U.S Travel Information Government Citizens Alerts Applying Passport

The U.S. "Department of State" (the part of the U.S. government involved in international relations) "issues" (creates and shares) travel "advisories" (information and recommendations) for U.S. citizens who are considering traveling to other countries. It issues two types of travel advisories: Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings.

A "Travel Alert" is used to share information about short-term conditions that may "pose" (present) "risks" (things that may cause hurt, damage, or death if they happen) to U.S. citizens in the area. Travel Alerts might describe important conferences or sporting events, "demonstrations" (protests), elections, terrorist activity, and "natural disasters" (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, etc.). Right now, many of the Travel Alerts are about "swine flu" (H1N1) and the "quarantine measures" (efforts to separate sick people from healthy people) that some countries are "engaged" (involved) in.

A "Travel Warning" is used to share information about long-term conditions that make it dangerous for Americans to be in a country. Travel Warnings are used when the "embassy" or "consulate" (official government presence in another country) is closed or has limited staff. When this happens, U.S. citizens in that country will not receive very much assistance from the government if something bad happens to them.

The Department of State also offers country-specific information to help U.S. citizens learn more about the country they will be traveling to. This information includes the location of the U.S. sembassy or consulate, "visa requirements" (documents needed to enter a country), local health, and "vaccination" (injections to prevent diseases) recommendations, as well as information about local crime.