| Here are some quick tips to make your travel | | | | and laws: While in a foreign country, you are |
| easier and safer: | | | | subject to its laws. The State Department web |
| | | | site has useful safety and other information |
| Register so the State Department can better | | | | about the countries you will visit. |
| assist you in an emergency: Register your | | | | |
| travel plans with the State Department | | | | Take precautions to avoid being a target of |
| through a free online service. This will help | | | | crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do |
| them contact you if there is a family | | | | not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and |
| emergency in the U.S., or if there is a | | | | do not carry excessive amounts of money. |
| crisis where you are traveling. In accordance | | | | Also, do not leave unattended luggage in |
| with the Privacy Act, information on your | | | | public areas and do not accept packages from |
| welfare and whereabouts will not be released | | | | strangers. |
| to others without your express authorization. | | | | |
| | | | Contact your embassy in the event of an |
| Sign your passport, and fill in the emergency | | | | emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. |
| information: Make sure you have a signed, | | | | Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the |
| valid passport, and a visa, if required, and | | | | U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a |
| fill in the emergency information page of | | | | week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. |
| your passport. | | | | citizens. Contact information for U.S. |
| | | | Embassies and Consulates appears on the |
| Leave copies of itinerary and passport data | | | | Bureau of Consular Affairs. Also note that |
| page: Leave copies of your itinerary, | | | | the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in |
| passport data page and visas with family or | | | | the State Department's Bureau of Consular |
| friends, so you can be contacted in case of | | | | Affairs may be reached for assistance with |
| an emergency. | | | | emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling |
| | | | from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if |
| Check your overseas medical insurance | | | | calling from overseas. |
| coverage: Ask your medical insurance company | | | | |
| if your policy applies overseas, and if it | | | | Make a few minor preparations before you |
| covers emergency expenses such as medical | | | | travel overseas and it will make your trip a |
| evacuation. If it does not, consider | | | | lot smoother and give you peace of mind. |
| supplemental insurance. | | | | Remember, you cannot plan once the emergency |
| | | | happens; you need to do your planning ahead |
| Familiarize yourself with local conditions | | | | of time. |