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International Travel Insurance

Allow me to provide a cautionary tale of someone who failed to research international travel visa requirements: When I was younger I purchased a ticket from Australia to Vietnam via Singapore. My bags were packed, and I was ready to go.

Unfortunately, the travel agent I purchased the ticket from failed to mention I needed a travel visa for Vietnam. I flew all the way there, only to be turned back on the exact same plane to Singapore, where a visa was not required. I still remember yelling to the air crew in Saigon "Don't forget to send my bags back with me!" To my dismay, my bags were not on that return flight, and I didn't see all of my luggage until I returned home three months later.

Here is a list of considerations when it comes to international travel visas:

Purchase travel visas in advance. I took this lesson to heart. From then on, wherever I traveled to I already had my visa in hand. The odd thing is that some countries (like Vietnam) require you to have your visa prior to departure, whereas others allow you to purchase them at the border. My advice now? Don't risk it.

Check requirements between tourist and business international travel visas. A client of mine could not fly to Brazil for business travel. After contacting the embassy, we realized that he could just as easily apply for a tourist visa, enter the country, and return home with no problems. Just make sure you've got your story right when your at customs.

If they say a day, they mean a week . After all, visas are a government institution, and no one knows bureaucracy like the government. Be prepared for delays, fees, changes, and loopholes. I can't stress this enough: make you plan well ahead of their schedule.

If you're not sure you need an international travel visa, you can always check your nationalities embassy site, which provides a full listing of travel visa requirements, as well as any time limitations on your visit.

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