U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNVEILS NEW TRAVEL ASSISTANCE WEBSITE FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS

On July 15, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs released a completely re-designed, more user-friendly update of its internet site, http://travel.state.gov. Visitors to the website will find that its appearance, usability and functionality have all been enhanced, with improved organization and navigational tools to help them find information more quickly and accurately.

One important new function included in the new website is internet-based travel registration for American citizens traveling and residing anywhere in the world. The Internet-Based Registration System (IBRS) provides a convenient means for American citizens traveling or residing overseas to provide important contact data, useful in the event of emergencies, and to instantly receive up-to-the-minute travel and safety information for the regions or countries on their travel itineraries, on the website or through official e-mail lists.

The Department of State protects and maintains IBRS registration data in a secure database behind State Department firewalls, accessible only by authorized personnel under Privacy Act restrictions. The travel registration website replaces less secure, locally managed websites currently in use in many U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

For further information on IBRS, contact Caibrs@state.gov. IBRS can be accessed through a link on http://travel.state.gov, or at http://travelregistration.state.gov/IBRS.