Links to several of the U.S. Government's Web sites are listed
below.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 10942
Bureau of Consular Affairs
March 2002
Have a
Safe Trip Abroad
Foreword
When you travel abroad, the odds are in
your favor that you will have a safe and
incident-free trip. However, crime and
violence, as well as unexpected
difficulties, do happen to U.S. citizens
in all parts of the world. No one is
better able to tell you this than the
U.S. consular officers who work in more
than 250 U.S. embassies and consulates
around the globe. Every day of the year,
U.S. embassies and consulates receive
calls from American citizens in
distress.
Happily, most problems can be solved
over the telephone or by a visit of the
U.S. citizen to the Consular Section of
the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
But, there are less fortunate occasions
when U.S. diplomats are called on to
meet U.S. citizens at foreign police
stations, hospitals, prisons and even at
morgues. In these cases, the assistance
that diplomats can offer is specific but
limited.
In the hope of helping you avoid serious
difficulties during your abroad, we have
prepared the following travel tips.
Thank you for taking the time to become
an informed traveler. We wish you a safe
and wonderful journey!
U.S. Department of State |
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Planning Before You Go
Packing: What to Bring?
Dress Conservatively
●
Safety begins when you pack. To avoid
being a target, dress conservatively.
●
Don't wear expensive looking jewelry. A
flashy wardrobe or one that is too
casual can mark you as a tourist. As much as
possible, avoid the appearance of
affluence.
Travel Light
●
Always try to travel light. You can move
more quickly and will be more likely to
have a free hand. You will also be less
tired and less likely to set your
luggage down, leaving it unattended.
Your Valuables
● Carry the minimum amount of valuables
necessary for your trip and plan a place
or places to conceal them. Your
passport, cash and credit cards are most
secure when locked in a hotel safe. When
you have to carry them on your person,
you may wish to conceal them in several
places rather than putting them all in
one wallet or pouch.
Money Belt
●
Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside
pockets that are easy targets for
thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy
shoulder bag with the strap worn across
your chest are somewhat safer. One of
the safest places to carry valuables is
in a pouch or money belt worn under your
clothing.
Eye Glasses
●
If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair.
Bring them and any medicines you need in
your carry-on luggage.
Your Medicine
●
To avoid problems when passing through
customs, keep medicines in their
original, labeled containers. Bring
copies of your prescriptions and the
generic names for the drugs. If a
medication is unusual or contains
narcotics, carry a letter from your
doctor attesting to your need to take
the drug. If you have any doubt about
the legality of carrying a certain drug
into a country, consult the embassy or
consulate of that country first.
Travel Checks – Credit Cards
●
Bring travelers checks and one or two
major credit cards instead of cash.
Your Passport
● Pack an extra set of passport photos
along with a photocopy of your passport
information page to make replacement of
your passport easier in the event it is
lost or stolen.
Your Luggage
●
Put your name, address and telephone
numbers inside and outside of each piece
of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to
avoid casual observation of your
identity or nationality. If possible,
lock your luggage.
Telephone Card
●
Consider getting a telephone calling
card. It is a convenient way of keeping
in touch. If you have one, verify that
you can use it from your overseas location(s). Access numbers to U.S.
operators are published in many
international newspapers. Find out your
access number before you go.
What To Leave Behind
●
Don't bring anything you would hate to
lose. Leave at home:
●
Valuable or expensive-looking
jewelry,
●
Irreplaceable family objects,
●
All
unnecessary credit cards,
● Social
Security card, library cards, and
similar items you may routinely
carry in your wallet.
Your Itinerary
●
Leave a copy of your itinerary with
family or friends at home in case they
need to contact you in an emergency.
A Few Things To Bring AND … Things To
Leave Behind
Make Photocopies
●
Make two photocopies of your passport
identification page, airline tickets,
driver's license and the credit cards
that you plan to bring with you. Leave
one photocopy of this data with family
or friends at home; pack the other in a
place separate from where you carry your
valuables.
Travel Checks
●
Leave a copy of the serial numbers of
your travelers' checks with a friend or
relative at home. Carry your copy with
you in a separate place and, as you cash
the checks, cross them off the list. |
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Security
In Other Countries
What To LEARN About
Before You Go!
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. They
also provide addresses and emergency
telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and
consulates. In general, the Sheets do
not give advice. Instead, they describe
conditions so travelers can make
informed decisions about their trips.
Warning: In some dangerous
situations, however, the Department of
State recommends that Americans defer
travel to a country. In such a case, a
Travel Warning is issued for the
country in addition to its Consular
Information Sheet.
Public Announcements 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. In the past,
Public Announcements have been issued to
deal with short-term coups, pre-election
disturbances, 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
●
The most convenient source of
information about travel and consular
services is
the Consular Affairs home page
The web site address is http://travel.state.gov.
If you do not have access to the
Internet at home, work or school, your
local library may provide access to the
Internet.
Telephone
●
The Overseas Citizens Services at
1-888-407-4747 can answer general
inquiries on safety and security
overseas. This number is available from
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday (except U.S.
federal holidays). Callers who are
unable to use toll-free numbers, such as
those calling from overseas, may obtain
information and assistance during these
hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
By Mail/In Person
●
Consular Information Sheets, Travel
Warnings and Public Announcements 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 20520.
Local Laws and Customs
●
When you leave the United States, you
are subject to the laws of the country
where you are. Therefore, before you go,
learn as much as you can about the local
laws and customs of the places you plan
to visit. Good resources are your
library, your travel agent, and the
embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus
of the countries you will visit. In
addition, keep track of what is being
reported in the media about recent
developments in those countries.
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Things To Arrange Before You Go
Your Itinerary
Hotels
●
As much as possible, plan to stay in
larger hotels that have more elaborate
security. Safety experts recommend
booking a room from the second to
seventh floors above ground level to
deter easy entrance from outside, but
low enough for fire equipment to reach.
Your Flight
●
Because take-off and landing are the
most dangerous times of a flight, book
non-stop flights when possible. When
there is a choice of airport or airline,
ask your travel agent about comparative
safety records.
Your Affairs
●
Legal Documents. Have your
affairs at home in order. If you leave a
current will, insurance documents, and
power of attorney with your family or a
friend, you can feel secure about
traveling and will be prepared for any
emergency that may arise while you are
away. If you have minor children,
consider making guardianship
arrangements for them.
Your Credit
●
Credit. Make a note of the credit
limit on each credit card that you
bring. Make certain not to charge over
that amount on your trip. In some
countries, Americans have been arrested
for innocently exceeding their credit
limit. Ask your credit card company how
to report the loss of your card from
abroad. 800 numbers do not work from
abroad, but your company should have a
number that you can call while you are
overseas.
Insurance
● Find out if your personal property
insurance covers you for loss or theft
abroad. More importantly, check on
whether your health insurance covers you
abroad. Medicare and Medicaid do not
provide payment for medical care outside
the U.S. Even if your health insurance
will reimburse you for medical care that
you pay for abroad, normal health
insurance does not pay for medical
evacuation from a remote area or from a
country where medical facilities are
inadequate. Consider purchasing one of
the short-term health and emergency
assistance policies designed for
travelers. Also, make sure that the plan
you purchase includes medical evacuation
in the event of an accident or serious
illness.
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Precaution
To Take While Traveling
Safety On The Street
●
Use the same common sense traveling
overseas that you would at home. Be
especially cautious in or avoid areas
where you are likely to be victimized.
These include crowded subways, train
stations, elevators, tourist sites,
market places, festivals and marginal
areas of cities.
●
Don't use short cuts, narrow alleys or
poorly-lit streets. Try not to travel
alone at night.
●
Avoid public demonstrations and other
civil disturbances.
●
Keep a low profile and avoid loud
conversations or arguments. Do not
discuss travel plans or other personal
matters with strangers.
●
Avoid scam artists. Beware of strangers
who approach you, offering bargains or
to be your guide.
●
Beware of pickpockets. They often have
an accomplice who will:
●
Jostle
you,
●
Ask
you for directions or the time,
●
Point
to something spilled on your
clothing,
● Or
distract you by creating a
disturbance.
●
A child or even a woman carrying a baby
can be a pickpocket. Beware of groups of
vagrant children who create a
distraction while picking your pocket.
●
Wear the shoulder strap of your bag
across your chest and walk with the bag
away from the curb to avoid drive-by
purse-snatchers.
●
Try to seem purposeful when you move
about. Even if you are lost, act as if
you know where you are going. When
possible, ask directions only from
individuals in authority.
●
Know how to use a pay telephone and have
the proper change or token on hand.
●
Learn a few phrases in the local
language so you can signal your need for
help, the police, or a doctor. Make a
note of emergency telephone numbers you
may need: police, fire, your hotel, and
the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
●
If you are confronted, don't fight back.
Give up your valuables. Your money and
passport can be replaced, but you
cannot. |
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Safety In
Your Hotel
●
Keep your hotel door locked at all
times. Meet visitors in the lobby.
●
Do not leave money and other valuables
in your hotel room while you are out.
Use the hotel safe.
●
Let someone know when you expect to
return if you are out late at night.
●
If you are alone, do not get on an
elevator if there is a
suspicious-looking person inside.
●
Read the fire safety instructions in
your hotel room. Know how to report a
fire. Be sure you know where the nearest
fire exit and alternate exits are
located. Count the doors between your
room and the nearest exit. This could be
a life saver if you have to crawl
through a smoke-filled corridor.
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Safety On
Public Transportation
●
If a country has a pattern of tourists
being targeted by criminals on public
transport, that information is mentioned
in the Consular Information Sheets under
the "Crime Information" section.
●
Taxis. Only take taxis clearly
identified with official markings.
Beware of unmarked cabs.
●
Trains. Well organized,
systematic robbery of passengers on
trains along popular tourists routes is
a serious problem. It is more common at
night and especially on overnight
trains.
●
If you see your way being blocked by a
stranger and another person is very
close to you from behind, move away.
This can happen in the corridor of the
train or on the platform or station.
●
Do not accept food or drink from
strangers. Criminals have been known to
drug food or drink offered to
passengers. Criminals may also spray
sleeping gas in train compartments.
●
Where possible, lock your compartment.
If it cannot be locked securely, take
turns sleeping in shifts with your
traveling companions. If that is not
possible, stay awake. If you must sleep
unprotected, tie down your luggage,
strap your valuables to you and sleep on
top of them as much as possible.
●
Do not be afraid to alert authorities if
you feel threatened in any way. Extra
police are often assigned to ride trains
on routes where crime is a serious
problem.
●
Buses. The same type of criminal
activity found on trains can be found on
public buses on popular tourist routes.
For example, tourists have been drugged
and robbed while sleeping on buses or in
bus stations. In some countries whole
bus loads of passengers have been held
up and robbed by gangs of bandits.
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Safety
When You Drive
When you rent a car, don't go for the
exotic; choose a type commonly available
locally. Where possible, ask that
markings that identify it as a rental
car be removed. Make certain it is in
good repair. If available, choose a car
with universal door locks and power
windows, features that give the driver
better control of access to the car. An
air conditioner, when available, is also
a safety feature, allowing you to drive
with windows closed. Thieves can and do
snatch purses through open windows of
moving cars.
●
Keep car doors locked at all times. Wear
seat belts.
●
As much as possible, avoid driving at
night.
●
Don't leave valuables in the car. If you
must carry things with you, keep them
out of sight locked in the trunk.
●
Don't park your car on the street
overnight. If the hotel or municipality
does not have a parking garage or other
secure area, select a well-lit area.
●
Never pick up hitchhikers.
●
Don't get out of the car if there are
suspicious looking individuals nearby.
Drive away. |
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Patterns
Of Crime Against Motorist
●
In many places frequented by tourists,
including areas of southern Europe,
victimization of motorists has been
refined to an art. Where it is a
problem, U.S. embassies are aware of it
and consular officers try to work with
local authorities to warn the public
about the dangers. In some locations,
these efforts at public awareness have
paid off, reducing the frequency of
incidents. You may also wish to ask your
rental car agency for advice on avoiding
robbery while visiting tourist
destinations.
●
Carjackers and thieves operate at gas
stations, parking lots, in city traffic
and along the highway. Be suspicious of
anyone who hails you or tries to get
your attention when you are in or near
your car.
●
Criminals use ingenious ploys. They may
pose as good Samaritans, offering help
for tires that they claim are flat or
that they have made flat. Or they may
flag down a motorist, ask for
assistance, and then steal the rescuer's
luggage or car. Usually they work in
groups, one person carrying on the
pretense while the others rob you.
●
Other criminals get your attention with
abuse, either trying to drive you off
the road, or causing an "accident" by
rear-ending you or creating a "fender
bender."
●
In some urban areas, thieves don't waste
time on ploys, they simply smash car
windows at traffic lights, grab your
valuables or your car and get away. In
cities around the world, "defensive
driving" has come to mean more than
avoiding auto accidents; it means
keeping an eye out for potentially
criminal pedestrians, cyclists and
scooter riders. |
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How To
Handle Money Safely
●
To avoid carrying large amounts of cash,
change your travelers' checks only as
you need currency. Countersign
travelers' checks only in front of the
person who will cash them.
●
Do not flash large amounts of money when
paying a bill. Make sure your credit
card is returned to you after each
transaction.
●
Deal only with authorized agents when
you exchange money, buy airline tickets
or purchase souvenirs. Do not change
money on the black market.
●
If your possessions are lost or stolen,
report the loss immediately to the local
police. Keep a copy of the police report
for insurance claims and as an
explanation of your plight. After
reporting missing items to the police,
report the loss or theft of:
●
Travelers' checks to the nearest
agent of the issuing company,
●
Credit
cards to the issuing company,
●
Airline tickets to the airline or
travel agent,
●
Passport to the nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate.
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How To
Avoid Legal Difficulties
When you are in a foreign country, you
are subject to its laws and are under
its jurisdiction NOT the
protection of the U.S. Constitution.
●
You can be arrested overseas for actions
that may be either legal or considered
minor infractions in the United States.
Be aware of what is considered criminal
in the country where you are. Consular
Information Sheets include information
on unusual patterns of arrests in
various countries when appropriate.
●
Some of the offenses for which U.S.
citizens have been arrested abroad are:
●
Drug Violations. More than 1/3 of
U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad are
held on drug charges. Some countries do
not distinguish between possession and
trafficking. Many countries have
mandatory sentences - even for
possession of a small amount of
marijuana or cocaine. A number of
Americans have been arrested for
possessing prescription drugs,
particularly tranquilizers and
amphetamines, that they purchased
legally in certain Asian countries and
then brought to some countries in the
Middle East where they are illegal.
Other U.S. citizens have been arrested
for purchasing prescription drugs abroad
in quantities that local authorities
suspected were for commercial use. If in
doubt about foreign drug laws, ask local
authorities or the nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate.
●
Possession of Firearms. The
places where U.S. citizens most often
come into difficulties for illegal
possession of firearms are nearby -
Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.
Sentences for possession of firearms in
Mexico can be up to 30 years. In
general, firearms, even those legally
registered in the U.S., cannot be
brought into a country unless a permit
is first obtained from the embassy or a
consulate of that country and the
firearm is registered with foreign
authorities on arrival. (Note: If you
take firearms or ammunition to another
country, you cannot bring them back into
the U.S. unless you register them with
U.S. Customs before you leave the U.S.)
●
Photography. In many countries
you can be harassed or detained for
photographing such things as police and
military installations, government
buildings, border areas and
transportation facilities. If you are in
doubt, ask permission before taking
photographs.
●
Purchasing Antiques. Americans
have been arrested for purchasing
souvenirs that were, or looked like,
antiques and which local customs
authorities believed were national
treasures. This is especially true in
Turkey, Egypt and Mexico. In countries
where antiques are important, document
your purchases as reproductions if that
is the case, or if they are authentic,
secure the necessary export permit
(usually from the national museum.)
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Terrorism
●
Terrorist acts occur at random and
unpredictably, making it impossible to
protect yourself absolutely. The first
and best protection is to avoid travel
to unsafe areas where there has been a
persistent record of terrorist attacks
or kidnapping. The vast majority of
foreign states have good records of
maintaining public order and protecting
residents and visitors within their
borders from terrorism.
●
Most terrorist attacks are the result of
long and careful planning. Just as a car
thief will first be attracted to an
unlocked car with the key in the
ignition, terrorists are looking for
defenseless, easily accessible targets
who follow predictable patterns. The
chances that a tourist, traveling with
an unpublished program or itinerary,
would be the victim of terrorism are
slight. In addition, many terrorist
groups, seeking publicity for political
causes within their own country or
region, may not be looking for American
targets.
●
Nevertheless, the following pointers may
help you avoid becoming a target of
opportunity. They should be considered
as adjuncts to the tips listed in the
previous sections on how to protect
yourself against the far greater
likelihood of being a victim of crime.
These precautions may provide some
degree of protection, and can serve as
practical and psychological deterrents
to would-be terrorists.
●
Schedule direct flights if possible and
avoid stops in high-risk airports or
areas. Consider other options for
travel, such as trains.
●
Be
aware of what you discuss with
strangers or what may be overheard
by others.
●
Try to
minimize the time spent in the
public area of an airport, which is
a less protected area. Move quickly
from the check-in counter to the
secured areas. On arrival, leave the
airport as soon as possible.
●
As
much as possible, avoid luggage
tags, dress and behavior that may
identify you as an American.
●
Keep
an eye out for suspicious abandoned
packages or briefcases. Report them
to airport security or other
authorities and leave the area
promptly.
●
Avoid
obvious terrorist targets such as
places where Americans and
Westerners are known to congregate. |
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Travel To
High Risk Areas
●
If you must travel in an area where
there has been a history of terrorist
attacks or kidnapping, make it a habit
to:
●
Discuss with your family what they would
do in the event of an emergency. Make
sure your affairs are in order before
leaving home.
●
Register with the nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate through the State
Department's
travel registration website
Registration will make your presence and
whereabouts known in case it is
necessary to contact you in an
emergency.
In
accordance with the Privacy Act,
information on your welfare or
whereabouts may not be released without
your expressed written authorizations.
Registration through the website is not
considered proof of citizenship.
Remember to leave a detailed itinerary
and the numbers or copies of your
passport or other citizenship documents
with a friend or relative in the United
States.
●
Remain
friendly but be cautious about
discussing personal matters, your
itinerary or program.
●
Leave
no personal or business papers in
your hotel room.
●
Watch
for people following you or
"loiterers" observing your comings
and goings.
●
Keep a
mental note of safehavens, such as
police stations, hotels, hospitals.
●
Let
someone else know what your travel
plans are. Keep them informed if you
change your plans.
●
Avoid
predictable times and routes of
travel and report any suspicious
activity to local police, and the
nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
●
Select
your own taxi cabs at random. Don't
take a vehicle that is not clearly
identified as a taxi. Compare the
face of the driver with the one
posted on his or her license.
●
If
possible, travel with others.
●
Be
sure of the identity of visitors
before opening the door of your
hotel room. Don't meet strangers at
unknown or remote locations.
●
Refuse
unexpected packages.
●
Formulate a plan of action for what
you will do if a bomb explodes or
there is gunfire nearby.
●
Check
for loose wires or other suspicious
activity around your car.
●
Be
sure your vehicle is in good
operating condition in case you need
to resort to high-speed or evasive
driving.
●
Drive
with car windows closed in crowded
streets. Bombs can be thrown through
open windows.
●
If you
are ever in a situation where
somebody starts shooting, drop to
the floor or get down as low as
possible. Don't move until you are
sure the danger has passed. Do not
attempt to help rescuers and do not
pick up a weapon. If possible,
shield yourself behind or under a
solid object. If you must move,
crawl on your stomach. |
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Hijacking/Hostage Situations
●
While every hostage situation is
different, some considerations are
important.
●
The U.S. government's policy is firm. We
will negotiate, but not make concessions
- to do so would only increase the risk
of further hostage-taking. When
Americans are abducted overseas, we look
to the host government to exercise its
responsibility under international law
to protect all persons within its
territories and to bring about the safe
release of hostages. We work closely
with these governments from the outset
of a hostage-taking incident to ensure
that our citizens and other innocent
victims are released as quickly and
safely as possible.
●
Normally, the most dangerous phases of a
hijacking or hostage situation are the
beginning and, if there is a rescue
attempt, the end. At the outset, the
terrorists typically are tense,
high-strung and may behave irrationally.
It is extremely important that you
remain calm and alert and manage your
own behavior.
●
Avoid resistance and sudden or
threatening movements. Do not struggle
or try to escape unless you are certain
of being successful.
●
Make a
concerted effort to relax. Prepare
yourself mentally, physically and
emotionally for the possibility of a
long ordeal.
●
Try to
remain inconspicuous, avoid direct
eye contact and the appearance of
observing your captors' actions.
●
Avoid
alcoholic beverages. Consume little
food and drink.
●
Consciously put yourself in a mode
of passive cooperation. Talk
normally. Do not complain, avoid
belligerency, and comply with all
orders and instructions.
●
If
questioned, keep your answers short.
Don't volunteer information or make
unnecessary overtures.
●
Don't
try to be a hero, endangering
yourself and others.
●
Maintain your sense of personal
dignity and gradually increase your
requests for personal comforts. Make
these requests in a reasonable
low-key manner.
●
If you
are involved in a lengthier,
drawn-out situation, try to
establish a rapport with your
captors, avoiding political
discussions or other confrontational
subjects.
●
Establish a daily program of mental
and physical activity. Don't be
afraid to ask for anything you need
or want - medicines, books, pencils,
papers.
●
Eat
what they give you, even if it does
not look or taste appetizing. A loss
of appetite and weight is normal.
●
Think
positively. Avoid a sense of
despair. Rely on your inner
resources. Remember that you are a
valuable commodity to your captors.
It is important to them to keep you
alive and well. |
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U.S.
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.
Help for American Crime Victims
- When a U.S. citizen becomes the victim
of a crime overseas he or she may suffer
physical, emotional, or financial
injuries. The emotional impact of the
crime may be intensified if the victim
is in unfamiliar surroundings, far away
from sources of comfort and support, and
not fluent in the local language or
knowledgeable about local laws and
customs. Consuls, consular agents, and
local employees can provide assistance
to U.S. citizen crime victims.
●
If you become the victim of a crime
overseas contact the nearest U.S.
embassy, consulate, or consular agency
for assistance. Also contact local
police to report the incident and obtain
immediate help with safety concerns.
●
Consular personnel overseas are familiar
with local government agencies and
resources in the country where they work
and they can help you with issues such
as:
●
Replacing a stolen passport;
●
Contacting family, friends, or
employers;
●
Obtaining appropriate medical care;
●
Addressing emergency needs that
arise as a result of the crime;
●
Obtaining general information about
the local criminal justice process
and information about your case;
●
Obtaining information about local
resources to assist victims,
including foreign crime victim
compensation programs;
●
Obtaining information about crime
victim assistance and compensation
programs in the U.S.; and
●
Obtaining a list of local attorneys
who speak English.
●
Consular officials cannot, however,
investigate a crime, provide legal
advice or represent you in court, serve
as official interpreters or translators,
or pay legal, medical, or other fees for
U.S. citizens. |
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Resources
For U.S. Citizens Crime Victims
Victim Assistance: If you
are the victim of a crime while overseas
you may benefit from specialized
resources for crime victims available in
the U.S. Throughout the United States
thousands of local crime victim
assistance programs offer help to
victims of violent crime and most will
help residents of their community who
have been the victim of a crime in
another country. These include rape
crisis counseling programs, shelter and
counseling programs for battered women,
support groups and bereavement
counseling for family members of
homicide victims, diagnostic and
treatment programs for child abuse
victims, assistance for victims of drunk
driving crashes, and others. Information
about locating crime victim assistance
programs is below.
Victim Compensation: All
states operate crime victim compensation
programs and nearly half of them offer
benefits to their residents who are
victims of violent crime overseas. (See
contact information for state
compensation programs below.) These
state compensation programs provide
financial assistance to eligible victims
for reimbursement of expenses such as
medical treatment, counseling, funeral
costs, lost income or loss of support,
and others. Generally victim
compensation programs require the victim
to report the crime to law enforcement
and they usually request a copy of the
police report.
Contact Information for Victim
Compensation and Assistance Programs:
●
Information about each state’s crime
victim compensation program and how to
apply for compensation is available on
the Internet at the web site of the
National Association of Crime Victim
Compensation Boards,
http://www.nacvcb.org
●
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a
week hotline for sexual assault crisis
counseling and referrals in the United
States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated
by a non-profit organization, RAINN
(Rape, Abuse and Incest National
Network), which also has information on
the Internet at
http://www.rainn.org
●
Information about local sexual assault
victim assistance programs in the U.S.
is also available from each state’s
sexual assault coalition.Contact
information for these state coalitions
are listed at the website of the U.S.
Department of Justice Violence Against
Women Office,
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
●
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a
week National Domestic Violence Hotline,
which provides crisis counseling and
referrals in the U.S., is
1-800-799-SAFE.
●
Information about local domestic
violence victim assistance programs in
the U.S. is also available from each
state’s domestic violence coalition.Contact information for these
state coalitions is listed at the
website of the U.S. Department of
Justice Violence Against Women Office,
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
●
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a
week crisis counseling and referral line
for families and friends of those who
have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC.
It is operated by a non-profit
organization, POMC, Inc., (The National
Organization of Parents of Murdered
Children) which also has information on
the Internet at
http://www.pomc.org
●
Information about national and local
resources for victims and family members
of victims of drunk driving crashes is
available at the web site of Mothers
Against Drunk Driving,
http://www.madd.org
●
Contact information for non-emergency
victim assistance services in
communities throughout the U.S. is
available at the web site of the U.S.
Department of Justice Office for Victims
of Crime,
http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/
●
Information for crime victims on the
impact of crime, safety planning, legal
rights and civil legal remedies, and
options for assistance and referrals to
local programs is also available from
the National Crime Victim Center (NCVC).
Call toll free (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
EST) 1-800-FYI-CALL or call TTY for
hearing impaired (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
EST) 1-800-211-7996. Information is also
available on the Internet at
http://www.ncvc.org
●
Information and referral to victim
assistance programs is available from
the National Organization for Victim
Assistance (NOVA). Call toll-free 24
hours a day /7 days a week
1-800-TRY-NOVA. Information is also
available on the Internet at
http://www.try-nova.org
●
Information about victim assistance
programs in approximately 20 countries
is available at the web site of Victim
Assistance On-line,
http://www.vaonline.org |
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