The United States Department of State keeps a detailed record of its travel warnings, which are compiled in order to provide American citizens with potential risks and safety concerns for every foreign country, so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to visit.
The State Department has issued changes to a number of advisories this week, including a change in its summary for Syria, which remains under Level 4–“Do Not Travel”–designation, the most serious one the government issues.
What are the four U.S. travel warning levels?
- Level 1: “Exercise normal precautions” – The lowest risk level, reserved for countries that are generally safe such as Australia, Canada, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Saint Lucia and South Korea.
- “Exercise increased caution” – Certain parts of the country may carry increased risks such as theft, crime or terrorism. Countries currently under Level 2 advisory include Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Germany, Italy and Mexico.
- Level 3: “Reconsider travel” – Citizens are urged to reconsider plans, due to “serious risks and security.” Colombia, Guyana, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Uganda are among the countries currently under Level 3.
- Level 4: “Do not travel” – The most severe advisory level, due to “life-threatening risks.” The United States may not be able to help guests in case of an emergency, and asks citizens not to visit or leave as soon as possible. Countries under this designation include Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine are all on this list.
Level 1 and 2 advisories are reviewed by the State Department every 12 months, while Level 3 and 4 warnings are looked over every six months.
What did the State Department change regarding Syria?
Syria’s overall status as a Level 4 risk remains unchanged. Americans are urged not to travel to the Middle Eastern nation because of “terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage taking, crime, and armed conflict.”
“The U.S. government suspended U.S. Embassy operations in 2012,” the updated advisory reads. “The Czech Republic is the protecting power for the United States in Syria. The U.S. government cannot offer emergency or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Syria due to the safety risks.”
To read more about Syria and why the State Department says American citizens could be in great danger if they travel there, click here.
