1. Security Awar
y
reness – Par V
s
rt
Millions of people travel abroad each year and use their passports. W
s
e
u
p
When you travel abr
road, the
odds a in your favor tha you willl have a safe and incident-fre trip. Ho
are
at
s
ee
owever, cri
ime and
violenc
ce, as w
well as un
nexpected difficultie
es, do befall trave
elers in all parts of the
world. Fortunate
ely, most problems can be solved ove the tele
s
er
ephone or by a visit to the
lar
n
aveler's ne
earest emb
bassy or consulate. But there are less fo
c
fortunate
Consul Section of the tra
occasio
ons when consular officers ar called on to mee travelers at foreig police s
re
o
et
s
gn
stations,
hospita prisons and even at morg ues. In the cases, the assis
als,
s
ese
stance that consular officers
r
can off is specific but limited.
fer
In the h
hope of he
elping you avoid unh appy meet
tings with consular o
officers when you go abroad;
we hav prepared the follow
ve
wing travell tips. Plea have a safe and secure tr abroad
ase
d
rip
d!
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
As much a possible avoid the appearan of afflu
as
e,
e
nce
uence.
Always try to travel light. If you do, you can move more quick and will be more likely to
y
l
u
c
kly
have a free hand.
Carry the minimum amount o valuable necessary for yo trip and plan a p
of
es
our
d
place or
places to c
conceal the
em.
Your pass
sport, cash and credit cards are most secure when llocked in a hotel safe When
t
e
e.
you have t carry them on you person, you may wish to con
to
ur
w
nceal them in severa places
m
al
rather than putting th
n
hem all in o wallet or pouch.
one
To avoid problems when pas
ssing throu
ugh customs, keep medicines in their original,
s
labeled co
ontainers. Bring a co
opy of you prescrip
ur
ptions and the gene names for the
d
eric
s
drugs. If a medicatio is unus
on
sual or contains narcotics, car a letter from you doctor
rry
r
ur
attesting t your ne
to
eed to tak the drug If you have any doubt abo the legality of
ke
g.
out
carrying a certain dr into a country, consult the embassy or consula of that country
rug
c
ate
first. Bring travelers checks and one or tw major credit cards instead of cash.
c
d
wo
c
s
o
Pack an extra set of passport p
photos along with a photocopy of your pa
p
assport info
ormation
page to make replac
cement of y
your passp easier in the eve it is lost or stolen.
port
ent
t
Put your n
name, add
dress and telephone numbers inside an outside of each piece of
e
s
nd
e
luggage. Use cover
red luggag tags to avoid ca
ge
o
asual obse
ervation of your ide
o
entity or
nationality and if pos
y
ssible, lock your luggage.
k
Don't b
bring anyth
hing you wo
ould hate t lose. Lea at hom
to
ave
me:



valuable o expensiv
or
ve-looking jjewelry,
irreplaceable family objects,
all unnece
essary cred cards.
dit
Leave a copy of y
your itinera with fa mily or frie
ary
ends at hom in case they need to contac you in
me
e
d
ct
By: Capt SB Tyagi, CO
B
OAS’CC*, FISM, CSC, CSP
P

2. an eme
ergency.


As much a possible plan to s
as
e,
stay in larger hotels th have m
hat
more elaborated secu
urity.
Because t
take-off an landing are the most dange
nd
m
erous time of a flig
es
ght, book n
non-stop
flights whe possible
en
e.
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

If you leave a current willl, insuranc docume
c
ce
ents, and p
power of attorney w your
a
with
family or a friend, you can feel secu about traveling a
n
ure
and will be prepared for any
e
d
gency that may arise while you are away.
emerg
If you have mino children, consider making guardianship arrangem
or
,
p
ments for th
hem.
Make a no of the credit limiit on each credit car that you bring. Make certain not to
ote
rd
u
charge ove that amount on yo trip.
er
our
Ask your c
credit card company how to rep the los of your c
port
ss
card from abroad.
a
Find out if your perso
onal prope insuran covers you for lo or theft abroad.
erty
nce
s
oss
More impo
ortantly, ch
heck if your health ins
r
surance co
overs you a
abroad.
Even if your health in
nsurance w reimburse you for medical c
will
care that you pay for abroad,
normal health insura
ance does not pay for medical evacuation from a re
e
n
emote area or from
a
a country w
where med
dical facilit
ties are ina
adequate.
Use th same c
he
common sense trav
s
veling overseas that you wou at hom Be es
t
uld
me.
specially
cautiou in or a
us
avoid area where y
as
you are li
ikely to be victimize These include c
e
ed.
e
crowded
subway train st
ys,
tations, ele
evators, to
ourist sites, market places, fest
p
tivals and marginal a
areas of
cities.





Don't use short cuts, narrow allleys or poo
,
orly-lit streets. Try no to travel alone at n
ot
night.
Avoid public demons
strations an other ci disturba
nd
ivil
ances.
Keep a lo profile and avoid loud conv
ow
versations or argum
ments. Do not discus travel
ss
plans or ot
ther personal matters with strangers.
s
Avoid scam artists. Beware o f strangers who app
s
proach you offering bargains or to be
u,
your guide
e.
Beware of pickpocke They o
f
ets.
often have an accomplice who w
will:


jostle you,
ask you fo direction s or the tim
or
me,
By: Capt SB Tyagi, CO
B
OAS’CC*, FISM, CSC, CSP
P

3. 
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





point to so
omething s
spilled on your clothin
y
ng,
distract yo by creat
ou
ting a distu
urbance.
A child or even a woman car
r
w
rrying a ba can be a pickp ocket. Bew
aby
b
ware of gr
roups of
vagrant ch
hildren who create a distraction while pick
o
n
king your p
pocket.
Wear the shoulder strap of you bag acr
s
ur
ross your chest and w
c
walk with the bag aw from
t
way
the curb t avoid drive-by pu
to
d
urse snatc
chers. Try to seem purposeful when yo move
ou
about. Eve if you are lost, ac as if you know whe you are going. When possi
en
a
ct
ere
e
W
ible, ask
directions only from individuals in authori
s
ity.
Know how to use a pay teleph
w
hone and have the proper chan
h
nge, calling card or t
g
token on
hand.
Learn a fe phrase in the lo
ew
es
ocal langu
uage so yo can sig
ou
gnal your need for h
n
help, the
police, or a doctor. Make a not of emerg
M
te
gency telephone num
mbers you may need police,
d:
fire, your h
hotel, and your neare embass or consu
y
est
sy
ulate.
If you are confronted don't figh back. Give up you valuables Your mo
d,
ht
ur
s.
oney and p
passport
can be rep
placed, but you cann ot.
t
Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visito in the llobby.
r
t
ors
Do not lea money and othe valuable in your hotel room while you are out. Use the
ave
y
er
es
h
m
u
hotel safe.
.
Let someo know when you e
one
w
expect to return if you are out la at nigh
r
ate
ht.
If you are alone, do not get on an elevato if there is a suspiciious-lookin person inside.
n
or
ng
Read the fire safety instruction in your hotel room Know h
y
ns
m.
how to rep
port a fire. Be sure
you know where the nearest fire-exit and alternate exits ar located. Count th doors
e
re
he
between y
your room and the n earest exit This cou be a lif
t.
uld
fe-saver if you have to crawl
through a smoke-fille corridor
ed
r.
If a co
ountry has a pattern of touris being targeted by crimina on pub transport, that
s
n
sts
b
als
blic
informa
ation is me
entioned in the US C
n
Consular In
nformation Sheets un
nder the "C
Crime Information"
section
n.


Only take tax clearly id
xis
dentified with official markings. Beware of unmarke cabs.
w
o
ed
o If yo see you way bei ng blocked by a stra
ou
ur
d
anger and a
another pe
erson is ve close
ery
to y from behind, mov away. This can happen in t corridor of the tra or on
you
ve
T
the
ain
the platform or station.
o
s
may
s
ping gas
o Do not accept food or d rink from strangers. Criminals m also spray sleep
in tr
rain compa
artments.
o Where possib lock yo compar
ble,
our
rtment. If it cannot be locked se
t
e
ecurely, ta turns
ake
eping in shifts with your traveling companions. I that is not possib
s
If
n
ble, stay
slee
awa
ake. If you must slee unprotec
ep
cted, tie do
own your lu
uggage, strap your va
aluables
to y and sle on top of them as much as possible.
you
eep
o Do not be afraid to aler authoritie if you fe threaten in any way. Extr police
rt
es
eel
ned
y
ra
are often assigned to rid trains on routes where crime is a serio problem
de
w
e
ous
m.
he
ype
minal activity found on trains ca be foun on publi buses
o
an
nd
ic
Th same ty of crim
By: Capt SB Tyagi, CO
B
OAS’CC*, FISM, CSC, CSP
P

4. on popular tourist routes.
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
Keep car d
doors locke at all tim
ed
mes. Wear seat belts
r
s.
As much a possible avoid driiving at nig
as
e,
ght.
Don't leave valuable in the ca If you must carry things with you, keep them out of sight
es
ar.
m
t
h
p
t
locked in t trunk.
the
Don't park your car on the str
k
reet overnight. If the hotel or m
municipality does not have a
y
t
parking ga
arage or ot
ther secure area, sele a well-lit area.
e
ect
Never pick up hitchh
k
hikers.
Don't get o of the car if there are suspic
out
c
e
cious looking individu
uals nearby. Drive aw
way.
To avoid c
carrying lar amoun of cash, change your travele checks only as y need
rge
nts
y
er’s
s
you
currency. Countersig traveler checks only in fron of the pe
gn
r’s
o
nt
erson who will cash them.
Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill. M
a
f
w
Make sure your credit card is
y
t
returned to you after each tran
o
r
nsaction.
Deal only with auth
horized ag
gents when you exc
change mo
oney, buy airline tic
y
ckets or
purchase s
souvenirs. Do not ch
hange mon on the black mark
ney
ket.
If your po
ossessions are lost o stolen, report the loss imm
or
e
mediately to the loca police.
o
al
Keep a co
opy of the police re
e
eport for in
nsurance claims and as an ex
c
d
xplanation of your
plight. Afte reporting missing i tems to the police, re
er
g
eport the lo or thef of:
oss
ft




trav
velers chec to the n
cks
nearest ag
gent of the issuing co
ompany,
cred cards to the issuin compan
dit
o
ng
ny,
airli tickets to the airli ne or trave agent,
ine
el
Pas
ssport to th nearest Indian em
he
mbassy or consulate.
c
When y are in a foreign country, yo are subj
you
c
ou
ject to its laws and a under it jurisdicti NOT
are
ts
ion
the pro
otection of your home country la
e
aws. You can be arre
c
ested over
rseas for actions that may be
t
either legal or considered minor infrac
m
ctions in yo own co
our
ountry. Be aware of what is con
w
nsidered
al
ountry whe you are US Con
ere
e.
nsular Information Sh
heets inclu information on
ude
crimina in the co
unusua patterns of arrests in various countries when appropriate.
al
Some o the offen
of
nses for which travel ers have been arrested abroad are:
b
d
Some co
ountries do not distinguish betw
o
ween poss
session and trafficking. Many
d
countries have m
mandatory sentences - even fo possession of a sm amou of marij
s
or
mall
unt
juana or
cocaine A num
e.
mber of tr
ravelers h
have been arrested for poss
n
d
sessing prescription drugs,
n
particularly tranq
quilizers and amph etamines that they purchase legally in certain Asian
a
ed
n
en
t
ddle East w
where they are illega Other
y
al.
countries and the brought to some countries in the Mid
travele have be
ers
een arrest
ted for pur
rchasing prescription drugs ab
p
n
broad in qu
uantities th local
hat
authori
ities suspe
ected were for comm
e
mercial use If in dou about foreign dru laws, a local
e.
ubt
ug
ask
authori
ities or you nearest embassy o consulat
ur
or
te.
The places where tra
T
s
avelers mo often co
ost
ome into difficulties fo illegal
or
By: Capt SB Tyagi, CO
B
OAS’CC*, FISM, CSC, CSP
P

5. posses
ssion of fir
rearms are Mexico, Canada and the Ca
e
aribbean. S
Sentences for posse
ession of
firearm in Mexic can be up to 30 y
ms
co
years. In ge
eneral, fire
earms, eve those le
en
egally regis
stered in
India c
cannot be b
brought int a count unless a permit is first obta
to
try
s
ained from the embassy or a
consula of that country an the firea is registered with foreign a uthorities on arrival.
ate
nd
arm
h
o
ed
In man countries you can be harasse or detained for ph
ny
s
hotographin such th
ng
hings as po
olice and
military installatio
y
ons, govern
nment builldings, bor
rder areas and transp
portation facilities. If you are
in doub ask permission be
bt,
efore taking photogra
g
aphs.
Travel
lers have b
been arres
sted for pu
urchasing souvenirs that were, or looked like; antiques and
s
t
which local cust
toms autho
orities beliieved were national treasures This is especially true in
s.
y
Turkey Egypt a
y,
and Mexic
co. In co
ountries where antiq
ques are important docume
t,
ent your
purcha
ases as rep
production if that is the case or if they are auth
ns
s
e,
y
hentic, secure the ne
ecessary
export permit (us
sually from the nation museum
nal
m).
Terrorist acts oc
ccur at random and unpredic
d
ctably, ma
aking it im
mpossible to protect oneself
t
absolut
tely. The first and be protectiion is to av
est
void travel to unsafe areas whe there has been
ere
a persi
istent reco of terro
ord
orist attack or kidna
ks
apping. The vast ma
ajority of fo
oreign stat have
tes
good r
records of maintaini
f
ing public order and protectin residen and visitors with their
ng
nts
hin
borders from terr
s
rorism.

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


Schedule direct fligh if possib and av
hts
ble
void stops in high-risk airports or areas. C
k
o
Consider
other optio for trav such a trains.
ons
vel,
as
Be aware of what yo discuss with strang
ou
gers or what may be overheard by others
d
s.
Try to min
nimize the time spent in the pu
t
ublic area of an airpo which is a less protected
o
ort,
i
area. Mov quickly from the ch
ve
f
heck-in counter to th secured areas. On arrival, le
he
d
n
eave the
airport as soon as po
ossible.
As much a possible avoid lug
as
e,
or
m
y
ggage tags, dress and behavio which may identify you as
an Americ
can.
Keep an eye out fo suspicio
or
ous aband
doned pac
ckages or briefcases Report them to
s.
airport sec
curity or oth author
her
rities and le
eave the area prompt
ptly.
Avoid obv
vious terrorist targets such as places where Ame
s
s
w
ericans and Western
ners are
known to c
congregate
e.
Norma
ally, the mo dangero phase s of a hijac
ost
ous
cking or ho
ostage situ
uation are the beginning and,
t
if there is a rescu attempt the end. At the out
e
ue
t,
tset, the terrorists typ
pically are tense, high-strung
and may behave irrationa
e
ally. It is e
extremely important that you remain ca
alm and a
alert and
manag your own behavior
ge
r.


Avoid resis
stance and sudden o threaten
d
or
ning movem
ments. Do not strugg or try to escape
gle
o
unless you are certa of being successfu
u
ain
g
ul.
Make a c
concerted effort to relax. Br
reathe dee
eply and prepare yourself m
y
mentally,
physically and emoti
ionally for t possibility of a long ordeal.
the
By: Capt SB Tyagi, CO
B
OAS’CC*, FISM, CSC, CSP
P

6. 



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




Try to rem
main incons
spicuous, avoid direc eye con
ct
ntact and th appear
he
rance of ob
bserving
your capto actions
ors'
s.
Avoid alco
oholic beve
erages. Co
onsume littl food and drink.
le
d
Conscious put yo
sly
ourself in a mode of passive cooperat
o
tion. Talk normally. Do not
complain, avoid belligerency, a comply with all orders and instruction
and
y
ns.
If questio
oned, kee your a
ep
answers short. Do
on't volunt
teer infor
rmation or make
unnecessa overtur
ary
res.
Don't try to be a hero endange
o
o,
ering yours and oth
self
hers.
Maintain y
your sens of pers
se
sonal dign
nity and gradually iincrease your requests for
g
y
personal c
comforts. Make these requests in a reaso
M
e
onable low-key manner.
If you are involved in a lengthiier, drawnn
-out situation, try to e
establish a rapport w your
with
captors, av
voiding political discu
ussions or other conf
frontationa subjects.
al
.
Establish a daily pr
rogram of mental and physica activity. Don't be afraid to ask for
al
.
anything y need or want - m
you
o
medicines, books, pen
b
ncils, paper
rs.
Eat what t
they give you, even if it does no look or taste appet
y
f
ot
t
tizing. A lo of appe
oss
etite and
weight is n
normal.
Think posi
itively. Avo a sense of despa Rely on your inne resource Remem
oid
e
air.
n
er
es.
mber that
you are a valuable commodity to your captors. It is importan to them to keep y alive
c
y
c
nt
you
and well.
If you plan to sta more th two we
ay
han
eeks in on place, if you are iin an area experienc
ne
f
cing civil
unrest or a natural disaste or if you are plan
er
u
nning trave to a rem
el
mote area, it is advis
sable to
registe at the Co
er
onsular Section of yo nearest embassy or consula This will make it easier if
our
t
ate.
w
someo
one at hom needs to locate y
me
t
you urgently or in th unlikely event tha you nee to be
he
y
at
ed
evacua
ated in an emergenc It will a lso facilitate the issu
cy.
uance of a new pass
sport should yours
be los or stole Anothe reason to contac the Consular Se
st
en.
er
ct
ection is to obtain updated
informa
ation on the security situation in a country
n
y.
If you r out of money ove
run
erseas and have no other optio
d
ons, consu officers can help you get
ular
s
in touch with your family, fri
iends, ban k or emplo
oyer and in
nform them how to wire funds to you.
m
o
Should you find yourself in legal diifficulty, co
d
i
ontact a consular of
fficer imme
ediately! C
Consular
officers cannot se
s
erve as att
torneys, giive legal advice, or get you ou t of jail. What they c do is
a
g
W
can
provide a list of local atto
e
f
orneys wh o speak English an who ma have had experience in
E
nd
ay
h
represe
enting fore
eign citizen If you a arreste consula officials will visit you, advise you of
ns.
are
ed,
ar
s
y
e
your rig
ghts under local law and ens
ws
sure that you are he under humane conditions and are
y
eld
c
treated fairly un
d
nder local law. If you are detained, remembe that under inter
l
er
rnational
agreem
ments and practice, you have t right to talk to yo consul. If you are denied th right,
y
the
o
our
.
e
his
be pers
sistent. Try to have someone g in touch for you.
y
s
get
h
By: Capt SB Tyagi, CO
B
OAS’CC*, FISM, CSC, CSP
P