From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- France
Date: 13 Oct 1992 18:19:00 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - France
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France - Consular Information Sheet
 October 7, 1992 

Embassy and Consulate Locations:  The U.S. Embassy in Paris is 
located at 2 Avenue Gabriel; telephone (33) (1) 4296-1202.  The 
Consular Section is located one block away, across the Place de la 
Concorde, at 2 Rue St. Florentin.  There are also consulates in 
Bordeaux, at 22 Cours du Marechal Foch, telephone (33) (56) 
52-65-95; in Marseille, at 12 Boulevard Paul Peytral, telephone (33) 
(91) 549-200; and in Strasbourg, at 15 Avenue d'Alsace, telephone 
(33) (88) 35-31-04.

Country Description:  France is a highly developed and stable 
democracy with a modern economy.  Tourist facilities are widely 
available.

Entry Requirements:  A visa is not required for tourist or business 
stays up to three months.  For further information concerning entry 
requirements for France, travelers can contact the Embassy of France 
at 4101 Reservoir Road N.W., Washington, DC 20007, tel: (202) 
944-6000, or the nearest French Consulate General in Boston, 
Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New 
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, or San Juan.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care is widely available.  U.S. 
medical insurance is not always valid out of the United States.  
Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical 
insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful.  
Further information on health matters can be obtained from the 
Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline on 
(404) 332-4559.

Crime Information:  France has a very low rate of violent crime.  
Most crimes are of the petty larceny variety, such as pickpocketing. 
 During the tourist season, pickpocketing, theft of unattended 
baggage, and theft from vehicles with out-of-town or foreign 
licenses are frequent occurences.  Criminals often operate around 
popular tourist attractions, such as museums, monuments, 
restaurants, and hotels, and on transportation systems.  U.S. 
citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, "A Safe 
Trip Abroad" for ways to promote a more trouble-free voyage.  The 
pamphlet is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402.

Drug Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use, and dealing in 
illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect a jail 
sentence and fines.

Dual Nationality:  U.S. citizens who are considered to have also 
acquired French citizenship may be subject to compulsory military 
service and other aspects of French law while in France.  Those who 
might be affected can inquire at a French embassy or consulate 
regarding their status.  In some instances, dual nationality may 
hamper U.S. government efforts to provide protection abroad.

Other Information: Certain Air France flights between France and 
various Middle Eastern points (usually Damascus or Amman) make en 
route stops in Beirut.  (The State Department warns U.S. citizens to 
avoid all travel to or through Lebanon).

Terrorist Activities:  Civil disorder is rare in France.  However, 
the Basque Separatist Party (ETA) is active in the south of France 
and has occasionally bombed government targets.  Other terrorist 
groups have carried out a few closely targeted political killings 
and kidnappings over the last year.  No Americans have been affected.

Registration:  Americans who register at the Consular Section in 
the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can obtain updated information on 
travel and security within the area.

 No. 92-018