UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000309

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
USDOC FOR 3132/USFCS/OIO/EAP/WZARIT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP BMGT OTRA SN BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CHAN YIU KEI

REF: SINGAPORE 00001909


1. EMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN WELCOMES AND GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE
TO CHAN YIU KEI, COMMERCIAL SPECIALIST, FROM O/A OCTOBER 24 TO 26,

2007.


2. POC AT EMBASSY: JOSEPHINE CHAN, TELEPHONE:
(673)(2) 229-670; FAX: (673)(2)22-1775; EMAIL:
CHANYY@STATE.GOV.


3. THE EMBASSY IS LOCATED AT TECK GUAN PLAZA, 3RD
FLOOR, JALAN SULTAN, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN BS8811. THE
AFTER-HOURS AND DUTY OFFICER NUMBER IS (673) (8) 730-

691.


4. VISAS: DIPLOMATIC OR OFFICIAL PASSPORT-HOLDERS
NEED TO OBTAIN A VISA IN ADVANCE OF TRAVEL. VISAS
ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR VISITS OF 90 DAYS OR LESS IF A
REGULAR PASSPORT IS USED.


5. BRUNEI AND SINGAPORE CURRENCIES ARE
INTERCHANGEABLE. CURRENCY EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE AT
THE AIRPORT, THE HOTEL OR AT CITIBANK ACROSS THE
STREET FROM THE EMBASSY. RATES AT THE BANK AND
COMMERCIAL MONEYCHANGERS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER
THAN THOSE IN THE HOTEL. BANK HOURS ARE MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY 9:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. AND SATURDAY
9:00 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M. LOCAL CURRENCY CAN ALSO BE
OBTAINED FROM AUTOTELLER MACHINES (ATM) AT MOST
SHOPPING OUTLETS. AMERICAN EXPRESS, MASTERCARD AND
VISA ARE WIDELY ACCEPTED IN BRUNEI. CURRENT EXCHANGE
RATE IS 1USD = 1.5 BRUNEI DOLLARS.


6. THREAT ASSESSMENT: PLEASE SEE THE LATEST
DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR SE ASIA AND POST
CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET AT HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO KNOWN THREATS DIRECTED AGAINST
AMERICAN CITIZENS OR U.S. GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AND
INTERESTS IN BRUNEI. THE CRIME RATE IN BRUNEI IS MEDIUM
AND VIOLENT CRIME IS RARE. VISITORS SHOULD STILL
PRACTICE PRUDENT SECURITY PRECAUTIONS SUCH AS NOT
TRAVELING ALONE LATE AT NIGHT OR IN SECLUDED AREAS.
REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE RSO.


7. DRUGS AND FIREARMS: TRAVELERS SHOULD BE AWARE
THAT IMPORTATION OF FIREARMS IS PROHIBITED.
PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE LAW CAN BE MORE SEVERE.
TRAFFICKING IN AND ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF CONTROLLED
DRUGS ARE VERY SERIOUS OFFENSES IN BRUNEI AND CARRY A
MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY.


8. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: THERE ARE NO OUTLETS FOR
PURCHASING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN BRUNEI. NON-MUSLIM
VISITORS ARE PERMITTED TO BRING IN 12 BOTTLES OF BEER
AND TWO BOTTLES OF WINE/SPIRITS FOR PERSONAL
CONSUMPTION. A CUSTOM DECLARATION FORM MUST BE
COMPLETED UPON ARRIVAL.


9. AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX: CURRENTLY, THERE IS A 12
BRUNEI DOLLARS AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX.


10. LOCAL TIME: BRUNEI TIME IS 13 HOURS AHEAD OF EST.


11. LAPTOP AND OTHER PORTABLE COMPUTERS: PURSUANT TO
STATE 286036, DATED 10/07/03, ALL OFFICIAL TRAVELERS TO
POST WHO INTEND TO BRING A LAPTOP OR OTHER PORTABLE
COMPUTERS MUST NOTIFY POST IN ADVANCE AND FOLLOW THE
GUIDELINES PROVIDED THEREIN. THE RSO AND/OR ISSO WILL
GRANT FINAL APPROVAL TO BRING SUCH EQUIPMENT INTO THE
CHANCERY.

SKODON