Blog Category: Travel

Old Stockholm

By Slade Grayson & Carly Wilson

So you landed your first international gig. Or maybe you’ve done this before, but not during a pandemic. Do you always seem to have trouble changing reservations, figuring out how much local currency to carry, or how much champagne to drink on the flight?

Here are 12 hand tips that you might want to refer to whenever traveling abroad:

COVID restrictions to keep in mind

Is this your first time traveling internationally with added COVID restrictions and requirements? As we all know rules and regulations from both the government, CDC and WHO can change at the drop of a hat, but these general guidelines are some of the first you should check:

• What are the destination country’s restrictions and requirements for travel into the country?
• What are your home country’s restrictions and requirements for returning home?
• Look into scheduling a COVID test if needed. Most places are requiring a negative test within 72 hours of travel.
• Be sure you have necessary safety gear: masks (disposable may be best since you may not have access to laundry), hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, etc.
• Be prepared to potentially download a tracking app onto your phone if asked to as well as the possibility that you may need to quarantine upon your return.

Plans can change at the last minute

When making reservations, make sure the hotel allows changes without penalties. Sure, that cute little boutique hotel might seem charming and quaint, but many of them adhere to a tight schedule of reservations and may apply fees for last-minute cancellations. Sometimes your best bet is one of the big hotel chains because you can always use the credit for a canceled reservation at another location. The same goes for airlines. Find out what their policy is for last-minute cancellations. Because of COVID restrictions it is especially important to look into which airlines and hotels have the most lenient policies regarding cancelations or changed plans.

Pack only what you need

Pack only what you need and maybe one extra set of clothes “just in case.” The key is to travel as light as possible, but be aware of incidentals. Yes, there will be pharmacies overseas, but you don’t want to have to run out in the middle of the night for Advil.

Check the expiration on your passport

Some countries want you to have more than six months left on the expiration date. Every country has different rules on what they want, so it’s best to find out in advance to ensure your passport is current, and you don’t encounter unforeseen difficulties. Look to US State Dept for more information.

Determine if you need a visa

Find out if you need a visa. No, not the credit card Visa. A travel visa. Sometimes the passport is not enough and the country you’re traveling to wants you to have a travel visa, too. The US State Dept has more information.

Call your banks

Call your bank and credit card companies and let them know where you’re traveling and the approximate length of your stay. You don’t want your charge card to be declined because American Express thinks your card was stolen or the bank thinks your account was hacked.

Get international calling

Check with your phone provider about an international plan. For a small fee, you can get international calling for the entirety of your stay.

Food on the Go by Trevor Price

Try the food

Try the local food. Really! It’s usually very good and better than going to the American chain restaurants. Do some research and check ahead of time to see what the covid guidelines are for the restaurants you’d like to try. Are they offering dine in with reservations, outdoor dining only or just takeout? If they are open for business make sure to take care of your reservations ahead of time.

Be polite

Be polite and respectful when going through customs and security.

Know your destination

Make sure you know your destination. For example, there are two Koreas. If you’re traveling to Korea for a deposition, it’s a certainty you’re going to South Korea.

Keep local currency with you

You’ll want to keep a little local currency on you. Not all taxi drivers and food establishments take good ol’ American plastic. You can hit the ATM wherever you’re going to withdraw cash.

International Checklist

With decades of global experience, the Planet Depos team extensive knowledge on international depositions and a full guide each year to make sure you are prepared. Access the guide here If you need extra guidance for scheduling your deposition this international deposition checklist will make sure you are well-prepared.

*As of April 2021, travel to Europe is possible depending on infection rates, but East Asia is still very strict on travel unless you are a resident or business traveler.

Planet Depos has reporters, videographers, and interpreters living throughout the world and has been covering depos internationally for well over a decade.  The expertise is apparent from the scheduling process, with no detail missed, to the consummate professionalism in the deposition room.  For questions regarding depositions around the world or to schedule, call 888.433.3767 or complete the easy online scheduling form.

There are three main components to a full preparation and smooth process that need to be taken into consideration when you are planning an international deposition. First, you must understand international depositions in general, and specifically for the country (or countries!) where you will be taking your deposition(s). Second, proper preparation for international travel is a must. Third, consideration of local culture and societal norms will ensure your trip and deposition go according to plan.

Understand the Deposition Process Abroad

The first, and most important, aspect of the perfect international deposition is gaining an understanding of the entire process involved. Checklists are a handy tool for organization and are certainly useful when it comes to scheduling your deposition. They are a great way to structure a project, stay on task, and boost productivity. Your court reporting company should be able to provide you with all the important points you need to know and how far out you should be preparing.

To get you started, here is our quick checklist when scheduling a deposition abroad:

1. Can you take a deposition in the country in question? 

This may seem like an obvious point, but it’s one that many don’t realize they should be checking. Verify the local laws governing depositions before you do anything else. You may find your planned country doesn’t even allow a deposition to take place and you’ll need to move it elsewhere.

2. Does your state allow depositions in a foreign country?

Another obvious point, but one worth mentioning. You need to ensure that your state’s code of civil procedure authorizes the taking of depositions in a foreign country. If it doesn’t, you may need to have your witness come to you.

3. Determine if the witness is a willing witness.

If the witness is willing, fantastic!  You can move forward per the country’s requirements.  If the witness is unwilling, it gets a little more complicated.  You will need either a Letter of Request or a Letter Rogatory to compel the witness to testify.  Letters of Request are submitted in cases where the country is a party to The Hague Evidence Convention.  Letters Rogatory are submitted in cases where no treaty exists with the foreign government.  Each letter is asking assistance from a judicial authority in compelling the witness to testify.  Each letter typically takes a year to process once sent to the appropriate authority.

4. Check out the travel requirements.

Now we start to get into the meat-and-potatoes. You verified you can take a deposition abroad, so you need to check out the visa requirements.  Does your planned country require a travel visa or a deposition visa? How long does that process take? We find it’s often two to six weeks, so be sure you’re checking this early. You will also want to verify your passport validity.  It’s always recommended that your passport is valid for at least six months before embarking on any international travel. Finally, be sure to see if you need to update any of your vaccines.

5. Discuss the administration of the oath.

It is highly probable that if the reporter/notary is administering the oath, they are outside their jurisdiction in a deposition taking place overseas.  In that event, there are options to be considered.

• Counsel can stipulate that they understand the reporter is not authorized to administer the oath in (insert country) but would like him/her to administer the oath. Additionally, counsel stipulates that they waive any objection to the validity of the deposition based on the authority to administer the oath.
• Apply to the court for a Commission to Administer Oaths.
• Hire a notary to administer the oath (this option may not be available in all countries and will involve additional fees).

6. Determine the court reporting services you will need.

Do you need a U.S.-trained court reporter on site when conducting the deposition? What about a videographer? Will you require an interpreter, and in what dialect will they need to be fluent? While those are the big questions, you should also consider what kind of on-the-ground support you may need. Services such as printing and shredding can come in handy. You may also want to look into videoconference options and realtime reporting.

7. Identify your preferred location and lock in deposition dates.

Your deposition location may depend on the country in which you’re deposing. Some countries, such as Japan and Germany, require depositions to be taken within the U.S Consulate or Embassy. Due to those restrictions, rooms book quickly, so be sure you know ahead of time. For other countries, you may be able to take the deposition anywhere, such as a hotel or office. It’s important to know the number of attendees and the types of refreshments available. When scheduling you will need to lock in the date, start time, and end times. Keep in mind, depending on location, hours for depositions may be restrictive, meaning extra days could be needed. In addition, interpreted depositions necessarily take approximately twice as long as non-interpreted depositions.

8. Peruse a “cheat sheet” of the local culture.

You should know at least basic formalities.  How do people greet one another?  Are there any glaring “absolutely under no circumstances do this” etiquette faux pas to avoid at all costs?  E.g., in Japan, do not crumble up someone’s business card, shove it in your pocket, or write on it!  You don’t want to come across as rude or ignorant, so do take the time to do a little research.  Remember, you are the visitor, and it’s your responsibility to learn what behaviors to avoid, and how to ingratiate yourself to people you encounter.  You’ll get a lot more out of your trip this way!

This checklist serves as an outline to the process of handling an international deposition. To start the checkmarks flying, dig into the State Department’s website to find out if/where your particular depositions can be held.

Proper Preparation For International Travel

Proper preparation for your trip abroad means checking your passport, checking visa requirements, vaccination requirements, travel time, and planning to allow adequate recovery from jet lag!  The very first step is to make certain that your passport is valid for at least six months past the planned departure date.  This should be the case before any international travel, not just deposition travel.  Some countries will bar entry to those with less than six months’ validity on their passport, so take this guideline seriously.  At the same time, check the visa requirement, process of obtaining said visa, and processing time.

You should also look into essential things like recommended or required vaccines, as well as travel time involved in reaching your destination, and the time change.  When allotting time for travel, remember the very real possibility of delayed flights and other common travel horrors.  Plan extra time for these contingencies, as well as jet lag recuperation!  Allowing time for your body to adjust to time changes will make you much more comfortable and alert on your trip.  Vaccines will keep you healthy, as different areas of the globe are subject to different health risks.

Know the Local Culture and Societal Norms

Culture plays a big role in all interactions.  We typically aren’t even aware of it until interacting with a different culture.  In a foreign country, you will be very aware of the differences.  Preparing ahead of your trip will help you feel a bit less like a fish out of water and can also help with important details like phrasing your questions for more prompt and informative answers.  For example, if someone is of a culture not given to elaboration or speaking about oneself, you may need to word your questions differently and more probingly than for a person from a very open, chatty culture.

Additionally, knowing the local culture makes your time abroad much more enjoyable.  It can be uncomfortable to be in a strange place, not speaking the language and everything you do seems to put off the natives.  This is easily avoided!  As a bonus, having at least a basic understanding of the culture and the history, too, can take your trip from strictly business to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit one-of-a-kind sites, eat exotic and delicious treats, and create wonderful memories.

Conclusion

With preparation for your international depositions complete, you’re ready to jet off to your destination for a smooth week of depositions.  With all the travel investigated, requirements met, and accommodations booked, no anxiety about the business of getting to your destination will distract from your case.  Now that you know a bit about the culture into which you’ll be diving for a few days (or several!), you can eagerly anticipate your planned sightseeing jaunt.  You may even have been able to tweak your line of questioning for a more effective deposition!

It is worth mentioning that not only does all this prep work pay for itself, it doesn’t even take that much time, especially when using a handy checklist.  The State Department offers most of the scheduling-relevant information, as well as information regarding visas and other travel requirements.  There are several sites offering overviews of cultural and societal norms throughout the globe, and a global court reporting should be able to offer valuable insight as well.

Proper planning and preparation mean your international depositions will go off with no delays or issues, positively impacting your case and enhancing your world travels.

Let Planet Depos prepare your perfect international deposition. You can reach our team via email at international@planetdepos.com, phone at 888.433.3767, or through our convenient international scheduling portal.

International travel involves a myriad of details, and the undeniable potential for harrowing experiences – long flights, multiple layovers, luggage issues, language barriers and the like.  There is plenty to rattle even seasoned travelers!  Another genuine concern for those traveling abroad?  Safety.  Fortunately, there are resources providing valuable information on both avoiding trouble when traveling overseas, as well as what to do in the event trouble finds you.   Here are a few suggestions for safe travels.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).   This free program is a quick and easy way for U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to register their trip with the U.S. Consulate or Embassy nearest their destination.  The Embassy/Consulate will send you safety alerts, which can have a huge impact on your trip!  The program also means the Embassy/Consulate has a means of contacting you should any emergency arise (think natural disaster or some sort of violent demonstration).  It also serves as one more way for family to contact you in case of emergency.  This is a great program for those traveling regularly and widely, who may want to create an account.

Know before you go.  Do a little research, check travel advisories and alerts, and read at least basic safety information once your trip is set (or even before; depending on the travel advisory, you may want to postpone or cancel your trip).  The U.S. State Department’s website is a treasure trove for this purpose.  Simply look up the country or countries in question, and you can check for any travel alerts while checking visa requirements!  Even if there is no special alert, do take a minute to read the section on safety.  Much of the information is common sense, but region-specific advice is also included, and reading it can help you avoid a host of problems.

Check up on required or recommended vaccinations.  The CDIC will help you find out what vaccinations you may need before your trip.

Tap your emergency contact.  Make sure a responsible party back home has a copy of your itinerary, hotel information, contact information, etc., in case of an emergency.  In that vein, make sure the Embassy or Consulate with which you are registered also has this party’s contact information.

Don’t lose your travel documents!  This is obvious, so, just in case you do inexplicably lose your travel documents, keep copies of ALL your travel documents.  This is also a perfect example of why you should read the regional safety information on the State Department’s site.  Pickpockets are a leading cause of lost travel documents, as tourists often make easy targets.  So, do make copies, and do guard your travel documents!

Don’t talk to strangers!  Too much, anyway.  Meeting locals is a huge part of the experience of international travel, but don’t assume you’ve found your new best friend because you had a pleasant chat at the Taj Mahal.  Don’t be paranoid or rude but be careful about how chummy you get.

Use your own best judgment.  We often give others better advice than we hold ourselves to.   In this case, think of the advice you would give a loved one traveling abroad, and take it yourself.  This advice should include enjoying yourself, by the way.

Listen to the voice of experience.  Know someone who has traveled to your destination before you?   Get their input!  Ask friends, relatives, colleagues who have visited the region.  They may have some anecdotes that will prove very helpful to you.  The more information you have, the better, so stock up!   People who have visited before can be particularly helpful regarding hotels, airport transportation (scams are common in this area almost wherever you go), and dietary concerns.

The world, and traveling it, can be very dangerous.  While some things are beyond our control, many dangers are avoided or diminished through preparedness and plain common sense.  Once you have reviewed the information about your destination, including any possible dangers and taken any necessary precautions, you can depart worry-free and ready to enjoy your trip!

Planet Depos has been covering legal proceedings worldwide for over a decade.  Planet Depos reporters and videographers live and travel pretty much everywhere, making them a great resource for travel tips, from safety considerations to where to get the best local cuisine.  For more information on international travel, or to schedule your own proceeding abroad, contact Planet Depos International Scheduling at 888.433.3767 or international@planetdepos.com.

The New Year is a time of looking ahead with hopes for good things to come and people wishing each other health, happiness and success in the coming year.  Festivities are varied, ranging from church services to fireworks, and sometimes include special meals or traditions.  Of course, Americans are familiar with the singing of Auld Lang Syne, the Scottish song originally published by Robert Burns, and popularized more than a century later by bandleader Guy Lombardo.  But some traditions are a bit more lively, a bit more tasty, and sometimes a bit more odd!  Read on for a sampling of traditions and perhaps pick one to incorporate into your own revelry this year!

In a few villages in Peru, you could get an opportunity to throw some punches before the year ends!   A tradition known as Takanakuy, this practice allows participants to settle old scores before the year ends, ensuring a fresh start.  There is also music and dancing involved (it is an all-day celebration, not just a slugfest), which hopefully even the loser can enjoy after taking a beating!  Odder still, in Switzerland, a tradition exists of dropping ice cream on the floor????  Tending toward gluttony myself, this tradition makes no sense to me, but I do like the approach in Estonia!  They eat seven times on New Year’s Day to assure abundance in the coming year.   Incidentally, they are known for their chocolate, as well as a real mouthful of a treat, vastlakukkel, a wheat bun stuffed with sweet whipped cream!

In Scotland, people visit their friends shortly after midnight to wish each other well, and it is considered especially good luck if the first person to enter your home in the new year is a tall, dark, handsome man (this is the land of Sean Connery, remember).   Naturally, this person should also come bearing gifts.  In Romania, people toss coins into rivers for good luck.  In Puerto Rico, they toss water out of windows to drive away evil spirits.  Italians get a bit heavier, literally, throwing old objects out the window, including clothes, pots and pans and even furniture!  This tradition is not as widely practiced as it used to be.  The gesture symbolizes letting go of the past, a common theme for the new year.

Some regions of South America observe a custom of carrying a suitcase on New Year’s Eve, either for a quick trip around the block, or all day and everywhere you go.  Some say leaving the suitcase by the door will do the trick.  The idea is, if you want the new year to contain exciting travel, grab your suitcase and go!  Around the block or about your business.  The real trip will come.

Of course, one of the most popular New Year traditions is the making of resolutions.  These also cover a wide spectrum, including spiritual, professional, romantic, health-related, etc.  The resolutions, whatever they may be, in and of themselves are an exhibition of optimism about the fresh start of the year.

With resolutions set, people return to work.  If your work involves international depositions, there are a few resolutions you can make to streamline the process.

Partner with a court reporting firm that specializes in international depositions and has offices and teams throughout the world: This firm can alert you to special travel requirements (visa, passport), Hague considerations, etc.  They can assist with any requirements unique to certain countries for which you may not be familiar, and perhaps offer a little extra insight into the area you will be visiting, enhancing your stay there!

Work with local reporters, videographers, and interpreters: This saves you and your client money, as any travel costs will be minimal.  This also means you get the inside track on where to eat, shop, and visit.   Basically, you get way more bang for your buck working with locals.  Ask them about hidden gems you simply cannot miss — like that vastlakukkel!

Take advantage of the firm’s online repository: This provides you 24/7 access to all your transcripts, synchronized videos, exhibits, and related documents.  The repository is secure and equipped with powerful search tools, enabling you to quickly locate exactly what you need, when you need it.   There are no software licenses to purchase or manage.

Planet Depos has been covering depositions around the world for over a decade.  To enlist their expertise, email international@planetdepos.com, or schedule online.