Smart International Traveler’s Tips

Study these travel safety tips from the U.S. Department of State for the next time you travel: ·       Start early. Passports are required to enter and/or depart most countries around the world. Apply for a passport as soon as possible. Some countries also require U.S. citizens to obtain visas before entering.  Check with the embassy of the foreign country that you are planning to visit to see if you need a visa. Passport and visa  information is available online. ·       Make a copy of your passport’s data page. Make a copy of your passport’s data page and any visas. Keep it with you, but separate from the originals, at all times while traveling. ·       Remember to leave an itinerary with family or friends. Leave a detailed itinerary and a copy of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States. ·       Find out the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are traveling to a remote area or one that is experiencing civil unrest, end out the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and register with the Consular Section when you arrive. Embassy and consulate locations can be found here. ·       Learn about the country you plan to visit. Before departing, take  the time to do some research about the people and their culture, and any problems that the country is experiencing that may affect your travel plans. ·       Read the Consular Information Sheet. Consular Information Sheets  provide up-to-date travel information on any country in the world that you plan to visit. They cover topics such as entry regulations, the crime  and security situation, and the location of the U.S. embassy, consulates and consular agencies. ·       Check for travel warnings and public announcements. A Travel Warning advises travelers not to go to a country because of dangerous conditions. A Public Announcement provides fast-breaking  information about relatively short-term conditions that pose risks to  the security of travelers – Information Provided by the Bureau of Consular Affairs