These warnings are issued if a given country is currently experiencing a full-fledged civil war, a chronically unstable system of government or persistent acts of terrorism. As of 2011, some of the most dangerous countries to travel to are Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and Pakistan.
These alerts are issued when a particular country is faced with short-term problems that may affect the overall safety and well-being of travelers. For example, an Alert was issued for Japan following the country's March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
This feature informs travelers about a particular country's health care system, U.S. embassy and consular offices, visa requirements, anti-crime policies, system of government, infrastructure and other social, cultural, political, legal and economic characteristics. For example, Austria has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Europe, making it a safe, democratically-run country for travelers to consider.
The U.S. Department of State's website offers basic information on passports, traveling and living abroad, students on spring break, absentee voting overseas, international adoption, child abductions overseas and a host of additional tips and facts to keep in mind when traveling outside of the U.S.
