“I’m with the government and I’m here to help.”

While that phrase has been fodder for late night comedians and movie comedies, it is something that thousands of Americans each year are glad to hear as they travel abroad. Most international trips are without incident, but occasionally things happen where an American needs help.

The U.S. State Department, through its global network of embassies and consulates, provides emergency help to Americans in various ways.  These include assisting those who become ill, replacing lost passports, organizing evacuations in a regional crisis, helping crime victims, arranging legal help, and more. They can also relay information to family/friends in the States if something happens to you. The government handles 200,000 welfare and whereabouts inquiries each year for citizens traveling abroad.

It is important to keep in mind that while U.S. officials may help with various arrangements, the do not pay for them. So if you get sick they can help you find medical care or even arrange a medical evacuation, but you have to pay for it. This is one reason we recommend that our clients always take out travel insurance. A medical evacuation could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

If your passport is lost or stolen, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. If you are scheduled to leave the country shortly, be sure to provide the official with details of your departure schedule. Note that although embassies often have duty officers available on weekends and holidays, they may not be able to replace your passport until the office reopens for business. However, if you are scheduled to travel right away back to the U.S., they may be able to alert the airline and U.S. Immigration officials that you will be attempting to travel without a passport. So be sure to contact them even if it is the weekend.

As we discussed in our last blog post, it is important to register with the U.S. Embassy in the country where you are traveling and keep their contact numbers with you. You also should provide relatives at home with your travel contact information and the phone number for the Office of American Citizens Services, which is (202) 647-5225. If they can’t reach you otherwise, your family can call that number for assistance in case of an emergency.

Hopefully you will never need it, but if you do, then “I’m with the government and I’m here to help” may be music to your ears.

The recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti are reminders that unexpected turmoil can strike at any time—even if you are in the middle of a ministry trip. Natural disasters, political and social unrest, and other things can cause a disruption in communications or the need for emergency evacuation.

The U.S. Department of State offers U.S. citizens the opportunity to register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they are visiting. By making your whereabouts known to them, they can contact you in case of an emergency.

If there is a disaster or unrest, you may have limited access to vital information. Government officials can get information to you and even assist in evacuation if necessary.

While all citizens traveling abroad are encouraged to register, the government especially encourages registration for anyone staying in a country longer than a month. They also strongly encourage registering if you are going to a country that has experienced any kind of unrest, is undergoing a natural disaster, or is considered politically unstable.

Registration is simple and takes just a couple minutes from your computer. Go to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ where you can establish an account and then provide your trip information. You can also subscribe there to receive travel warnings.

In the event of an emergency, it is a good idea to stay in touch with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are traveling. Be sure to let them know if your location or contact information changes from what you originally registered. This means you should always carry with you the U.S. Embassy or Consulate contact information for the country you are visiting. It is also a good idea to leave those numbers, along with your itinerary, with a family or friend in the U.S.

If you are traveling to a country with no U.S. officials, you should register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in an adjacent country. You also will want to check with them to see if there is a third country that might represent U.S. interests where you are going. If so, that country’s officials may be able to provide some of the same services that U.S. officials provide.

You can get information about U.S. Embassies, travel warnings, tips and more at http://travel.state.gov.

The U.S. State Department, which issues passports for U.S. citizens, will have its regional passport offices open on Saturday, March 27 with no appointments needed.

The Department plans passport-themed events for children and adults at the passport agencies and at thousands of passport acceptance facilities around the country. You can visit one of the offices and apply for either routine or expedited processing.

Currently, routine processing is taking four to six weeks from the time application is made to the time the passport is issued. Expedited service, which costs $60 more, takes about two to three weeks.

If you need your passport quicker, Ministry Travel works with an expeditor who can secure a passport for you in as quickly as 24 hours. Click on the travel services tab on the MinistryTravel.com website for details.

It is important to note that passports are not the same as the new U.S. Passport Card. This wallet-sized travel document can be used to enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. It cannot be used for international air travel.

If you already have a passport, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Check the expiration date. Many travelers fail to do so, only to discover just before a trip that it is expired. No one wants the extra stress, anxiety and expense of trying to renew a passport when they are preparing to leave. Passports are valid for 10 years for an adult and five years for minors under age 16.
• Make sure your passport will be valid for at least six month after you start your trip. Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least this long or they can refuse entry.
• Locate your passport 3-4 weeks prior to your trip. We have heard many, many stories of travelers getting ready to leave for the airport and not able to find their passport.
• Cary a copy of your passport with you when you travel. In case your passport is lost or stolen, the copy can make it easier for you to get it replaced while abroad. If you are leading a team, you should keep a copy of each team member’s passport.
• Protect your passport while traveling. It is best to keep it on your person, either in a pocket or in a neck or waist “safe.” Only pull it out when necessary and then put it right back. Don’t leave it in a purse or backpack that can easily be stolen.
• Remember, a passport is not the same thing as a visa. In addition to a passport, some countries require a visa (written permission to enter the country) before they will let you enter. This usually must be applied for well in advance of your trip.
• Transit visas are needed by some nationalities if they are transferring between airports in certain countries.

For more information on U.S. passports, including how to apply for one, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport. For information on visas and other international travel related issues, visit http://travel.state.gov .

As we wrap up this series of blogs, “Lessons from the Haitian Missionaries,” here are some general tips to help you avoid nightmares like the Americans experienced in Haiti. Regardless of where you are traveling, take note of these four points:

1. Remember, you are not in Kansas anymore! Don’t make assumptions about local laws and restrictions abroad based on the way things are at home. Get the facts. The U.S. State Department’s website is a great starting place, but for updated and detailed questions you may need to contact the country’s U.S. embassy or consulate.
2. Check the laws just before leaving for your trip. Laws change. Don’t assume that just because it was okay to do last year, or last month, that it is still allowed now. Apparently with the Haiti situation, some laws changed just weeks before the Americans arrived.
3. Work with trusted, credible nationals who either have the expertise you need or who know those who do.
4. Learn from experienced organizations. A five minute phone call to an organization that does this all the time could save you days of grief.

You’re excited about your next trip and looking forward to a great ministry there. That’s wonderful—but don’t forget to do your homework first. There are a few well-meaning Americans who today wished they had.

Our last blog started a discussion on lessons we can learn from those American short-term missionaries who were arrested in Haiti. The incident raises the general issue of knowing the laws and regulations that might affect your planned ministry. We looked at children and money concerns in the last blog. Today we’ll look at medicine and some miscellaneous issues.

Medicine—Taking quantities of medicine into countries is common for ministry teams, especially for those teams doing medical missions. But doing this could get you into a lot of trouble if it’s not done the right way. This is true even if the medicine is an over-the counter drug. Know the laws. Work with physicians and others in the country who can advise you on the appropriate way to get in your supplies.

Printed materials–Some countries restrict or tax large quantities of imported printed items, even if the intent is not to sell the literature. Again, know the rules. Like money, this may be a situation where dividing it among the team members to carry may make it perfectly acceptable.

Sometimes just the fact that the materials were printed in another country becomes an issue. There was an organization in the U.S. that mailed literature to a large number of households in another country. The organization did it as an outreach. What they did was legal, but it made a lot of people in that country mad. It wasn’t the content of the material that got everyone upset, but where it was printed. You see, people resented that it was printed outside of their country. So in this case, the problem stemmed from a cultural issue not a legal one.

Driving–If you plan on driving an automobile in a foreign country, make sure you not only know the differences in the laws but also that you have the appropriate insurance. Many U.S. insurers will not cover their policy holders abroad. If they do, it may not be adequate coverage or you may have to pay out of pocket for an accident there before getting reimbursed at home.

Don’t assume that renting a car overseas is the same as renting a car at home. You might be accustomed to declining the insurance in the U.S. but find yourself needing it abroad. Also, be prepared to drive a standard transmission car as many international rental companies do not offer automatics.

We’ll wrap up this discussion in our next blog with four tips to keep the Haitian situation from happening to you.

By now you’ve probably heard all about of the group of American short-term missionaries who were arrested in Haiti. Rushing to the country in the wake of the devastating earthquake, the group said they were simply trying to save orphan lives. The government there disagreed, accusing them of something very sinister.

At this point it is not clear what the final outcome will be for all ten Americans. What is clear is that this incident should be a lesson to all short-term missionaries: Know and follow the laws of the country where you will be ministering.

As this situation illustrates, anytime you will be dealing with children you need to know not only what is legal but also what is culturally acceptable. This not only applies to child adoptions and transporting children, but even to something as simple as visiting an orphanage.

Awareness of the legalities of caring for children is the most obvious lesson we learn from Haiti, but it is also teaches us that there are various issues to consider when ministering internationally.

Money–Many countries require that you declare at customs if you are carrying any large sums of money, typically $10,000 or more. Some even require you to declare how much money you have when you depart the country. Failure to do so can result in fines and even imprisonment.

We know of one missionary who was carrying a large sum of money to give to a ministry in a particular country. He knew that if he declared it he could be hassled about it, and even “taxed” some of it, so he chose not to disclose it on the customs form. Officials discovered the money on him, however, which started a nightmare lasting for months. Not only did it cost him time and most of the money he was trying to bring in, but it also hurt his testimony and the reputation of the ministry in that country.

Besides the legal aspects of bringing in large sums of cash, there are also safety concerns. With global ATMs, bank transfers and such, there really is no need to be carrying in large sums of money. Now that is not to say that short-term teams do not need to carry money to cover their expenses when traveling in areas where cash is necessary. In those situations, the team leader would be wise to distribute the funds among the team members for carrying. One person with $12,000 may be an issue. Twelve people with $1,000 probably will not be an issue.

Just remember that the law trumps good intentions. Do your homework before the missions trip and save yourself some grief. We’ll continue this discussion with our next blog.