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Post Last Modified – June 26, 2021

Traveling With Your Sensitive Documents – Helpful Tips

While traveling can be fun, it can also be a bit tricky and even a little stressful. Due to all the increased security today as a result of living in a post 9-11 world, you need to travel with several sensitive documents, such as your birth certificate or passport.

For good reason, this can make some people nervous since these documents can be used for 🕵 Identity Theft if stolen while traveling. Most people would rather keep these documents home under lock and key or in a banks safety deposit box.

Unfortunately, travelers do need to carry these documents with them on a regular basis.

Two Important Sensitive Documents To Carry With You

Traveling With Sensitive Documents #1

Sensitive Documents For American Citizens

Traveling With Sensitive Documents #2

Two of the most important documents to have on hand when traveling include a drivers license and a passport. In order to acquire either of these documents, a certified birth certificate is required.

For those of you who tend to misplace things or have lost important documents due to a disaster such as a fire or flood, you can contact a company like VitalChek to acquire your official birth record.

This company has been an official government-authorized service for 25 years, and they are a trusted source for acquiring a replacement certified birth record.

Once you have your replacement birth certificate, you can complete the process to get your passport. U.S. passports are administered by the U.S. Department of State.

If you or someone in your family is applying for a U.S. passport for the first time, it is important to begin the process far enough in advance of your trip to complete the entire process without issue.

A routine service passport timeline can average between four and six weeks to complete. While an expedited service is quicker than routine service, it can still average between two and three weeks.

For the most up-to-date information on 🛂 passport processing times, you can visit the U.S. State Department website.

If you are traveling out of the country, make sure to research where the American Embassy is located in proximity to your destination.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program – STEP

Traveling With Sensitive Documents #3

STEP is a free service provided by the Bureau of Consular Affairs from the U.S. State Department for U.S. citizens who are traveling or living outside the country.

This program allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip so the State Department can stay in contact with you in case of an emergency. It also allows Americans residing abroad to get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regardless of the country you are traveling to, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate are both lifelines for American citizens traveling abroad. As Americans can sometimes be targets in many countries around the globe, it is important to keep in regular contact with the nearby U.S. Embassy or Consulate when you are traveling.

Consider registering prior to traveling abroad. I’ve included the link below to the Official website for your convenience.

➡   Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Keeping Your Documents Safe & Secure

Traveling With Sensitive Documents #4

Once your trip is underway, you need to be very sure about how you keep your documents secure. Never carry your important documentsin your checked luggage!

Keep them safe and secure in your carry on at all times when in transit.

Once you arrive at your destination, place your travel documents, tickets, and other valuables in a safe in your room and keep them secure at all times.

If your room doesnt have a safe, ask at the front desk if there is a safety deposit box available to guests for secure storage of sensitive items or valuables. It is best to contact your destination ahead of time to see what type of security options will be available to you.

Final Note:

I’ve always said that the most important things to have and to hang on to when traveling are your;

Everything else can be easily replaced!

I always make a point of photographing my sensitive documents and then also emailing them to me for safe keeping. Should you happen to lose your passport, this will make replacement at the Consulate much easier for you.

I also take a photo of my check baggage, should it go missing in transit. Just a few things to consider about safe guarding your documents when traveling.

Safe and Healthy Travels!

 
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