Apparently the American Citizen Services Office computer systems had a little glitch because I was notified yesterday that the ACS office in Thailand will be closed, on December 17, 2007! Duly noted.
Whenever I get Warden messages I pay attention, especially when I’m headed for Thailand. This one gave me a good laugh.
What are the American Citizen Services’ Offices? They’re a part of The US State Department and are officially called the American Citizen Services and Crisis Management (ACS). The ACS can assist travelers when they are abroad. They work with US embassies and consulates to provide emergency services to Americans. For example, they will assist with sending money overseas to assist U.S. citizens, repatriate the remains of loved ones who have died abroad, assist victims of crime, and help U.S. citizens who are detained in foreign prisons. ACS operates a 24-hour Duty Officer Program. They also help citizens deal with natural or man-made disasters that occur while abroad.
You should register with ACS when you’re abroad. You can sign up for free. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (formerly known as “Travel Registration” or “Registration with Embassies”) will provide you, electronically, with the latest travel updates, information and warnings. I always register when I go overseas. I learned how valuable this service was while in Thailand during the red-shirt protest that shut down much of Bangkok. The ACS notices are generated from STEP enrollments and provide you with really important information (except when they have a computer glitch, of course.) But in all seriousness, it’s worth registering just in case you need them.
Good post. The State Dept really offers a lot of services for travelers, including a lot of valuable information. When I went to Istanbul last November, I enrolled in STEP.