The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: November second, with things you need to know about visas.

First, the definition. Visas are endorsements issued by a country you want to visit. They signify that your passport has been examined, found to be in order and that you have official permission to enter. Once necessary for any travel to most places on the planet, but in recent years, the number of countries requiring holders of American passports to obtain visas one before visiting has declined. Of the nearly 200 destinations listed by the State Department, over half have dropped visa requirements, at least for short-term, casual travelers. But many key places such as Australia, the former USSR nations, many countries in Africa, South and Central America, and the Middle East still make travelers go through the visa formalities.

The situation is fluid but so far there have been few changes in visa requirements since the tragedy of September 11 changed people's perception of the world. If your travel is for business, education or other longer-term purposes, you'll need a visa, even in countries that have dropped this formality for tourists.

Your travel agent or airline should inform you when a visa is necessary and how to apply. Ditto for the State Department's Consular information files, which are available on line. Unless you live near the embassies or have lots of time, a visa service is the best way to expedite the process. That slashes the time, but adds $50 to $75 to the cost of each visa.

The best advice: leave plenty of time for the paperwork. Since all visas must be stamped on your passport, it's not possible to apply for more than one at a time. That makes it extra important to check each application carefully. Any mistake, omission, failure to sign or send proper payment can delay both the process and your trip indefinitely.

FMI For Passport information, call (toll calls) 1900-362-8668 or 900-225-5674, or visit the State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/

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