Canadians love to travel. Each year, we make about 100 million trips abroad for both business and pleasure. The vast majority of these excursions go off without a hitch.

But, unfortunately, all trips do not come with a hassle-free guarantee. Accidents, illnesses, legal problems and linguistic and cultural difficulties do occur. Most problems are minor and you can usually solve them yourself. But if you do run into more serious obstacles, our offices abroad are there to assist you.

The Consular Affairs Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is committed to providing effective and efficient services throughout the world, to all Canadians.

Our pledge is "to provide service characterized by sensitivity, empathy, courtesy, speed, accuracy and fairness."

Our services are available through our headquarters in Ottawa and through our network of offices in other countries. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

TRAVELLING TO THE U.S.

Crossing the border used to be a simple matter, but times are changing. The requirements of U.S. authorities for identification are becoming more onerous. While they currently do not legally require Canadians to carry a passport, that could change. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade urges all Canadians travelling to the United States to obtain a passport before leaving Canada.

Many Canadians do not make adequate preparations for entering the United States. As a result, they may encounter serious problems. What was meant to be a visit for pleasure becomes a difficult and (for some) tragic experience. The Consular Affairs Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (the Department) and Canadian government offices in the United States help thousands of such Canadians. Their problems range from the simple ("I'm in West Virginia - how do I get out?") to the complex ("I've been arrested...").

Consular Services has developed a brochure offering advice to Canadians travelling to the U.S. called, "Crossing the 49th." You can view this document on our Web site at www.voyage.gc.ca or you can phone 1-800-267-6788 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.

Entry requirements and procedures do change. If you have an unusual situation concerning entry into the United States, you should obtain authoritative information from the U.S. authorities immediately before your visit. For more information, consult the U.S. Embassy Web site (www.usembassycanada.gov) and select "Traveling to the U.S.?" from the menu.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has a number of Canadian government offices in the United States. The embassy is located in Washington, and there are consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York and Seattle. There is an honorary consul in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Australian Consulate General in Honolulu, Hawaii will assist Canadians in an emergency. At each of these offices, there are consular officers available to help you.

In co-operation with the Consular Affairs Bureau in Ottawa, these offices provide a range of services to assist you during your visit, including:

• advice and support in the event of accident, crime or illness;
• communication with relatives and friends;
• assistance during natural disasters;
• support and assistance in the event of a death;
• identification of sources of information on local laws, regulations and facilities;
• in the event of an arrest, assistance in seeking equitable treatment, informing relatives and friends, and making arrangements for a lawyer;
• in the event of a conviction, assistance in applying for transfer to Canada under the Transfer of Offenders Treaty;
• assistance in arranging for friends and relatives to transfer funds in emergencies;
• intervention with local authorities;
• notarial services, such as legalization and certification of documents (a fee is charged for these services);
• assistance in locating missing persons;
• emergency passport services; and
• citizenship services.

The Consular Affairs Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade - www.voyage.gc.ca