VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #0006/01 0051019
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051019Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4406
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 1534

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000006 
 
CODEL 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN KU
SUBJECT: WELCOME CABLE FOR CODEL MCCAIN (JANUARY 5-6, 2010) 
 
REF: STATE 108304 
 
¶1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes CODEL McCain to travel to post Jan 5-6, 
¶2010. 
 
¶2. Visit Officer: An Embassy visit officer and a driver/expeditor 
will meet and assist you at the airport. 
 
Embassy point of contact is: 
 
 
Kristina Weiss, ISU Senior Liaison 
Office- (965) 2259-1170 
Cell- (965) 9985-1697 
Fax- (965) 2259-1190 
Unclass e-mail: WeissKA@state.gov 
 
 
¶3. Lodging: Rooms have been reserved at the Radisson BLU Hotel for 
January 5, 2010.  The hotel telephone number is (965) 2575-6000 and 
the fax number is (965)2565-2999.  The single room rate at the hotel 
is approximately USD325.00 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 3 Kuwaiti Dinar (or USD 15.00) for 
each visa issued.  The fee may be paid either in KD or USD. 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 
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 3.55. 
 
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. 
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/ 
 
Jones