VZCZCXRO5933
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #1106/01 3271401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231401Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4214
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001106 
 
CODEL 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN
SUBJECT: WELCOME CABLE FOR CODEL BARRASSO (NOVEMBER 24-27) 
 
¶1.  Embassy Kuwait welcomes CODEL BARRASSO to travel to post 
from NOV 24-27, 2009. 
 
¶2.  Visit Officer:  An Embassy visit officer and an expeditor 
will meet and assist you upon arrival. 
 
Embassy Point of Contact is: 
 
Control Officer: 
Garth Hall 
Political Officer 
Office:   (965) 2259-1690 
Mobile:   (965) 9942-4087 
Email:  HallGT@state.gov 
 
¶3.  Lodging: Rooms have been reserved at the Crowne Plaza 
Hotel for Nov 25-26, 2009.  The hotel telephone number is 
(965) 2474-2000 and the fax number is (965)2474-2460.  The 
single room rate at the hotel is approximately USD308.33 per 
night, which includes breakfast. The hotel accepts major 
credit cards and is within the per diem rate.  The daily per 
diem rate for Kuwait is USD 339.00 for lodging, plus a meal 
and incidental expense (M&IE) allowance of USD 109.00 for a 
total of USD448.00. 
 
 
¶4. Following is post's standard guidance for visitors to 
Kuwait: 
 
a. Entry Requirements: Kuwait now issues single-entry visas 
to American citizens on arrival, upon presentation of a valid 
passport. 
 There is a processing fee of KD 3.000, or USD 15.00 for each 
visa issued. Post strongly advises travelers to carry some 
documentation 
on the purpose of their visit.  Passengers arriving on other 
than commercial flights should anticipate extra delays, 
because 
immigration services are not available on the military side 
of the airfield and passports have to be carried to a 
different location at 
the airport for processing.  Airport visas are valid for 90 
days after arrival; anyone staying beyond this period must 
obtain an 
extension, which should be requested 2 weeks prior to visa 
expiration.  Anyone departing Kuwait who has overstayed the 
visa 
will be charged a fine of KD 10.000 (US 35.00) per day at the 
airport.  All travelers planning to visit Iraq should make 
sure that 
they obtain the required exit/entry stamps for each transit 
through Kuwait, and be aware that they will need to obtain a 
new Kuwaiti 
visa upon return, even after a daytrip to Baghdad.  Failure 
to do so can result in heavy fines.  If possible, travelers 
should try to 
obtain a multiple-entry visa before arriving in Kuwait. 
 
b. Visitors are reminded that the importation of alcohol, 
pork products, personal firearms, and any 
suggestive/pornographic 
materials (videotapes, magazines or books) is strictly 
prohibited by Kuwaiti law.  Kuwait is still clearing mines 
and munitions. Visitors 
must remain on major paved roads when traveling in Kuwait. 
Travel north of Jahra toward the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border is not 
authorized 
without approval from the embassy and an appropriate escort. 
 
c. Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Sunday through 
Thursday, and office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
The time difference 
with the East Coast of the United States is EST plus eight 
hours. The embassy switchboard number is (965) 2259-1001, and 
the IVG 
number is 4950000. The after-hours number which rings at 
Marine Guard Post One is (965) 2538-2098.  The mission duty 
officer can be 
reached through the embassy switchboard, Post One or by cell 
phone at (965) 9967-7265. The embassy pouch address is 6200 
Kuwait Place, 
Dulles, VA 20189-6200. 
 
d. Threat Assessment: Kuwait is a high-threat post and the 
military threatcon is currently Charlie.  We have increased 
security 
precautions at official U.S. installations in Kuwait and 
recommend that all Americans in Kuwait remain alert to their 
surroundings and 
 
KUWAIT 00001106  002 OF 003 
 
 
review their personal security practices. 
 
e. Health Advisory for Kuwait:  Visitors from November to 
March can expect cold winds and, at times, heavy rains. 
Light winter clothing 
is suitable for Kuwait during these months.  At this time, 
allergies and colds are more common, and visitors to the area 
are advised to 
bring over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, 
Ibuprofen and cough medicine, with them for self-treatment. 
April through October 
is the hot season in Kuwait.  Temperatures reach 120-140 
degrees F in summer.  Caution should be taken to prevent 
dehydration and heat 
exhaustion by 1) drinking plenty of fluids and 2) staying 
indoors, especially during peak temperature hours of noon to 
3:00 p.m. 
1200-1500).  Low humidity coupled with high temperatures 
creates excessive moisture loss from evaporation.  It is 
necessary to drink 
2-4 quarts of water daily to prevent dehydration. 
 
f. Money:  Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, 
restaurants and other establishments throughout Kuwait and 
ATM machines are also 
readily available. For travelers on official orders, the 
Commercial Bank of Kuwait can provide accommodation services 
(cashing a 
personal check drawn on a U.S. bank into local currency) up 
to a maximum of USD 300.00 per day from noon to 2:00 p.m., 
Saturday 
through Wednesday. At the current rate of exchange, one 
Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) is equivalent to approximately USD 3.65. 
 
g. CAA Access:  Visitors who need unescorted access into 
secure areas of the mission must slug cables to the attention 
of the RSO, 
and include the level of their clearance.  The cable should 
include the visitor's Social Security Number, and the name of 
the agency 
granting the clearance.  Cables should include the ASEC tag 
to ensure distribution to the RSO office and the Marine 
Security guard 
at Post One. 
 
h. Computer and Electronics Usage:  Sensitive military 
information has been discovered recently on business center 
computers at local 
hotels in Kuwait City.  All U.S. Government personnel and 
contractors must remember that it is their responsibility to 
observe 
good computer and information security practices. 
Information processed on computers in hotel business centers, 
through email 
correspondence or document creation, is highly exploitable. 
Public computers located in hotel business centers, internet 
cafes, airport 
lounges, etc. should never be used to process, store or 
disseminate sensitive information.  Compromise of sensitive 
government or 
military information can result in serious damage to national 
security.  Compromises of sensitive personal data can result 
in 
significant personal and financial hardship.  Random checks 
are conducted by Embassy personnel on public PC's.  Breaches 
on COMPUSEC 
will result in the violator receiving security infractions 
and/or security violations.  Interagency security standards 
prohibit the 
introduction or use of non-USG owned computer hardware and 
software at all USG diplomatic facilities. Cell phones, palm 
pilots, radios 
and other convenience electronics are prohibited in all 
secure areas of the mission. 
 
i. Photography:  Tourist photography is encouraged in Kuwait. 
 However, it is strictly forbidden to photograph public 
buildings, 
economic infrastructure, or military and other 
security-related facilities and personnel.  Confiscation of 
film and camera and even 
arrest may result from doing so.  A good rule of thumb:  If 
there is any doubt as to whether a photograph should be 
taken, don't take 
it. 
 
j. Action Request:  Each visitor, regardless of length of 
stay, must bring or forward fiscal data to pay for direct 
costs of the visit. 
 
KUWAIT 00001106  003 OF 003 
 
 
Each agency, organization or visiting delegation will be 
charged for the actual costs attributed to their visit. 
Direct charge costs 
include, but are not limited to:  American and LES staff 
overtime (e.g., expeditor, accommodation exchange, 
representational event 
support), field travel, lodging and meals and incidental 
expenses (M&IE) by embassy employees, vehicle rentals, 
long-distance 
telephone calls, equipment rentals, office supplies and all 
other costs that are directly attributable to the visit.  If 
fiscal data 
on a traveler's authorization is to be used for this purpose, 
this information must be spelled out in the travel orders and 
sufficient 
funding provided to meet these expenses.  In addition, for 
TDYers over thirty (30) days, there will be a charge for 
ICASS support 
services.  If your sponsoring agency is not signed up for 
ICASS services at post, please be prepared to sign an ICASS 
Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) for ICASS support services upon arrival. 
The agency should provide post with written communication, 
generated by 
the traveler's headquarters, that confirms the agency will 
pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provide the agency ICASS 
billing code for the 
TDY support to be provided, and authorize the traveler to 
sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module.  When 
travel is urgent, 
TDYers should bring this document with them to ensure there 
are no interruptions in the provision of services.  Post will 
not provide 
any services to a TDYer staying in excess of 30 days without 
having received this documentation prior to day 31 of the TDY. 
 
k. Visit Kuwait's Classified Website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
********************************************* ********* 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: 
 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it 
********************************************* ********* 
JONES