the EEA are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Membership fees
Privium offers three kinds of membership:
Privium Plus( EUR 179 per year) - Fast border passage with iris scan, Access Privium ClubLounge, Priority parking in P1, P2 and P3 , usiness Class check-in with participating airlines, Privium Special Offers, Privium discount, Airport Assistant service
Privium Basic ( EUR 115 per year) - fast border passage.
Privium Partner Card (65 EUR per year) Entitles your partner or children under 18 and still living at home to the Privium Basic membership.
To contact Privium click here
FLUX
An arrangement between governments that allows citizens of the countries signing it to benefit from faster border passage. The Dutch and American governments were the first to enter into a FLUX agreement.
Travellers will save a lot of time because the participants are prescreened using high tech methods of passport control. More countries will enter FLUX arrangements, so by being part of the program you will soon have more destinations where the fast queue option is offered. Anyone applying for FLUX will jump the queu of the standard passport control procedures. Read more
Via FLUX you gain membership to both of the following local service programs:
- Privium at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Privium offers fast border passage using the iris scan in combination with the Privium Card. Your membership is verified and within 15 seconds you will have passed through border control.
- Global Entry at international airports in the USA. You can use the Global Entry kiosks at a growing number of international airports in the United States. Your passport and fingerprints are used to verify your participation. Within 20 seconds you will have passed through border control.
Any Dutch or American citizen older than 14 and with a valid Dutch or American passport, are eligible to apply for FLUX.
Participants will be subject to a background screening conducted by both the Dutch and the American authorities.
NOTE - If you are a Flying Blue members you can get a discount on the total FLUX price if you send your application by 8 October 2010.
ESTA - USA VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Passport holders of many European countries, and of Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, fall under the Visa Waiver Programme, which means that they do not need a visa when travelling to the United States. Until recently travelers were required to filling out a green I-94W form on board, but the form I-94W has now been replaced by the ESTA travel approval.
ESTA (acronym that stands for ‘Electronic System for Travel Authorisation’) travel approval is necessary to enter the United States, and even board your flight. Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before departure to the United States. It is possible to apply after that, but if ESTA travel approval is denied, there may not be enough time to apply for a visa.
The ESTA is requested online at the website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by filling an application. The questions on the form are roughly the same of the old green I-94 W form.
Applying for ESTA is free. ESTA travel approval is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires. For more information, available in multiple languages, check the USA Homeland Security website
Tax free shopping online
KLM informs its passengers that this summer, they can do their tax free shopping online before they travel and receive their purchases on board. Gifts, gadgets, beauty products can be ordered up to 25 hours before departure. From the comfort of their home, passengers can browse through and order a larger range of products available on the on board selection. The new service will be tested initially on selected flights and is initially available only for travel from Amsterdam to Bahrain, Dallas, Osaka, Panama City and Sao Paulo.. Read more at the KLM website
Russian new law on import duties affects expatriates
If you are moving to Russia, verify if you have to pay import fees on your personal effects. As of 1 July 2010, a new legislation was introduced that affects the import fees of personal goods.
In the past personal goods were exempt from duty import under the "temporary stay" sule, which meant that the goods had to be exported again upon leaving Russia.
With the new law, since the wording is unclear, there are questions if household goods shipments are clearly exempt and until clarification are made these shipments are dealt with as if they were commercial cargo. Which translates into ALL shipments entering Russia by air, land and sea being subject to payment of import duties.
Duties are calculated at 30% of the total value or a minimum of 4.00 euro per kilogram of goods shipped, with no upper limit.
As an example a 20ft a container (1000 cubic feet) will have to pay an import fee in excess of 11.000 euro.
There is an expectation that the Russian authorities may clarify their stance on household goods shipments (hopefully for the better), but there is no reassurance that it will happen any time soon, if at all.
HEALTH UPDATES
Flu screening for international travelers
Due to the circulation of 2009 H1N1 influenza in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some foreign countries may check the health of arriving passengers. Many other countries, including Japan and China, are screening arriving passengers for symptoms of the flu.
To have an update on the international situation with data collected up to the 4 july 2010 and reported by the World Health Organization click here
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) advise vaccination for people who are traveling to areas where 2009 H1N1 is occurring to get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 and also anyone who is at higher risk of flu-related complications, but have not yet gotten a 2009 H1N1 vaccine. This includes young children and people 65 years and older. In addition, certain health conditions increase the risk of being hospitalized from 2009 H1N1, including lung disease (like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD), diabetes, heart, neurologic disease, and pregnancy.
Outbreaks Warnings
Chikungunya Fever in Asia, Indian Ocean
Jun 8, 2010 Polio Outbreak in Tajikistan, Possible Cases in Uzbekistan
Jun 3, 2010 Dengue, Tropics & Subtropics
Jun 2, 2010 Hand, foot, and mouth disease in China
May 13, 2010 2009 H1N1 flu, Global
Mar 29, 2010 Rabies in Bali, Indonesia
Mar 29, 2010 Yellow Fever, Brazil
Global Oubreak Alert and Response Network
No one better than every expat knows how small the world has become,especially when facing potential pandemic. In such events the response has to be swift and immediate and requires a concerted action of all countries. This is what has prompted the creation of the Global Oubreak Alert and Response Network which involves many different organizations. Click here if you wish to know more, you can view an informative video in French and Spanish.
Paguro Funny expat video
We sometimes find ourselves in embarrassing situations when in a new country or while dealing with foreigners purely because we say a word or phrase which has an entirely different meaning to what we actually meant to say.
Take a look at the Funny Expat video Paguro created.
If you have had an embarrassing experience that you wish to share, please write and let us know, misery likes company!
EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE
Paguro Expat Know-how section contains a collection of selected expat knowledge of many people the world over on many aspects of expat living.
Are you on the move with schoolong age children? Then before saying your good-byes to teachers and school staff read the Education file , a wealth of tips and tricks compiled by many expatriates to make sure you do not forget anything important.
Has your career met a brick wall when you decided to move abroad with your partner following his/her career? Check out Paguro Working abroad section to get inspirations and ideas on how to rethink your career, useful links on work permits worldwide, etc.
Looking for an English school overseas? Check out Paguro's listings.
Sucht sie eine Deutsche Schule? Sie kann Paguro's auflistungen von Schulen sehen.
Cherchez-vous une école française a l'etranger?- Consultez notre liste des écoles françaises.
Cercate una scuola italiana all'estero? Consultate la nostra lista di scuole italiane!
Bank Holidays
Itching with curiosity about bank holidays around the world? Check this site.
BOOK REVIEW
The book reviewed is in Italian
Vado a vivere all'estero - Una guida all'espatriazione che colma un vuoto sugli scaffali dell'editoria italiana. Il desiderio di andare fuori confine e' spesso frustrato dalla mancanza di informazioni generate dall'esperienza di aver vissuto in un paese piuttosto che averci fatto un periodo anche se lungo di vacanza. Leggerete delle esperienze difficili, inaspettate, esilaranti, che altri prima di voi hanno affrontato, e di come con un poco di pazienza, organizzazione e ironia, sono riusciti a costruire una nuova casa.
Per la scheda completa dell'editore clicca qui.
EXPAT STORIES
The reason to move abroad are many, here is the story of Denise, who courageously moved from Italy to the US on her own to seek assistance and medical help for Tommaso her 4 years old autistic son. Read more
Invest in Houston, why? Jim Zoller shares with us a video on why Houston should be a desirable destination for expats and why investing in Houston makes sense. Read more
Send in your article!
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Paguro buZz - Where expatriates come together to share articles, news, opinions, events, post ads and much more
- About to shed your skin before moving to other shores? Buy sell exchange forum on Paguro BuZz is there for you.
- Searching for answers to your most perplexing questions about living abroad? Take advantage of the forums. Share your experiences and opinions too.
- Trying to keep up with the Jones, Changs, O'Briens, Fernandez, Jensens, Dubois, Lis, and the Papadopoluous? Let us help. Each Paguro member has a personal web-space - my paguro, to publish writing, news, article, images and decide who to share them with (few friends or the world).
Not a member yet? Get hold of your personal shell, the one that will keep growing and never needs to be left behind, join Paguro now!
Bank Holidays
Traveling for leasure or work, if you are itching with curiosity about bank holidays around the world, check this site.
FIND, CONNECT, SHARE with PAGURO
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