A SAFE TRIP ABROAD
U.S. Department of State PUBLICATION 10942
Bureau of Consular Affairs
March 2002

Part 4

ASSISTANCE ABROAD

If you plan to stay more than two weeks in one place, if you are in an area experiencing civil unrest or a natural disaster, or, if you are planning travel to a remote area, it is advisable to register at the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. This will make it easier if someone at home needs to locate you urgently or in the unlikely event that you need to be evacuated in an emergency. It will also facilitate the issuance of a new passport should yours be lost or stolen.

The Consular Section can provide updated information on the security situation in a country.

If you are ill or injured, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a list of local physicians and medical facilities. If the illness is serious, consular officers can help you find medical assistance from this list and, at your request, will inform your family or friends. If necessary, a consul can assist in the transfer of funds from family or friends in the United States. Payment of hospital and other medical expenses is your responsibility.

If you run out of money overseas and have no other options, consular officers can help you get in touch with your family, friends, bank or employer and inform them how to wire funds to you.

Should you find yourself in legal difficulty, contact a consular officer immediately. Consular officers cannot serve as attorneys, give legal advice, or get you out of jail. What they can do is provide a list of local attorneys who speak English and who may have had experience in representing U.S. citizens. If you are arrested, consular officials will visit you, advise you of your rights under local laws and ensure that you are held under humane conditions and are treated fairly under local law. A consular officer will contact your family or friends if you desire. When necessary, consuls can transfer money from home for you and will try to get relief for you, including food and clothing in countries where this is a problem. If you are detained, remember that under international treaties and customary international law, you have the right to talk to the U.S. consul. If you are denied this right, be persistent. Try to have someone get in touch for you.

Planning Another Trip?

The following pamphlets published by the Bureau of Consular Affairs can be found on our web site at http://travel.state.gov. Copies may also be ordered from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; tel: (202) 512-1800; fax: (202) 512-2250. If ordered from the GPO, prices and availability are subject to change without notice. Please check with the Government Printing Office for more information.

Your Trip Abroad
Tips for Americans Residing Abroad
Travel Tips for Older Americans

Country specific information can be found in the following publications:

Tips for Travelers to Canada
Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean
Tips for Travelers to Central & South America
Tips for Travelers to the People's Republic of China
Tips for Travelers to Mexico
Tips for Travelers to the Middle East & North Africa
Tips for Travelers to Russia
Tips for Travelers to South Asia