World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 47
including important travel warnings and alerts Should pilgrims lose their passport, they must
(https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en immediately seek out the United States
/country/panama.html). Embassy in Panamá:
Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas
United States citizens need a valid U.S. Building No. 783
passport to travel to Panamá and it must Clayton, Panamá
have at least six months of validity left for Telephone: +(507) 317-5000
international travel (i.e. passports used for Emergency After-Hours Telephone:
the trip to Panamá should be valid through +(507) 317-5000
August 1, 2019 or later). Fax +(507) 317-5278
e-mail: [email protected].
International travelers are encouraged to
register their trip with the United States State Before going to Panamá, check out the
Department Smart Traveler Enrollment embassy’s website at https://pa.usembassy.gov.
Program (https://step.state.gov/step/). No Officials from the United States Embassy will
visa is required for U.S. citizens traveling into also be available at various English-language
Panamá. Leaders who have pilgrims who are in WYD sites throughout the week.
complex immigration situations (DREAM,
DACA, etc.) should consult with the U.S. State Trading at World Youth Day
Department and the U.S. Citizenship and One way of celebrating the global faith
Immigration Services (www.uscis.gov) prior to community at WYD is by trading cultural items
booking travel to World Youth Day. with other pilgrims. This exchange is especially
fun if pilgrims bring or make items to trade
Pilgrims should make 3 copies of their such as prayer cards, crosses, buttons, stickers,
passport; one should be left at home, one left at decorated clothespins, bandanas, hats, shirts,
the diocesan, parish, or pilgrim group leader’s and so forth. These items often represent the
office in the U.S., and one given to the pilgrim’s parish, diocese/eparchy, movement,
pilgrimage leader to take to Panamá. This will local community, state, or country. Some
make it easier to verify the pilgrim’s identity and people give away their items, but most try to
citizenship if anything were to happen to their “bargain” an exchange for items that other
passport while abroad.
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