[Moorf]

Have any of you registered your location online via the U.S. State Dept's Travel Registration site?

I'm doing a wee article on it and wondered if anyone had used it, how easy it is to register and how often do you update it?

http://travelregistration.state.gov

[Bruckner]

I just registered recently. I found the sight a bit of a pain to navigate. Only just did it so no updates yet. I'd update if we moved home, jobs or change contact numbers.

Emily

[Ojai]

No, and I actually have never heard of it before now. Don't see why I would want to, honestly. If I have a problem I can just call the consulate.

[tigerlily]

Let the government know where I am! Eek, no. We pay taxes, so they could figure it out from that if they were actually interested in talking to the IRS.

[Ojai]

Let the government know where I am! Eek, no. We pay taxes, so they could figure it out from that if they were actually interested in talking to the IRS.

Exactly. Uncle Sam doesn't need to know where I am, thanks.

[Moorf]

One of the instances in which they say registration would be helpful is in the case of a natural disaster (in this case in NZ)... quick, easy access to identify any American citizens in the zone instead of relying on collating various other depts (tax etc) to plug in their data... what do you think to this? i.e post-tsunami it was invaluable.

Would any of you say you thought the Register "suspect" ie. could be used for other reasons if necessary?

Thanks!

Moorf

[Ojai]

Would any of you say you thought the Register "suspect" ie. could be used for other reasons if necessary?

Thanks!

Moorf

I think it absolutely will be used for other reasons than those stated.

[Bruckner]

Never even gave it that much thought. Was thinking in terms of any type of incident happening then it would be helpful.

Emily

[dilanium]

Knowing the way the US works it could and would be used for other purposes. I will not be registering on there.

[BkyMonster]

Never heard of it and no urge to use it.

[tigerlily]

I think I have very little trust in the US government. This is a country that can take away your house because your tenant has drugs in the house- even if you did not know about you can loose your house! This government is holding people in jails, military or otherwise, with no right to due process like the right to see a lawyer. I certainly have no reason to want to be any more involved with them than just paying my taxes and voting!

I think in the case of a natural disaster, since my US-based family knows where I am, they could contact the State Department and get me on some sort of a missing Americans list. But I assume that the New Zealand government would probably be more helpful in getting me things like water and first aid!

The only time I thought of registering was when I was travelling to a dangerous place, Cambodia. It seemed wise to do it there, but in the end it was too much of a hassle (this was in 2000).

[sweetpea]

Um yeah, no. There is no way in hell I am going to give the US government any more information about me than absolutely required. I don't trust this administration farther than I can throw them.

[toesonthenose]

Fortunately, all Americans were injected with implanted microchip locator transmitters between Sept 12 and 18, 2001. So Bushco (TM) already knows where you are. I wear a tinfoil hat to keep the satellites from reading my thoughts. Seriously though, I would only register if I were living in a very unstable country.

[Brian]

Same here - didn't know about that site, don't plan on using it now that I do know about it. I'm in enough databases already.

[dilanium]

Fortunately, all Americans were injected with implanted microchip locator transmitters between Sept 12 and 18, 2001.

I thought everyone had already gone in with a knife and removed theirs too? Or was it just me?

[Bruckner]

I have to get mine removed. It accidently scanned at New World and it was just a mess getting a refund.

Emily

[DanFromCali]

Fortunately, all Americans were injected with implanted microchip locator transmitters between Sept 12 and 18, 2001. So Bushco (TM) already knows where you are. I wear a tinfoil hat to keep the satellites from reading my thoughts. Seriously though, I would only register if I were living in a very unstable country.

Well in 2012 its ALL going to be unstable... and you're foolish to think that microchip transmitter can be blocked by tinfoil. You'll need a thick layer of saran-wrap under that tinfoil, buddy. It also helps to spend peak transmission hours inside a Zorb.

[Croft]

One of the instances in which they say registration would be helpful is in the case of a natural disaster (in this case in NZ)... quick, easy access to identify any American citizens in the zone instead of relying on collating various other depts (tax etc) to plug in their data... what do you think to this? i.e post-tsunami it was invaluable.

Which is why UK citizens are meant to register with the High Commission. In practise most people only do it in areas where there may be unrest, eg the Middle East or parts of Africa, or where the local authorities would not be able to handle a natural disaster. Recent history has shown the value of a registry - Lebanon.