In essence. one part of the family is held hostage to ensure the travelers return. Considerable difficulties also exist for those Americans who wish to visit relatives in the Soviet Union. Many Americans have been frustrated by delay or denial in obtaining private visas to visit family members in their homes and have had to resort to joining package tours to see their relatives. These tours only stop in a limited number of Soviet cities. forcing the Soviet relatives to sometimes travel long distances to meet with their United States relatives. Thus they often act as a brake to normal family contact.