Travel Tips and Resources
Now about that Passport!
It is important to have a passport if you plan to travel to a different countries so that you will be able to prove who you are and where you are from. Travel security measures have increased it is almost impossible to travel without a passport.
​
If you need to apply for a passport or renew your passport start here:
​
Travel.State.Gov
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
​
​
​
Getting through Customs and Immigration
There a many options to help this process go smoothly and quickly.
​
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
​
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
​
Another option is CLEAR - The first security checkpoint at the airport involves standing in line to get your boarding pass and ID scanned by a TSA agent. With CLEAR, you'll skip this part, have your own lane, and be escorted directly to the physical screening.
​
Travel Advisories
Do you check travel advisories?
​
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
​
As a first step in planning any trip abroad, check the Travel Advisories for your intended destination. You can see the world at a glance on our color-coded map.
Note that conditions can change rapidly in a country at any time. To receive updated Travel Advisories and Alerts, choose the method that works best for you at travel.state.gov/stayingconnected
For more details and FAQs about our safety and security information, please see travel.state.gov/travelsafely.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
​
What is STEP?Benefits of Enrolling in STEP
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.
Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.
​
TSA Permitted and Prohibited Items
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
​
What Can I Bring?
Planning ahead and packing properly can facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport. Know what you can pack in your carry-on and checked baggage before arriving at the airport by reviewing the lists below. Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. Read about civil penalties for prohibited items.
Currency Converter
https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
​
A money converter is a simple tool that helps people in different situations – when they are planning a trip outside of the national borders, when they are importing or exporting goods internationally or when they use forex markets. This is certainly the time when you need accurate and up-to-date information about exchange rates. This is very important because a faulty or imprecise info can lead to loss of profit or wasting money. Although there are several ways in which you can avoid situations like that, most people today use money converters.
​