The U.S. State Department updated its travel warning on July 11 for those traveling to the Central African Republic, and the information may affect African corporate immigration programs.

The guidance is unchanged from the previous warning in January, beyond the fact that the embassy has altered contact information.

Dangers in the Central African Republic include militia groups, poachers and bandits. In addition, the local government does not have the ability to guarantee a transferee safety within the nation's borders. Both foreign nationals and citizens have been targets of violence outside the city of Bangui, and the capital also suffers from significant crime levels.

While there is an American embassy in Bangui, it is not able to be much help in an emergency due to limited staffing. Americans travelling to the CAR are urged to avoid all demonstrations, and to stay abreast of media coverage of local events.

American citizens have also been arrested and jailed without a proper trial in the country, and prison conditions are difficult, at best. Contact between the local government and the U.S. Embassy is minimal in these situations, making caution at all times from transferees critical.

Filed under: Immigration Services