STEP Program
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
The STEP Program is a FREE service for U.S. citizens and nationals traveling or living abroad. Once you enter the locations and dates of your trips, the State Department now has you on speed dial in the event of any emergency! The embassies and consulates in your destination can assist with legal, medical, or financial difficulties. They can provide the names of attorneys and doctors and provide loans to destitute Americans. Consular officers also perform non-emergency services, like helping Americans with absentee voting, selective service registration, receiving federal benefits, and filing U.S. tax forms. Consular officers can notarize documents, issue passports, and register American children born abroad.
In addition to being able to contact the government, this makes it easier for the government to notify you and provide information about dangerous conditions affecting your overseas travel or residence back home. For instance, if something were to happen and your family could not locate you, the government is in a much better position to do so. In my own experience, I traveled to Colombia with plans to go to Bogotá. STEP alerted me that there were a lot of political protests and unrest in Bogotá and advised against going. They’re even pretty straightforward on letting you know where their access is limited for whatever reasons and may not be able to get to you in the event of an emergency. Below, is that actual message.
“The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens as U.S. government-personnel travel to these areas is severely restricted due to security concerns.”
STEP Notification
There are limits to what the government can do on foreign soil, the STEP alerts adequately forewarn you of that as well. If it is within their power, this puts you in the best position possible to receive any assistance you may need. Free service that can help you in emergencies. Why not? You can also subscribe to receive email updates with travel advisories and other information for a particular country. Register your next trip here: Smart Traveller Enrollment Program.
If you’re just beginning to plan your trip, here is a good place to help you decide on a location. The state department summarizes everything you need to know for an extra level of security abroad; travel advisory levels, entry/ exit requirements, etc. Just type in your destination name and get going. That’s smart traveling!
