The Department of State's Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world.  They describe entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political disturbances, areas of instability, and special information about driving and road conditions.  They also provide addresses and emergency telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates.  In general, the Sheets do not give advice.  Instead, they describe conditions so travelers can make informed decisions about their trips.

In some dangerous situations, however, the Department of State recommends that Americans defer travel to a country.  In such a case, a Travel Warning is issued for the country in addition to its Consular Information Sheet.

Public Announcements are a means to disseminate information about relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers.  They are issued when there is a perceived threat, even if it does not involve Americans as a particular target group.  In the past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with short-term coups, pre-election disturbances, violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.

11. Always remember that when you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and are under its jurisdiction.