How to Build a Family Travel Safety Plan with the U.S. Embassy’s STEP Program and the Presence List
What we’ve been watching unfold in Mexico is a reminder that when you travel, conditions can change fast. So if you’re heading out of the country, add STEP to your travel plan and learn how your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate handles the Presence List before you go.
When it comes to international travel, most people focus on flights, hotels, and what to pack. But if you’re serious about protecting yourself or your family while abroad, you need to go one step further and build a safety plan before you even leave home.
Whether you're traveling solo, with a spouse, or with children, knowing how to stay connected, informed, and protected while overseas is one of the most important things you can do.
Here’s how to do it using one of the most powerful and underused tools for travelers: The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
What is STEP?
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service from the U.S. Department of State. It lets you register your trip or overseas residence with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
STEP is best used alongside with checking the country travel advisory and embassy alerts.
When you register, you’re doing more than just checking a box, you’re putting yourself and your family on the radar for consular support and alerts in case something goes wrong. Alerts are often time-sensitive and location-specific, so enrolling before you travel helps ensure you receive official guidance quickly if conditions change where you are.
Why STEP Should Be Part of Your Safety Plan
Here’s what STEP does for you:
1. Receive Real-Time Security Alerts
From natural disasters to civil unrest to disease outbreaks, STEP sends you alerts that help you avoid danger before it unfolds.
2. Ensures the Embassy Can Reach You
If there’s an emergency evacuation or threat in the area, the embassy can contact you directly to help you get out safely.
3. Connects You with U.S. Citizen Services
Lost passport? Medical emergency? Legal issue? If you’re registered, the consular team knows you’re there and can respond faster.
4. May connect you with embassy briefings and citizen updates
Many embassies host town halls, briefings, and community events for U.S. citizens, especially around holidays or during times of unrest. Registering through STEP can help you get invited to these.
STEP + Embassy = Your Overseas Safety Net
Think of STEP as your digital lifeline to the U.S. while you're away.
But don’t stop there, take the time to:
Follow your local U.S. Embassy on social media
Sign up for their newsletters
Politely email the consular section to introduce yourself and ask if they host any citizen-focused events or maintain a community list
How Families Can Use STEP
Register every traveler (including kids) under the same trip so alerts and contacts are complete.
Enter emergency contacts
Include multiple destinations (if you’re visiting more than one country)
Add the local address where you’ll be staying (hotel, Airbnb, etc.)
This is especially helpful if you’ll be in a high-risk area, are traveling with children, or have medical conditions that could complicate emergency situations.
Create a family check-in cadence while traveling. For this and more details on safe traveling overseas, see our: Security Focused Travel Checklist.
How to Register for STEP
Registering is fast and free.
Go to: https://step.state.gov
Here’s what you’ll need:
Your U.S. passport information
Travel dates and destinations
Emergency contact back home
Local contact info (where you’ll be staying)
Is STEP Safe? Will They Track Me?
This is a common question and a fair one.
Your data is confidential and only used by the U.S. Department of State and the local Embassy or Consulate in the country where you're traveling or living.
The information is not used for surveillance, taxation, or immigration enforcement. It’s used for consular support and alerts; handled under U.S. government privacy rules.
You can edit or delete your information at any time, and you are not obligated to respond to any communication from the embassy unless you choose to. Think of it as an opt-in safety net, not a tracking system.
What If I’m Living Abroad Long-Term?
If you're living overseas full-time (expat, student, long-term contractor), STEP allows you to register your foreign residence, not just a short trip. This way, the embassy is aware of your long-term presence and can include you in updates, events, and alerts that affect Americans living abroad.
More Tools to Add to Your Safety Plan
While STEP is your embassy connection, here are a few additional tools to round out your advanced safety prep:
travel.state.gov – Official travel advisories by country
cdc.gov/travel – Health-related travel notices
amcham.org – American Chambers of Commerce for expat networking
locator.state.gov – U.S. citizen locator during crisis (e.g., wars or evacuations)
Pro Tip: Network Early
Even if you’re just traveling for a few weeks, it’s smart to introduce yourself to the embassy community, especially if you’re going somewhere unstable or unfamiliar.
Here’s a sample message you can send:
Subject: American Citizen in [City] – Interested in Embassy Info
Dear Consular Section,
I'm a U.S. citizen visiting [City/Country] and have registered with STEP. I’d appreciate any information about local safety updates or upcoming events for U.S. citizens.
Thank you,
[Your Full Name]
A Presence List
A Presence List is an informal or internal record maintained by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that includes the names and contact information of U.S. citizens currently residing in or traveling through a foreign country. Unlike the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which is a formal registration system for safety and emergency alerts, a presence list is typically used for non-emergency purposes, such as notifying Americans about town halls, voting assistance, holiday events, security briefings, or community gatherings.
Inclusion on a presence list may come from STEP registration, direct contact with the consular section, or involvement in local American or diplomatic circles. While not all embassies maintain one publicly, being on a presence list can strengthen your connection to consular services and keep you informed about local opportunities and resources. Not every embassy maintains a ‘presence list’ in the same way, best to check with the embassies in the country you will be visiting.
When things shift quickly, the most useful part of STEP is getting real-time alerts and clear guidance on what to do next.
STEP vs. Presence List: What's the Difference?
1. STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)
A voluntary registration tool offered by the U.S. Department of State
Used to inform U.S. Embassies/Consulates of your travel or residence abroad
Main purpose: safety, security alerts, and emergency communication
You can register your travel dates, lodging, and emergency contact info
You’ll receive email/text alerts about civil unrest, natural disasters, health advisories, etc.
You can register for short-term travel or long-term residence
Register here: https://step.state.gov
2. Presence List (Embassy’s Internal List of U.S. Citizens in-Country)
A manual or internal list kept by some embassies or consulates
Used to track long-term U.S. citizen residents, expats, diplomats, or NGO workers in-country
Can be based on:
STEP registrations
American Citizen Services (ACS) walk-ins
Direct emails or consular contact
Business or diplomatic community networking
May be used to invite U.S. citizens to:
Embassy-hosted town halls
Security briefings
Social events (e.g. 4th of July celebrations)
Voting info sessions, natural disaster prep briefings, etc.
Maintained at the discretion of the embassy staff, especially the consular section or RSO (Regional Security Officer)
How They Overlap
Registering with STEP is the most reliable way to get on a presence list, but it’s not guaranteed you’ll be included in social or diplomatic event invitations.
To be included more deliberately, it's a good idea to:
Email the Consular Section and introduce yourself
Ask if they maintain a list of U.S. citizens in-country or host events
Be respectful and professional (especially if you’re a VIP, NGO, contractor, or planning extended stays)
Sample Message to Embassy (to get on the Presence List)
Subject: U.S. Citizen in [City] – Would Like to Connect
Dear Consular Section,
I’m a U.S. citizen currently residing in [City, Country] and have registered through STEP. I’d appreciate being included in any U.S. citizen updates or events the embassy may host.
Please let me know if there’s a citizen presence list or community resources available.
Thank you for your time and support.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Optional: U.S. Passport # | Contact Info | Travel Dates]
Bottom Line: Don’t Just Travel-Prepare
You don’t need to live in fear to travel safely, but you do need to plan ahead.
Registering with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your family while abroad. It not only gives you access to real-time safety alerts and emergency support, but it can also place you on a local presence list, helping the nearest U.S. Embassy know you're in-country and keeping you informed of important updates or events.
Start here: https://step.state.gov
It takes less than 10 minutes and gives you peace of mind for your entire trip.
