Be Prepared to Be Overseas

Posted by Sean at Goinglobal on September 22, 2011

Traveling outside your home country for extended periods of time (30 days or more) should motivate you to think about potentially troubles you could encounter while overseas. It certainly isn’t practical to think about how your trip could “go wrong” but the tips below can prevent headaches (and possibly injury) during your trip.

Have Cash on Hand

It used to be more difficult to access your bank accounts while overseas but the previous inconvenience has been replaced by a greater dependance on debit cards and cash access points and automated bank tellers. Travelers and expatriates can now use their bank and credit cards throughout the world, as long as service fees don’t become an issue (and they can add up). However, if you happen to lose your card because of accident or theft or if your card is “eaten” by an automated bank teller it could be several days plus expensive shipping fees to have it replaced. Below are examples of services that can make it easier to travel with more accessible cash resources:

Moneygram – https://www.moneygram.com – sending money around the world with pick up locations at both banks and, depending on the country, post offices. This option requires you to have an emergency contact in your home country to arrange for the transfer. There are also prepaid cards available that enable a holder to use them where Visa debit cards are accepted.
Travelex – http://www.travelex.com – offers a cash passport in the form of a rechargeable debit card. This service offers coverage in multiple regions of the globe. You can check the availability of their services on their website.
Western Union – has an option to send international money transfers but it requires an account sign up and there is a dedicated site for individuals who wish to send money overseas at http://onlinefx.westernunion.com/. There are short-term cash transfer options but the most cost effective is a wire transfer, which takes 1-2 days.

Some credit cards may offer emergency cash transfers but travelers should check on the interest rate and any associated fees that are applicable if the emergency service is used. As with any of the services mentioned above, travelers should conduct additional research before selecting solutions that best meet their needs and traveling conditions.

Have an ID backup plan

Replacing a lost ID (residence card, passport, etc.) becomes a lot harder when you can’t show the authorities that you had the document in your possession prior to its loss or theft. This can be particularly important in any locations that have a threat of street crime or higher potential for burglary.

Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport’s information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen. You can augment this by storing a scanned copy of your ID in an online storage location that offers file and access encryption.

Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver’s license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other in a place separate from where you carry the originals. If you will be traveling on your own, you might consider using a mail storage and forwarding service to hold the package of copies. In the event the copies are needed, you can notify the service to send the stored package to a destination of your choice.

Stay Informed

OSAC – A primary goal of OSAC is to develop an effective security communication network in overseas locations. Consequently, OSAC invited all U.S. businesses, academia, faith-based groups, and non-governmental organizations to become constituents. Travelers can sign up to receive a newsletter with region-specific information at no cost.

‘Before you start your travels, learn as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit. Good resources include your library, your travel agent, and the embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus of the countries you will visit. In addition, keep track of what is being reported in the media about recent developments in those countries.’ (Source: US Department of State – “A Safe Trip Abroad“)

Find Country-Specific travel advice

Many countries publish travel guidance and updates about conditions in countries around the world. Below are some examples of government travel information sites:

USA – http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
Canada – http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp
UK – http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/
Australia – http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
South Africa – http://www.dfa.gov.za/consular/travel_advice.htm

Additional information can be found in our Country Profiles section.

Going Global provides both country-specific and USA city-specific career and employment information that includes resources such as embassy and consulate listings, work permit and visa information, expatriate networking groups, and local news and information sites.