By Lauren Juliff
Student Travel Expert, about.com
When I first left to travel, one of the things that I was most scared of was an overland border crossing. I had no idea how they worked: were they safe? Did you have to do it alone? How did you arrange transport to and from the border? How would I know if I was being scammed? What should I do if someone asks for a bribe? My head was brimming with unanswered questions and I was intimidated by every border I'd need to cross.
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I needn't have worried, because border crossings, while
frustrating, are easy to understand and easy to pass through. Here's how
they work:
What is a Border Crossing?
Quite simply, it's
crossing from one country's borders into another country's. You can do
this by plane, train, car, ferry, on foot... anyway you can imagine!
So an Overland Border Crossing is...
When
you do it overland! Unlike when you're flying and you pass through one
set of immigration officials in the country you're leaving and the next
set when you land in a new country, when you're traveling overland,
those two checkpoints are within a few metres of each other.
[post_ads]How Do They Work?
You'll arrive
at the border and there'll typically be a line of travelers who you can
follow up to immigration. If you happen to find yourself at a remote
border, there'll likely be signs or an official who can direct you to
where you need to go.
You'll fill in an exit form for the country
and then hand it to the official. Sometimes you'll need to show
passport photos or pay a departure fee.
You'll be stamped out of that country, given a visa,
and then you need to walk the twenty metres or so to the next country.
The same thing happens again: look for a line of travelers or an
official to tell you where to go, fill in an entry form, pay an entrance
fee if needed, and then hold your breath until you've been stamped into
the country!
How Do You Get To and From a Border?
You
won't be the first person doing the border crossing, so there'll be tons
of options for crossing the border. If you're feeling intrepid, you can
take the cheapest option and arrange it all yourself. Take a local bus
to the border, walk across, and then wander around until you find the
right bus in the next location.
If you're more nervous, you can arrange a border crossing package through your accommodation or through a tour company
in the place you're in. You'll likely be picked up in a minivan, taken
to the border -- if you've paid a bit more, the driver will take your
passports to be stamped -- and then you'll be driven to the next city.
You barely need to even be away for the journey!
But What About Scams?
Scams are rife
around borders, especially in countries in the developing world. Before
you arrive, make sure to read up online about the most common ones at
the border you'll be using so you can be prepared. Common scams involve telling you that you need to pay for services, such as hiring a guide or getting your temperature checked.
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And Bribes?
Corruption
is a sad but inevitable part of the developing world, and there isn't
much you can do about it. For the most part, it's easiest to pay over
the extra $2 or so than wasting six hours arguing with officials over it
(and then having your minivan leave you behind in the process!)
Don't
give up and just hand it over, though. If you are asked for a greater
amount than you were expecting, challenge the official (politely!). Ask
if they have an official notice announcing the fee increase, or ask if
you can have a receipt. In some case this has been enough to deter the
official!
