US Urges Americans In Bengaluru To Register For 'Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme'
Speaking to CNN-News 18, Carlton Benson, Chief of American Citizen Services at the US Consulate General in India, explained the importance of STEP, stressing that it is a free service provided by the US Dept of State
The US has urged American nationals in India to register in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme (STEP) for the easy dissemination of routine messages and emergency alerts.
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Speaking to CNN-News 18, Carlton Benson, Chief of American Citizen Services at the US Consulate General in India, explained the importance of STEP, stressing that it is a free service provided by the US Department of State that allows US citizens living abroad to register their trips.
“In case of any emergency, or should we want to disseminate some routine message, we should be able to reach out to them, keep US citizens informed and safe. And even provide any benefits to US Citizens that are living in the consular district," said Benson.
He highlighted that the STEP programme is very easy to use, with registration taking less than 20 minutes on the official website.
“It can also be used for townhalls we are organizing or for things like Passport outreach, and this is especially important for the US citizens of Bengaluru, because a lot of US citizens in Bengaluru can accept US passport renewal applications in Bengaluru, and need not have to come to Chennai," he noted.
Benson stressed that the STEP programme is a convenient way to notify US citizens in India about emergency alerts in the event of unrest or natural disasters.
“Passport outreach is one way locals can take advantage of STEP, they don’t have to travel to Chennai. During Covid 19, we organized 6 evacuation flights. And these were possible in South India only because of STEP. We notified the details of the flights and how they could access it. More than 500 citizens took advantage of that," he added.
The American Consulate and the US Department of State are urging American citizens living in India to re-enrol in the updated STEP programme, which came into effect in September this year.
“STEP has been there for a long time, and many US citizens have enrolled. We just want to ensure US citizens here re-enroll to the updated STEP programme," Benson said.
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