International Travelers need to Register with U.S. Embassy

Compiled by Mary Gallagher

The U.S. State Department has always advised international travelers to register their whereabouts with the nearest embassy or consulate. Following recent natural disasters and terrorist threats the State Department’s suggestion has taken on much greater significance. Travel registration is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. Registration allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency. Americans residing abroad can also get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

In the past, many travelers ignored this service due to the inconvenience of having to find and then stand in line at a U.S. embassy abroad. Through a new State Department program launched last July, travelers may register and log their itineraries online.

While a tsunami may be uncommon, the benefits of registering extend beyond these situations. U.S. embassies and consulates help more than 200,000 Americans each year who are victims of crime, accident or illness or whose families need to contact them. The department also can supply names of local doctors and lawyers, issue temporary passports and provide loans to destitute Americans.

Approximately 800,000 Americans have entered their local and home contacts, itineraries, passport numbers and other information through the Departments website. If you are traveling outside the United States and plan to return after a brief time (usually less than six months), you should select the short-term option. Tourists and business travelers are examples of travelers selecting the short-term option. While you travel, your information will be available to U.S. consular officers should they need to contact or locate you in an emergency.

If you reside in a foreign country, or will stay in a foreign country for an extend period of time, you should select the long-term option. If you make frequent trips to the same country, you may also wish to use the long-term option.

The website states that the Department of State and its overseas embassies and consulates request this information only to inform and assist Americans traveling or residing in foreign countries. All personal information you provide is secure and protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.

To register your itinerary, log onto https://travelregistration.state.gov.

http://travel.state.gov/warnings_list.html

Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The countries listed below are currently on that list. In addition to this list, the State Department issues Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country.

http://travel.state.gov/travel_pubs.html

Consular Affairs Publications
General Travel Abroad


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