Before you head out of the country on your next great vacation, you should take time to register your overseas trip with the U.S. State Department.
Why? There is so much unrest going on in the world as well as hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. When you’re in a foreign land, it’s comforting to know that you can be reached in case of an emergency or if something is happening back home and your family is trying to reach you.
By registering your overseas trip with the U.S. State Department, you will also receive important information on the country that you are going to. If something were to happen there, you can make an educated decision on what you should do next with your travels.
To register your trip, first go to the U.S. Passports & International Travel’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) website at step.state.gov. You can sign up even if you aren’t traveling right now. You can monitor safety conditions for specific destination(s) and you will get email alerts.
Once you book your flight and hotel, you can provide all of the information on your trip – including your name, date of birth, passport number, travel dates, email addresses and phone numbers, and an emergency contact on the site. The State Department can then contact you in case of an emergency, such as a terrorist attack, a family emergency, or a natural disaster.
Registering with the State Department can also help you if you should you misplace your passport or in case it is stolen. If this happens to you, you should find the nearest US embassy or consulate and report it and file a police report. Try to find a place to take a new passport photo and bring the photo and your identification (remember the email) to the embassy or consulate.
You can sign up for the U.S. Passports & International Travel’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov. It makes sense and takes one more worry off your mind while you are traveling. If you are unsure about the program or have any other questions about the place you are traveling to, talk to your travel agent.
Travel Makers MD