Green Beans 18 March 2010

Green Beans has become a sanctuary for me and my friends - a place to hang out, relax, and forget about the war outside." www.greenbeanscoffee.com

With Lt Col Paul Cote, USAF VBC Baghdad Iraq

With Jack and Tim Howey VBC Baghdad

With Mike Sorensen - VBC Baghdad

cheers mike!

New Iraqi Government Immigration Enforcement

Before I get bombarded with emails wanting to know why I changed the R&R Policy make sure you read this and inform your personnel that I did not change or decide to enforce Iraqi Immigration Laws.

This is the latest information we receive regarding the implementation of a new policy at Sather Airbase.

The Iraqi government has decided to start enforcing their own laws. If anyone has a problem with the way the Iraqi National Government is enforcing their own laws they may contact the Iraqi Government and address their concerns to the Iraqi Government.

This Change in the Enforcement of Iraqi Immigrating Law will only affect those who plan on taking a Gryphon Flight and/or COMMERCIAL Flight in and out of Iraq.

Those who use Military Air Lift will not be affected.
Iraqi Customs/Immigrations has begun strictly enforcing new regulations that you need to be aware of.

1. CAC cards, LOAs and passports will no longer suffice for entry into Iraq via commercial carrier or Gryphon Air (starting March 2010). Employees without a valid multi entry/exit residency visa MUST first obtain an ENTRANCE visa from one of the Iraqi Consulates in the U.S. prior to travel. The process if free but the turn around time is 3-4 weeks. The employee’s passport must be submitted with the visa request. This will have an impact on personnel coming into country that do not already possess a valid residency visa. The Iraqi Embassy website should have details on how to accomplish this.

2. Employees departing Iraq must now have an exit stamp. These are obtained at the MOI Residency Office in Baghdad, but at the time of this email there is a requirement to have an HIV test conducted by an Iraqi hospitals designated by Customs and Immigration. I have been told there are travel expeditors that will supply the exit stamp for a fee (usually ranging from $100-$150) without the HIV test – SG Travel at VBC. However I cannot confirm this.

**Note – the HIV test requirement for exit from Iraq is new and is not enforced systematically yet.

As I get more information I will keep you informed.

The Last TCN Engineers Onsite

Sending off the last TCN engineers on site . . . see you in Afghanistan. . .