Recently I've traveled to two countries where the Timatic has been at odds with what immigration has actually actioned upon arrival. That got me thinking -- who's responsible if you're not allowed into the country, but the carrier has followed Timatic? More importantly, aside from getting something in writing from a consulate / embassy, who is right, and was I / were the agents reading below Timatic correctly?


My cases were as follows:
1. I have a multi-entry visa for Gabon. However, on the latest trip, departing from the US, I heard the agent reading the entry rules out loud to herself, stating that my passport did not require a visa (and subsequently did not check my visa). Alarm bells were going off in my head so she invited me to peek behind at her screen, where it actually did say no visa required for tourist purposes. I didn't take a photo of her screen but I pulled the info up on Expertflyer and it actually says that I wouldn't need a visa, however I can very much assure you that visas were the first thing the officers checked upon deplaning (even before you reached immigration itself) -- I'm sure it being central Africa something could have been "worked out" but those expecting to simply get a stamp and breeze through would have found themselves at the airport much longer than expected:



2. I recently landed in Laos (LPQ) expecting to be visa free, as on the publicly available Delta Timatic + Expertflyer, I had pulled this info for a traveler going to Laos via Thailand (BKK), and was confirmed by the agent at check-in that I didn't need a visa when they were doing my document check (I asked specifically). However, when I landed I wasn't allowed through until I purchased a visa on arrival. I was staying 3 days, so well short of the 14-day limit outlined below. Exact change in USD was required ($41) and no ATMs were available prior to immigration.



Thoughts appreciated ...

I tend to use wiki's "visa requirements for ___ citizen" page, for it seems to be updated more often. Even when it's not updated there are links to...useless and inconsequential official government websites.

I also visit this page.

Ultimately, if the country is one where I can get a visa on arrival, I try to have double the amount of cash -- always new, crisp bills -- just in case.

I always have USD, EUR and a few other "global" currencies on me, broken down into the smallest ones that allow me to come up with any sum under $500, however not everyone travels as I do. I normally check the Wiki pages as well ("Visa requirements for _____ citizens"), however my concern is for check-in agents who treat the timatic unwaveringly as a bible of sorts...

In a surprising twist, I LinkedIn stalked some IATA managers, shot-gunned some emails, and they actually responded and made the changes!

For your second question, my understanding is that the carrier is responsible to returning you home if you do not have the required documentation for entry, hence all the stories of people being denied boarding at their departure because of information in the system.

I would assume trying to keep up with all the information on all entries of all countries relative to every other country in one place must be on the level of herding Adderall affected kittens while drunk, wearing a blindfold and listening to polka music played on bagpipes.