Belarus Visa

In August, my wife and I were on a seven-week trip through Russia and the Baltic States. Very late in the trip, we were advised that a visa was possibly necessary to pass through Belarus on the train. We tried to telephone the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg to make sure we needed one. It was Saturday morning and we received no answer to our call on either of the two numbers listed in the directory. We expected a duty officer--or at least an answering machine.

CHARLES BEYER

Solana Beach

A State Department spokeswoman replies: Visas are required for Belarus. Details are spelled out in the Consular Information Sheets available from the State Department by fax (dial 202-647-3000 from your fax machine) or on the Consular Affairs Electronic Bulletin Board (202-647-9225). Duty officers are on call after hours to handle emergencies.