Articles tagged “state department”

U.S. State Department Overhauls Travel Warning System

Dan Peltier, Skift

It's a complicated world and the State Department is trying to make it a little less complicated for U.S. travelers wondering if it's safe to travel somewhere. There will likely be a learning curve to understand the new system and how other countries respond to them.

U.S. to Ban Tourist Visits to North Korea

Matthew Lee, Associated Press

The ban, starting in September, comes after a U.S. student died from an injury after detainment in a North Korean prison. While Skift believes free travel is a right and is also helpful geopolitically, this may be an exceptional case.

U.S. Passport Offices Face Record Demand for Applications

Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press

No, it's not because citizens are fleeing the country due to an onslaught of political news. Adult U.S. passports must be renewed every 10 years, and the 2017 surge comes a decade after a law went into effect requiring passports for U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.

U.S. State Department: ‘Heightened Risk of Terrorist Attacks’ in Europe During the Holidays

Associated Press

The times we live in. While it always pays to be alert no matter where you travel, warnings like these that advise travelers to avoid public places like hotels and restaurants can have a detrimental impact on these businesses.

Renewing Your Passport This Year Will Take Longer Than Expected

Andrew Sheivachman, Skift

The surge in passport renewals won't affect U.S. applicants too severely.

U.S. Issues Travel Alert for Americans in Russia Over Crimea Tensions

Associated Press

This travel alert for U.S. citizens in Russia isn't a big surprise. Tensions will likely escalate after the Crimea referendum.

U.S. State Department Unveils Smarter, Better Designed Travel Site

Samantha Shankman, Skift

The State Department has made big improvements in cutting visa wait times and streamlining the application process abroad so it's good to the government also improving the process for U.S. citizens, especially online.

Americans in Lebanon Should Avoid Certain Hotels, U.S. Embassy Advises

Associated Press

Governments Get Savvy on Twitter to Help Their Citizens Overseas

Samantha Shankman, Skift

The travel alerts and warnings which used to be simply posted online, are a lot more instant with Twitter. Savvy foreign offices like the ones in U.S. and UK are taking over a lot of minor functions that embassies did in the past.

State Department Works with Twitter to Get Travelers Information Faster

Samantha Shankman, Skift

Twitter has already proven to be a lifeline for people caught in the middle of a disaster. Limiting alerts to public organizations may help curb the spread of misinformation, but the alerts will still only reach Twitter users who sign up for the service -- a relatively small number of citizens.