nycgirl1

I started to do this, only beause my travel companion brought it up, but even the "short visit" form is tedious and I got lazy when asked to input every single hotel stop and contact information.

Is this really necessary? I've never done this before for an international trip, and am only going to Germany/Austria so hopefully all is well during our stay.

thoughts?

StCirq

Nope, not even when I went to Morocco in November 2001, when it was just short of mandatory. I don't want anything more to do with bureaucrats and government forms than is absolutely essential, plus I have absolutely no faith in their ability to help me out any better than I could help myself.

jdraper

I have never heard of this so obviously have never done it either. What is the purpose? My family knows where I am and I assume Big Brother knows where I am if they want to find me as I show my passport leaving and arriving.

nycgirl1

From their website:
"Registration at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate (in the country you are visiting) makes your presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular officer to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, American consular officers can assist in evacuation were that to become necessary. But they cannot assist you if they do not know where you are.

Registration is particularly important for those who plan to stay in a country longer than one month, or who will travel to:
*A country that is experiencing civil unrest, has an unstable political climate, or is undergoing a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or a hurricane.
*A country where there are no U.S. officials. In such cases, you should register at the U.S. embassy or consulate in an adjacent country, leave an itinerary with the Consular Section, ask about conditions in the country that you will visit and ask about the third country that may represent U.S. interests there."

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/...tion_1186.html

nycgirl1

and I don't think I'm going to bother either. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being an idiot by not doing this!

christabir

I did when I went to Zimbabwe. The political situation there is scary, so I felt it necessary. Also in Botswana, as we had means of communication, just a 2-way radio at the camps. If anything happened, there would have been no way to contact anyone. I did the same when I went to Paris during the riots. What's the harm? I only see a positive side - especially with travelling on an American passport these days. Going to Paris and Croatia in April. I probably won't register then. No need.

risab

I never do this when we are going to Europe but I did it for the first time last summer when we went to Israel - low and behold we were there when the war started. Going back again this summer and we'll register again.

Clifton

I don't. Not in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and definitely not in western Europe or Australia or anyplace like that. We're not doing it for this upcoming Morocco trip either.

I mean, on the surface it sort of made sense. Until I asked myself how they'd know on a timely basis if I personally had been involved in a disaster in time to rush in and help. And honestly, I just don't see many cases where that seemed likely, versus getting immediate local assistance. Family knows where I should be if the very worst happens and can give that info to the gov't.