It's my Passport and I am Keeping it Safe!

How to protect your passport while travelling internationally

If you are travelling outside the United States, it is highly recommended that you have a passport. The purpose of a passport is to confirm that you are a United States citizen. Since 2011, U.S. State Department has had an increase in passport applications. In 2016, some 18,676,547 passports were issued to U.S. citizens. While travelling abroad you should always take special care in  safely securing your passport at all times! 

Here are F-I-V-E helpful tips to help you secure or replace your passport  while traveling internationally.

1. Purchase a traveler's body safe to keep your travel documents safe. This handy contraption is  an inconspicuous way to keep your cash and credit cards out of the hands of pick-pockets. Invest in a protective cover for your passport. Do not let your passport get wet or damaged.

2.  Make multiple copies of your passport. Place one in your carry on luggage and one in your wallet or purse. Always leave a copy of your passport with a trusted friend or relative.

3. Always sleep with your passport on you. While at the hotel do not leave your passport laying around in your room. Just to be on the safe-side, never allow your passport to leave your sight. Remember, the hotel staff may enter your room while you are away, so always keep your passport on you.

4. If you lose your passport contact the U.S. Embassy and Consular immediately. In most cases, you will need a police report and any costs associated with replacing your passport. 

5. Once you return to the United States make sure to keep a watchful eye on your credit card accounts and credit reports. Remember, criminals only need a small piece of your identification in order to assume your American identity.

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

You are invited to join us for an evening of food, fun, and bowling for only $25! All lanes will open at 7:00 p.m. We are also looking for individuals to sponsor each lane for a cost of $250 per lane. Since November 2010, family, friends, and community partners have helped the Davon Green Franklin Foundation to raise funds for the DGF Legacy Award & Scholarship and the Surviving Spring Break 101 program. The DGF Foundation is committed to helping individuals to understand the hidden dangers and vulnerabilities associated with international travel.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-2017-legacy-bowling-night-tickets-36735212008?aff=erelexpmlt

Donations can be mailed to:

Davon Green Franklin Foundation (501c3)

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Md. 21244

Travelers Beware and Know Your Legal Rights!

How many of us remember Michael Fay? While traveling in Singapore, Fay  was charge with vandalism. In 1994, he was sentenced to flogging, which meant that he would be repeatedly hit on the buttocks with a rattan cane.  At the time, President Bill Clinton viewed the punishment too extreme and inhumane.  Fay's sentence was later reduce to four strikes, four  months in jail, and a $3500 fine in Singapore dollars ($2214 in U.S. currency).

In March 2016, Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea. Warmbier's crime was attempting to steal a propaganda poster.  His parents have maintained that their son was tortured, terrorized, and brutalized. In fact, they were unaware that Warmbier was in a coma for over a year.  North Korea stated that the cause of coma was due to a sleeping pill or botulism.  Doctors in the United States would later reveal that Warmbier was in a vegetative state. It was announced that Warmbier died on today. 

It is crucial for Americans to learn and understand the laws of the country that they plan to visit. Our United States Bill of Rights are not UNIVERSAL! What does that mean? The laws in the United States are for Americans residing in the U.S.   In some countries, you can be searched at will and even held prisoner because a  police officer may feel that you are behaving suspiciously. It behooves any traveler to research the laws and customs of the country that they plan to visit before he or she leaves the United States.

Here are a few tips if you are arrested:

1.  Politely ask the authorities to contact the U.S. Embassy and Consular. 

2.  Remain calm and friendly.

3. If you are allowed to use the phone, you may want to call the U.S. Embassy and Consular.

4. Contact family and friends and let them know where you are and give them an exact location of where you are being held.

5. The assistance that you receive from the U.S. Embassy and Consular is very limited. They can not:

• Get you out of jail
• Pay legal fees or act as an attorney on your behalf
• Be responsible for legal, medical, or other fees incurred
• State that you are guilty or innocent of any criminal charges

Your trip abroad can become dangerous or even deadly. American should always respect the laws and customs of the country that they decide to visit.  Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe! For more information visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/arrest.html

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

You are invited to join us for an evening of food, fun, and bowling for only $25! All lanes will open at 7:00 p.m. We are also looking for individuals to sponsor each lane for a cost of $250 per lane. Since November 2010, family, friends, and community partners have helped the Davon Green Franklin Foundation to raise funds for the DGF Legacy Award & Scholarship and the Surviving Spring Break 101 program. The DGF Foundation is committed to helping individuals to understand the hidden dangers and vulnerabilities associated with international travel.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-2017-legacy-bowling-night-tickets-36735212008?aff=erelexpmlt

Donations can be mailed to:

DGF Foundation (501c3)

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Maryland 21244