You should do your homework before you go to a foreign country. Readily available are embassy and consulate information along with web sites for your holiday country. In most sites, there will also be forums with local residents and tourists providing current information and available to answer your questions.
A closer look at security. The Department of State's Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world. They describe entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political disturbances, areas of instability, and special information about driving and road conditions. Also provided here are addresses and emergency telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates. Generally, this would mean that the Sheets do not give advice. Instead, they describe conditions so travelers can make informed decisions about their trips.
However, the Department of State recommends that Americans defer travel to a country in some dangerous situations. In such a case, a Travel Warning is issued for the country in addition to its Consular Information Sheet.
There are also public announcements which are a means to disseminate information about relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. They are issued when there is a perceived threat, even if it does not involve Americans as a particular target group. Public announcements in the past have been issued to deal with short-term coups, pre-election disturbances, and violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.
You can access Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements 24-hours a day in several ways.
Internet
When it comes to travel and consular services, the most convenient source of information is the Consular Affairs home page. In fact, travel.state.gov is the website address. In case you have no access to the Internet at home, school, or work, then your local library may provide access to the Internet.
By Mail/In Person
When it comes to Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, these are available at any of the regional passport agencies and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, or, by writing and sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Office of American Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC.
What about local laws and customs? When you leave the United States, you are subject to the laws of the country where you are. Before you go, learning as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit is very important. Good resources are your library, your travel agent, and the embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus of the countries you will visit. Keeping track of what is being reported in the media about recent developments in those countries is another thing you would need to do.
A closer look at security. The Department of State's Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world. They describe entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political disturbances, areas of instability, and special information about driving and road conditions. Also provided here are addresses and emergency telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates. Generally, this would mean that the Sheets do not give advice. Instead, they describe conditions so travelers can make informed decisions about their trips.
However, the Department of State recommends that Americans defer travel to a country in some dangerous situations. In such a case, a Travel Warning is issued for the country in addition to its Consular Information Sheet.
There are also public announcements which are a means to disseminate information about relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. They are issued when there is a perceived threat, even if it does not involve Americans as a particular target group. Public announcements in the past have been issued to deal with short-term coups, pre-election disturbances, and violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.
You can access Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements 24-hours a day in several ways.
Internet
When it comes to travel and consular services, the most convenient source of information is the Consular Affairs home page. In fact, travel.state.gov is the website address. In case you have no access to the Internet at home, school, or work, then your local library may provide access to the Internet.
By Mail/In Person
When it comes to Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, these are available at any of the regional passport agencies and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, or, by writing and sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Office of American Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC.
What about local laws and customs? When you leave the United States, you are subject to the laws of the country where you are. Before you go, learning as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit is very important. Good resources are your library, your travel agent, and the embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus of the countries you will visit. Keeping track of what is being reported in the media about recent developments in those countries is another thing you would need to do.
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