United States: Travel Assistance

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE United States Tourism Industries International Trade Administration Department of CommerceRoom 1860, Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th and Constitution Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20230 Tel: [1] (202) 482-4028 Fax: [1] (202) 482-2887 Web: www.tinet.ita.doc.gov Travel Industry Association of America 1100 New York Avenue, Suite 450 West, NW Washington, D.C. 20005 Tel: [1] (202) 408-1832 Fax: [1] (202) 408-1255 Web: www.tia.org Travel and Tourism Sites for the 50 States Put out by the U.S.and state governments Web: www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel_Tourism/State_Tourism.shtml Note: Each major city also has a visitors' convention bureau that will assist with questions and information. Chicago Chicago Office of Tourism 78 E. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602 Tel: [1] (312) 744-2400 Toll-free: [1] (800) 226-6632 Houston Downtown Houston Association 1221 McKinney, Suite 3434 Houston, TX 77010 Tel: [1] (713) 658-8938 Fax: [1] (713) 658-0503 Hotel Reservations Network Tel: [1] (800) 964-6835 Web: www.hoteldiscount.com Los Angeles Beverly Hills Visitors Bureau239 S. Beverly Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Tel: [1] (310) 248-1015 Fax: [1] (310) 248-1020 Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors BureauOne World Trade Center, STE 300 Long Beach, CA 90831-0300 Tel: [1] (562) 436-3645 Fax: [1] (562) 435-5653 Los Angeles Business Travel Association 1804 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91506 Tel: [1] (818) 848-5578 Fax: [1] (818) 843-7423 Email: labta@aol.com Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau 633 W. Fifth Street, Suite 6000 Los Angeles, CA 90071 Tel: [1] (213) 624-7300 Fax: [1] (213) 624-9746 Venice Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau P.O. Box 202 Venice, CA 90294 Tel: [1] (310) 396-7016 Fax: [1] (310) 392-9868 Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau89 S. California St., STE C Ventura, CA 93001-3799 Tel: [1] (805) 648-2075 Fax: [1] (805) 648-2150 West Hollywood Convention and Visitors Bureau8687 Melrose Ave., STE M-25 West Hollywood, CA 90069 Tel: [1] (310) 289-2525 Fax: [1] (310) 289-2529 Miami Greater Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association 407 Lincoln Rd., Suite 10G Miami Beach, FL 33139 Tel: [1] (305) 531-3553 Toll-free: [1] (800) SEE-MIAMI Fax: [1] (305) 531-8954 Email: info@gmbha.org. Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Center 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: [1] (305) 539-3000 Fax: [1] (305) 539-3113 Customs 909 SE 1st Ave. Tel: [1] (305) 536-6600 Immigration and Naturalization 7880 Biscayne Blvd., Room 100 Miami Toll-free: [1] (800) 375-5283 Passport Agency 51 SW 1st Ave. Miami Tel: [1] (305) 539-3600 General Information Post Office Answer Line: [1] (305) 599-1789 State Operator for Florida: [1] (305) 325-2500 Time of Day: [1] (305) 324-8811 Weather Bureau: [1] (305) 229-4522 San Francisco San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau 201 Third Street, Ste. 900 San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: [1] (415) 391-2000 TDD: [1] (415) 392-0328 Fax: [1] (415) 974-1992 Web: www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/ Seattle Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau 520 Pike Street, Suite 1300 Seattle, WA 98101 Tel: [1] (206) 461-5800 Fax: [1] (206) 461-5855 TDD: [1] (206) 461-5840 Web: www.seeseattle.org Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30a.m. to 5p.m.

United States: Women in Culture

WOMEN IN CULTURE General Although American culture is traditionally paternal, women are usually regarded as equal to men in the United States. Women are expected to marry and have children, but there is little surprise or stigma when they choose to assume different roles. Women and girls are normally treated very well in the United States. The US is not a class-conscious society, and most women have similar opportunities available to them. But lack of education and early pregnancy remain problems for the poorest women in America. In day-to-day life, women usually receive equal treatment, and this has been the case for some time. In politics, seventeen percent of senators and just over 16 percent of congressional representatives are female. In the legal profession, studies show that although women make up half of incoming law students, they occupy only about 15 percent of high-profile positions (equity partners in law firms and chief legal officers). Almost half of new medical students are female. Few women achieve top-level management positions. In 2012, the Fortune 500 list included a record number of companies with female CEOs—only 18 companies.  There is a tendency for rural areas to be a little more conservative, but for the most part, women play similar roles in urban and rural areas. The United States has ethnic groups from all over the world, and expectations about women’s roles and behavior do vary from group to group. There are no dress code restrictions on women in the US Women wear what they choose, from the latest styles to clothes that suit their work to the traditional clothes of their ethnic groups. Legal Rights Women have the same legal rights as men in the US. They have had the right to vote since 1920 and can own and inherit property. In 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled that states could not place "undue" restrictions on women seeking abortions. The law does vary from state to state, and some restrictions do exist. More than 20 states require parental consent for underage girls, and one, South Dakota, recently passed a statewide ban on abortion except in cases where the woman’s life is in danger. Women who have the resources can travel to states with less restrictive laws if needed. Women can initiate divorce. Divorce law varies from state to state, but women have the same right to initiate divorce and seek custody of their children as men in the US. Education Women have the same rights and access to education as men. Most people, both boys and girls, complete elementary school, and the majority go on to complete secondary school; almost three-quarters of female students graduate from high school, compared to around 65 percent of boys. Women and men complete higher education at similar rates. The literacy rate for women in the US is 99 percent, the same as for men. The public school system in the US is co-educational. Women make up about half the workforce in the US, and work in most fields, including those traditionally dominated by men. Far fewer women than men achieve high-level, prestigious positions, though percentages are increasing slightly every year. Dating, Marriage, and Family Women choose their own partners in the United States, except in cases where recent immigrant families may still hold on to traditions from their home countries. Dating is common practice, and most women start dating as teenagers. Women meet men in a wide variety of settings, including school, work, through family and friends, or at social events. On average, women marry in their mid-20s, though this varies by region. In the northeast, for example, most women marry later. Many women on both coasts don’t marry until their 30s. Utah has the youngest marriage age, with the average woman marrying at a little over 21. Polygamy is neither legal nor socially acceptable in the United States. Most women assume their husbands’ names after marriage, though this is not a requirement. On the east and west coasts, it’s common for women to retain their maiden names or use a hyphenated name. In divorce, it’s up to the woman to decide whether she wants to keep her married name or revert to her maiden name. Women are in charge of their own households in the US. Important decisions are usually made jointly with their husbands, but women have full autonomy. Generally, childlessness is not an issue in the US. Women are free to choose whether or not to have children or when to have them without drawing any stigma. This does not mean that mothers have stopped asking for grandchildren, particularly in the Hispanic tradition. Women can hold property separately from their husbands, but property and laws vary from state to state, and what may be a woman’s personal property in one state may be considered part of community property in another. Law on division of marital property in divorce also varies, but women can normally expect to get about half, depending on her circumstances and state law. Child custody can be decided by mutual agreement or in court. Unless there are unusual circumstances, women stand a good chance of receiving at least partial custody of their children. Health Women have equal access to medical care in the US. Standards of care are good; maternal mortality is estimated at 12 deaths per 100,000 live births, and infant mortality is estimated at five deaths per 1,000 live births. Most births are supervised by a healthcare professional. American women make their own health care decisions. Birth control is available and widely used, and most sexually-active women in the United States use some form of contraceptive if they want to avoid getting pregnant.

American Involvement in Afghanistan: A Historical Timeline

THE ROOTS OF U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN (20TH CENTURY) 1919 (August 8) The Treaty of Rawalpindi gives Afghanistan independence.Throughout the 19th century the British saw Afghanistan as a barrier protecting their interests in India from Russia. Afghanistan is not always in agreement with the British, and three different wars are fought to determine who will control the country's affairs. The third war results in the Treaty of Rawalpindi, as the British, tired of battle in the wake of World War I, relinquish control of Afghan foreign policy. 1933–1973 Mohammad Zahir Shah rules as Afghan king for 40 years. In 1953, General Mohammed Daoud becomes Prime Minister. He favors close relations with the Soviet Union, and these ties grow stronger after Nikita Krushchev becomes the Soviet leader in 1956. Daoud is forced out in 1963, and the next year Zahir Shah reorganizes Afghanistan as a constitutional monarchy. The result is political polarization as new parties form and vie for influence. In 1973, Daoud seizes power in a coup, deposing the king and abolishing the monarchy. Afghanistan is now a republic, with Daoud as president and prime minister. 1978 (April 27) Another coup. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) overthrows the Daoud Government and establishes the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The new government introduces a combination of Marxist and liberal reforms, including many for women, such as the banning of forced marriages and female suffrage. Traditional Islamic conservatives don't approve of these changes, and various groups form to fight the government under the name Mujahedeen. Additionally, the PDP suffers from infighting of its own, and the country is hit by a series of violent incidents throughout 1978 and 1979. 1979 (December 24) The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan. The Afghan government's reforms are met with fierce and growing resistance in 1978 and 1979; its alliance with the Soviet Union includes a December 1978 treaty that permits the government to seek Soviet military aid if needed. The Afghans request help throughout 1979; although the Soviets respond in a minor way at first, by the end of the year they conclude that a full military presence is needed to stabilize and preserve the Afghan government against the Mujahedeen's attacks. 1980–1985 A stalemate develops. The invading Soviet forces gain control of urban areas, and make occasional offensives into Mujahedeen-controlled territory in the surrounding countryside. Some of these are successful, some less so, and although the Mujahedeen suffer heavy losses at times, they are able to continue their guerilla war against the Afghan government and their Soviet protectors. 1980–1989 International aid for the Mujahedeen. Seeing it as a vital engagement in the Cold War, the United States continues to provide covert aid to the Mujahedeen, which it has done since July 1979, six months before the Soviet invasion. Other countries also contribute aid, including Arab countries that prefer an Islamic Afghanistan, as well as China, which sees strategic value to its own interests in opposing the Soviets. In 1986 the U.S. supplies Stinger missiles, which help change the war's direction by forcing Soviet air power into less effective tactics. 1985–1989 The Soviet Union withdraws from Afghanistan. In 1985, the U.S.S.R.'s new leader Mikhail Gorbachev announces that Soviet troops will be leaving Afghanistan. A transfer of responsibility soon begins that sees the Afghan army increasingly taking on the bulk of the fighting against the Mujahedeen. The Soviet Army starts the first phase of its withdrawal on May 15, 1988, finishing on August 16 of that year. On November 15 the rest of the Soviet forces start to head home, and the last troops leave on February 15, 1989. 1989–1992 Afghan civil war continues. After the Soviet Union's troop withdrawal, the Mujahedeen continue fighting against Afghan government troops to determine who will gain control of the country. In 1992, the decisive blow to the Afghan government occurs when government troops led by Abdul Rashad Dostum switch sides and join the Mujahedeen. They help capture the Afghan capital of Kabul, causing the government to fall. Almost immediately, rival factions within the Mujahedeen vie for positions of power within the new government, which is led by Burhanuddin Rabbani. 1995–2000 The Taliban take control. Made up of Islamic scholars, students, and former Mujahedeen soldiers, the Taliban quickly expand out of their southern base, overcoming resistance from warlord militias along the way. Initially Afghan citizens welcome their message of peace and stability, but soon they become unhappy with the Taliban's reliance on a strict interpretation of Islamic law. The Taliban control about 95 percent of the country by the end of 2000. 1998 (August 7) The U.S. attacks Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. The American embassies in Kenya and Sudan are hit by truck bombs, which kill hundreds of people and wound thousands more. Osama bin Laden is accused of directing the attack, and in retaliation President Bill Clinton launches cruise missiles at Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, hoping to eliminate bin Laden in the process. Their timing is off, however, as bin Laden leaves the camp just hours before the missiles hit. 1999 (October 15) The U.N. imposes economic sanctions. The sanctions restricting trade and economic development are approved after the Taliban refuses to stop providing sanctuary and training for international terrorists and their organizations. The U.S. government wants Osama bin Laden to stand trial in America for his role in the embassy bombings, but the Taliban won't extradite him. By 2000, bin Laden has more camps in Afghanistan that are filled with terrorist trainees. THE U.S. WAR IN AFGHANISTAN (21ST CENTURY) 2001 (April 6) Anti-Taliban leader speaks at the European Parliament. Anti-Taliban forces, known as the Northern Alliance due to their location in the extreme north of Afghanistan, are led by Ahmad Shah Masood, a much-lionized veteran of the battles against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. After receiving an invitation from European Parliament president Nicole Fontaine, Masood addresses that body in Brussels, Belgium, warning that the Taliban is working with Al Qaeda and that an important terrorist attack larger than the 1998 embassy bombings is coming soon.   (September 4) Eight international aid workers are put on trial by the Taliban.Arrested one month before, the aid workers are charged with promoting and spreading Christianity. According to Taliban law, anyone found guilty of these actions may be put to death as punishment. After being held in various prisons for three months, the eight are freed when their Taliban captors are forced to flee in the face of U.S. attacks.   (September 9) Anti-Taliban leader is murdered. Two men posing as journalists kill the Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Masood while they are interviewing him. Although Al Qaeda doesn't take credit, it is reported that Osama bin Laden ordered Masood's killing to both help the Taliban and ensure its support following the September 11 attacks against the United States.   (September 11) The 9/11 Attacks. The U.S. government blames Al Qaeda terrorists for the hijacking of four commercial jetliners and subsequent crashing of them into the World Trade Center "Twin Towers" in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in western Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people die as a direct result of these attacks, and within days the American government announces a "global war on terrorism." Central to that goal will be overthrowing Taliban rule in Afghanistan, which, the U.S. asserts, continues to harbor Al Qaeda terrorists.   (September 20) An ultimatum for the Taliban. Addressing a joint session of Congress, President George W. Bush demands that the Taliban extradite Al Qaeda leaders located in Afghanistan, close their camps and deliver everyone to the proper authorities, and give the U.S. access to the camps to verify their closure. The president makes it clear that if the Taliban do not cooperate, they will suffer the same fate as Al Qaeda.   (October 7) Operation Enduring Freedom begins. The Taliban refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden, but do offer to try him in an Islamic court in Afghanistan. The U.S. rejects this offer, and air strikes against selected targets, including camps suspected of belonging to Al Qaeda, are launched. Seven days later, the Taliban offer to turn over bin Laden to a third country for trial, but only if the bombing stops and evidence connecting him to the September 11 attacks is produced. The U.S. rejects this offer as well.   (November 13) The Northern Alliance enters Kabul. After weeks of air strikes, the Taliban forces are considerably weakened, and Northern Alliance troops are able to make significant progress on the ground. By November 9 they are able to enter Mazar-i-Sharif, a city strategically positioned on the way to the capital of Kabul. Four days later Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul, finding virtually no resistance because the Taliban had fled the night before.   (December 7) The Taliban are defeated in Afghanistan. In the days following the fall of Kabul, the Taliban continue to lose ground. By early December they have been driven back into the southeast territory, where the original group of Taliban leaders first came together. On December 5 they are forced to give up their hold on Kandahar province, and two days later Zabul province is liberated, marking the end of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Top Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar, manage to escape across the border into Pakistan.   (December) The battle for Tora Bora. Although the Taliban have been defeated, Al Qaeda fighters are still holding on in the mountainous Tora Bora region, southeast of Kabul near the Pakistan border. Over the next 10 days anti-Taliban militia backed by U.S. special forces climb over the rough terrain, rooting out terrorists they find in the massive cave complex there. Although intelligence data indicates that Osama bin Laden is in Tora Bora, no sign of him is found, and it is likely he fled into Pakistan with many of his operatives before they could be captured.   (December 22) Hamid Karzai is sworn in as the leader of Afghanistan's interim government. The United Nations hosts the Bonn Conference in Germany, which is organized by the Security Council and brings together representatives of four Afghan opposition groups. This results in the Bonn Agreement creating the Afghan Interim Authority, which will serve as the "repository of Afghan sovereignty." It is agreed that Hamid Karzai will lead the six-month interim government. To help with security in Kabul during this transition period, the U.N. creates the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). 2002 (March) Al Qaeda regroups in Afghanistan. As U.S. forces stabilize their positions throughout Afghanistan in early 2002, Al Qaeda begins to gather a group of more than 1,000 fighters in the mountains of Paktia province. In early March, U.S. and Afghan troops attack the Al Qaeda positions, and after several days of heavy fighting, the remaining Al Qaeda forces cross the border into Pakistan in order to survive.   (June 13) Hamid Karzai is reaffirmed as Afghanistan's leader. A Loya Jirga (grand council) composed of tribal leaders, returning exiles, and major Afghan factions is called to decide who will lead the national government that will rule until elections take place in 2004. Once again Hamid Karzai emerges as the man at the top, and he chooses the other interim government leaders that will run the country for the next two years. 2003 (August 11) NATO assumes control of the ISAF. Taliban forces not captured or killed by the end of 2001 have spent the past year in hiding in either their southeastern home territory within Afghanistan or in neighboring Pakistan. In these rural areas they establish small training camps to educate recruits in guerilla warfare and terrorist strategy. By summer 2003 there are increasing attacks against Afghan forces, resulting in NATO assuming management of ISAF forces in Kabul. This marks the first time the organization makes this kind of commitment outside of Europe. 2004 (January 4) Afghanistan's new constitution is approved. A Loya Jirga adopts Afghanistan's constitution; its provisions include consolidation of power in the office of president, equal rights for women, and acknowledgement that Islam is the country's sacred religion while providing protection for other faiths. Its passage opens the door for free elections to follow, although increasing violence throughout the country leaves the timing of the elections, scheduled for June 2004, in doubt.   (October 9) Afghanistan's first direct presidential election is held. Interim president Hamid Karzai gains 55 percent of the more than 10.5 million votes cast to win a four-year term in office. The election is originally scheduled for June but has to be postponed due to security issues and the slow pace in registering voters. Parliamentary elections are supposed to be held on the same date, but postponement is necessary due to the lack of progress in regulatory and logistical matters by the government. 2005 (September 18) Parliamentary elections finally take place. After another delay from a May date set at the end of 2004, Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections in 30 years are held. Accusations of fraud delay the final results until November 12, when it is announced that former warlords and their followers have won a majority in both the lower house and the provincial council (which elects members to the upper house). Under the new constitution women are guaranteed 25 percent of Parliament's seats, but they better that by winning 28 percent. 2006 NATO takes control of military operations in Afghanistan. The Taliban step up their attacks early in the year, using suicide bombs and improvised devices to target Afghan civilians to a greater degree than government troops and NATO-led ISAF peacekeepers. NATO's management of the ISAF expands to southern Afghanistan at the end of July before covering the entire country by early October. The forces replacing U.S. troops come from a range of NATO member countries, and they begin a series of operations designed to overcome the growing Taliban insurgency.   (November 22) U.N. mission chief has concerns about Afghanistan's future.Japan's Kenzo Oshima leads a 10-member U.N. mission to Afghanistan in mid-November and tells the Security Council upon his return that the country risks becoming a failed state. He cites as reasons the rise in Taliban-led insurgency, the increase in illegal drug production and trafficking, and weak state and provincial institutions racked by endemic corruption. Oshima adds that additional short- and long-term support is critically necessary for a successful future in Afghanistan. 2007 Battles intensify between NATO forces and Taliban insurgents. NATO launches a series of missions throughout 2007 in a continuing effort to beat back the Taliban. Operation Achilles, the largest effort to date in southern Afghanistan, lasts from March to May and sees heavy fighting in Helmand province. The Taliban's most experienced commander, Mullah Dadullah, is killed during this battle. At the end of October, Canadian forces stop a potential Taliban offensive on Kandahar when they surround 300 insurgents near Arghandab.   (February 27) The Taliban continues guerilla tactics. On February 27, a suicide bomber attacks the American military base at Bagram Airfield. The Taliban claims Vice President Dick Cheney, who is inside the base at the time and not hurt in the attack, is the intended target. In November, another suicide attack—this time on a parliamentary delegation—kills at least 41 people. By the end of the year more than 300 people, most of them civilians, have died in Taliban-initiated suicide bombings. 2008 (June 13) The Taliban stages a jailbreak. Demonstrating their continuing strength, the Taliban liberates 350–400 jailed terrorist colleagues from a Kandahar prison. This a major embarrassment for NATO, as it takes place in one of their chief operational centers in Afghanistan.   (June–July) Troop levels increase. In late June, a Pentagon report on Afghan security warns about the Taliban's resiliency and expects the insurgent group will further increase its attacks. Approximately two weeks later, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen agrees with Senator Barack Obama's assessment that circumstances in Afghanistan are in a precarious state, adding that the 10,000 additional needed troops will only become available if there are withdrawals from Iraq. In September, President Bush announces an increase of 4,500 troops in Afghanistan to coincide with a drawdown of 8,000 from Iraq. 2009 (February 17) More troop increases are planned. New U.S. president Barack Obama announces that 17,000 more U.S. troops will be sent to Afghanistan later in the year to shore up the increasingly dire situation there. In March he reveals a strategy shift that will dispatch 4,000 civilian and military personal to train the Afghan army and police, and provide support for civilian development.   (May–September) General Stanley McChrystal is the new ISAF commander. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announces on May 11 that he will appoint General McChrystal as the new NATO commander in Afghanistan. After arriving on June 15, McChrystal launches a major offensive in July against the Taliban in southern Helmand province. He prepares a report that is leaked in September that essentially says the war in Afghanistan could be lost unless there are significant troop level increases.   (August 20) Hamid Karzai is re-elected in a disputed election. The election is marred by a combination of Taliban violence that holds down the turnout and widespread charges of fraud, including ballot stuffing. Two months later Karzai accepts calls for a runoff with second-place finisher Abdullah Abdullah, but Abdullah pulls out five days before election day and Karzai is declared the winner. In November he is sworn in for his second term as president of Afghanistan.   (December 1) President Obama announces further troop increases. After putting the entire Afghanistan policy through a major strategic reassessment, Obama decides to add 30,000 more troops to the U.S. forces in the country. Early 2010 will see the initial stages of this increase, and by the middle of the year troop levels will reach 100,000. The Taliban respond to this announcement by vowing to fight even harder, adding that if more U.S. troops come, more will die. 2010 (January 16) President Karzai's cabinet picks are rejected. After President Karzai sees 17 of his 24 cabinet picks fail to pass Parliament's muster in December, most of his replacement choices are also rejected. Members of Parliament complain the picks are either unqualified or have close connections to Afghan warlords. The dispute reinforces the political uncertainty that seems to hover over the Afghan government.   (February) The Taliban is pushed out of Marja. A major offensive begins in an effort to reassert control in the district of Marja after two years of Taliban control. For the first time, Afghan forces are in the lead as a total of 15,000 troops move into the area. Within days the Taliban has retreated, and a team of pre-assembled Afghan administrators and police forces are ready to move in and build a new government structure. The whole operation is a prototype for a new military operation that's intended to meet the Afghan government's pledge to hold any territory taken from the Taliban.   (February–May) Obama and Karzai reach an understanding. In February, President Karzai issues a decree giving him complete control of the Electoral Complaints Commission, which helped expose fraud in the previous year's presidential election. Two months later, Karzai accuses UN and EU election observers of plotting to install a puppet government, saying that foreign observers committed the election fraud. In May, however, Karzai visits Washington, D.C., for talks with President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which leads to increased optimism about the future of Afghanistan's relationship with the U.S.

United States: Threats to Safety

THREATS TO SAFETY Terrorism       Mexican Border      Civil Unrest       Natural Disasters Terrorism Terrorist groups may target places frequented by tourists. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is charged with protecting the nation from security threats. Travelers encounter DHS agents at border crossings, where DHS is responsible for securing transportation systems, checking travelers' documents, securing travelers and their luggage, ensuring an efficient screening process, and managing the Trusted Traveler programs that provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. In addition to monitoring local news, travelers may check for DHS alerts to current threats on its National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) site at www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm. Drug-Related Violence on the Mexican Border The California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas borders with Mexico experience violence related to the drug trade in Mexico. See the Crime page for more information. Civil Unrest RACE AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES In race relations, the social and economic progress of half a century ago have stagnated, leaving bitterness on both sides of the economic divide that continues to separate whites from blacks and Hispanics. Of the 932 hate groups monitored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, most espouse a racist agenda.  Some racial conflict centers around illegal immigration from Latin America. Twelve percent of the US population are foreign-born, and 20% speak a language other than English at home; 52 percent of immigrants come from Latin America. Although thousands of Mexicans and Central Americans make their way illegally into the country each year, they perform essential agricultural work, and legislators have been unable to find consensus on a solution to the issue. Immigration and Naturalization rules calling for farmers to verify workers' social security numbers have led to protests that this would cause farmers economic chaos. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants demonstrated at the US Capitol in 2010, protesting deportation. A month later, the governor of Arizona signed into law an act seen by proponents as merely enforcing federal law, among other things allowing the state to prosecute people who hire illegal immigrants. In response, protesters in 70 US cities engaged in mass demonstrations urging a boycott of Arizona. DISSENT OVER THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT Divisions are growing concerning the role of government in the domestic sphere.  The economic recession has intensified this debate, as parties disagree about the best remedy for a weak economy. The political right increasingly identifies itself with fiscal conservatism in the form of lower taxes for businesses as well as households, while others concerned about the economy favor an increase in funding for social programs, infrastructure, and regulatory agencies. Heated arguments over taxation, healthcare reform, government regulation of banks and business, abortion, and the rights of homosexuals have taken place in Congress, over the airwaves, and on the streets.  Natural Disasters The vast territory of the United States includes zones prone to a variety of natural disasters, including earthquakes on the West Coast, wildfires in the Southwest, and hurricanes and tornadoes across the Midwest and Southeast. Following are brief overviews of safety information concerning these events. EARTHQUAKES If indoors, stay inside. Drop to the ground and take cover under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. Do not use a doorway unless you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection. If outdoors, stay there. Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects. To avoid inhaling dust, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. After an earthquake, be aware that gas mains, electrical circuits, roads, bridges, ramps, and traffic signals may have been damaged. Use caution. Do not light a match. HURRICANES All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes. Parts of the Southwest United States and the Pacific Coast also experience heavy rains and floods each year from hurricanes spawned off Mexico. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and ends November 30. These severe tropical storms can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Storm surges along the coast can cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall. Floods, landslides, and flying debris from the excessive winds are among the hazards from hurricanes. If a hurricane watch is issued, travelers should learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. During a hurricane, stay indoors and away from windows and glass doors, keep curtains and blinds closed, and close all interior doors. If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor. TORNADOES Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.  Tornadoes are most likely to occur east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Appalachians. Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer. The following states are entirely or partly within the zone most likely to experience winds over 250 miles per hour: Eastern states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio Northern part of Gulf states: Alabama, Louisiana, Texas Plains states: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota Southern: Tennessee Winds in the bordering states also reach 200 miles per hour. Residents of tornado-prone areas are familiar with the importance of heeding tornado watches and tornado warnings; some buildings are equipped with "safe rooms" for shelter.  If a tornado approaches, watch out for flying debris, which is the cause of most tornado fatalities and injuries. If you are indoors or near buildings, take the following steps: Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, or storm cellar. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Put on sturdy shoes. Do not open windows. If you are outdoors with no shelter, seek the lowest place and lie down in it, covering your head with your hands. Do not get under an overpass or bridge; you are safer in a low, flat location. Trees are not safe, as tornadoes can uproot or snap large trees. If you are able to get into a vehicle, do the following: Buckle your seat belt. Try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, or other cushion if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area. WILDFIRES The dry climate and rainless summers of the southwestern US create ideal conditions for wildfires. These fires most often strike in summer or early autumn, beginning in wild areas where brush or forests are ignited by lightning or as a result of human carelessness. High winds can cause fires to spread rapidly and engulf homes.  If you see a wildfire and haven't heard any information about it, call 911 to report it. Don't assume that someone else has already called.  Fire alerts usually give people time to evacuate an area at risk from encroaching fire. Warning sirens are sounded, signalling people in threatened areas to tune their radio to their local disaster channel for instructions. If you are ordered or advised to evacuate, do so immediately. If leaving the scene is impossible, the following are the safest measures to take: Sheltering in a Home If you do find yourself trapped by wildfire inside a home, stay inside and away from outside walls. Close doors, but leave them unlocked. Sheltering in a Car Should you be unexpectedly caught by a wildfire while driving, try to flee the fire in your car, NOT ON FOOT. Roll up windows and close air vents. Drive slowly with headlights on. Watch for other vehicles and pedestrians. Do not drive through heavy smoke. The engine may stall and not restart.  If you have to stop, park away from the heaviest trees and brush. Turn headlights on and ignition off. Roll up windows and close air vents. Get on the floor and cover up with a blanket or coat until the main fire passes. Air currents may rock the car. Some smoke and sparks may enter the vehicle, and the temperature inside will increase. Metal gas tanks and containers rarely explode. Sheltering in the Open The best temporary shelter is in a sparse fuel area. Avoid canyons. If a road is nearby, lie face down along the road cut or in the ditch on the uphill side. Clear fuel away from the area while the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover yourself with anything that will shield you from the fire's heat. Stay down until after the fire passes!

United States: Crime and Threats to Safety

CRIME AND THREATS TO SAFETY Crime Overview       Crime Rates by City      Precautions by Venue       Criminal Gang Activity Overview The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in its Annual Uniform Crime Report for 2011, continues to record a statistical drop in both violent and nonviolent crime in the US as a whole. This trend has continued for five years. The US Census Bureau reports an annual 4.2 violent crimes per 1000 population nationwide; property crimes are recorded at 30 per 1,000 population. Nevertheless, alertness to one's surroundings is needed in any US city. As in any country, high property values generally correlate to low crime rates, and a city with an overall low crime rate may have dangerous neighborhoods; New York, Los Angeles, and Boston are examples. In the safest areas, even petty theft is not very common, while in parts of a few US cities, appalling levels of crime prevail, creating a frightening atmosphere marked by derelict buildings, barred windows, and few pedestrians.  Crime Rates by City Figures are given for the top US cities by population, with the addition of Orlando, Anaheim, and Miami, included because of their popularity as destinations. The numbers indicate annual reported crime rates per 1,000 population. Violent crime encompasses robbery, aggravated assault, rape, and murder. Property crimes tallied are burglary and theft, including motor vehicle theft. Cities with violent crime rates above 10 per 1,000 are shown with a gray background. City Population (1,000) Size Rank Property Crimes Violent Crimes Anaheim, California 336 53 24 3.5 Atlanta, Georgia 420 30 62 11.5 Austin, Texas 790 12 62 5.2 Baltimore, Maryland 621 21 46 15.1 Boston, Massachusettes 618 22 33 9.9 Charlotte, North Carolina 731 16 50 7.2 Chicago, Illinois 2,696 3 42 11.6 (est.) Columbus, Ohio 787 13 65 7.1 Denver, Colorado 600 25 35 5.8 Detroit, Michigan 714 17 56 19.9 El Paso, Texas 649 18 30 4.6 Fort Worth, Texas 741 14 50 5.9 Honolulu, Hawaii 375 48 37 2.8 Houston, Texas 2,099 4 53 11.2 Indianapolis, Indiana 830 9 58 12 Jacksonville, Florida 822 10 52 8.3 Las Vegas, Nevada 584 27 28 7.4 Los Angeles, California 3,793 2 24 6.3 Louisville, Kentucky 741 15 43 6 Memphis, Tennessee 647 19 71 18.1 Miami, Florida 400 44 50 11.2 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 595 26 58 11 Nashville, Tennessee 627 20 48 11.4 New York, NY 8,175 1 17 5.5 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 580 29 60 9.3 Orlando, Florida 242 78 70 10.1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1,526 5 36 12.4 Phoenix, Arizona 1,446 6 41 5.5 Portland, Oregon 584 28 47 5.5 San Diego, California 1,307 7 25 4.5 San Francisco, California 805 11 43 7.4 San Jose, California 946 8 24 3.6 Seattle, Washington 609 23 58 6.4 Washington, DC 602 24 45 11.3 Precautions by Venue ON THE STREET Use the same common sense traveling that you would at home. If you come from a country with an especially low crime rate, you may need to use extra caution in urban areas of the United States, especially in crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, marketplaces, festivals, and crime-ridden neighborhoods. Follow these basic precautions:

United States: Money Wiring

MONEY WIRING Wire transfers and all sorts of other electronic international transactions are often most easily facilitated by these two companies and others like them. MoneyGram Chicago Buy N Save 209 E 103rd St. Chicago, IL 60628-2807 Tel: [1] (773) 928-3473 North Avenue and Ashland C E1604 W North Ave. Chicago, IL 60622-2245 Tel: [1] (773) 276-4040 Phones Plus2871 W Cermak Road Chicago, IL 60623 Tel: [1] (773) 247-7722 Walgreens # 58673943 W 47th St. Chicago, IL 60632 Tel: [1] (773) 927-0239 Houston 1960 Cash Express9573 FM 1960 Road W Houston, TX 77070-6109 Tel: [1] (281) 955-2026 Ace Cash Express #454203 W Greens Road Houston, TX 77067-4603 Tel: [1] (281) 875-3223 Save One Stop8401 Long Point Road Houston, TX 77055-2308 Tel: [1] (713) 465-4881 Xpress Enterprises9914 S Gessner Drive Houston, TX 77071-1008 Tel: [1] (713) 777-3118 Los Angeles Ace Cash Express #4044500 E Washington Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90015-3723 Tel: [1] (213) 741-0451 East La Currency Services 4732 E Whittier Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90022 Tel: [1] (323) 260-4797 Ramos Envios3415 W 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90005-2515 Tel: [1] (213) 380-6584 Tressocios6212 S Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 Tel: [1] (323) 834-0186 Miami G3 Visas And Passports80 SW St., Suite 2250 Miami, FL 33130 Tel: [1] (305) 285-9255 Pronto Giros1306 W Flagler St. Miami, FL 33135-2320 Tel: [1] (305) 644-1877 Reliable Services 12314 NW Seventh Ave. Miami, FL 33168 Tel: [1] (305) 681-3444 Universal Payment And Communication159 NE 54th St., Suite 3 and 4 Miami, FL 331372473 Tel: [1] (305) 754-0166 New York City Check Buster Financial Services158 E 45th St. New York, NY 10017-3115 Tel: [1] (212) 687-0694 Duane Reade #346 111 Worth St. New York, NY 10013-4008 Tel: [1] (212) 571-4621 Moneygram Of New York # 1521 W 181st St. New York, NY 10033-5102 Tel: [1] (212) 740-1440 World Currency Exchange 836 7th Ave. New York, NY 10019-5811 Tel: [1] (212) 765-2323 San Francisco Mission Check Cashers2815 24th St. San Francisco, CA 94110-4213 Tel: [1] (415) 206-0280 Postal Depot 2655 Judah St. San Francisco, CA 94122-1431 Tel: [1] (415) 759-5076 Union Post 237 Kearny St. San Francisco, CA 94108-4502 Tel: [1] (415) 593-0330 U.S. Bank #56571850 Irving St. San Francisco, CA 94122-1818 Tel: [1] (415) 661-5353 Seattle Ace Cash Express #3116 3109 Rainier Ave. S Seattle, WA 98144-6014 Tel: [1] (206) 722-7003 Albertsons #41013050 Aurora Ave. N Seattle, WA 98133-7507 Tel: [1] (206) 306-8780 Check Masters #2 11064 Lake City Way NE #6 Seattle, WA 98125-6730 Tel: [1] (206) 361-2274 U.S. Bank #3454 2401 3rd Ave. S Seattle, WA 98134-1923 Tel: [1] (206) 441-0518 Washington D.C. La Oficina 717 Kennedy St., NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20011 Tel: [1] (202) 290-1559 Pro Bono 5403 Georgia Ave. NW Washington, DC 20011 Tel: [1] (202) 291-6166 Service General DC1324 Florida Ave. Washington, DC 20002 Tel: [1] (202) 399-0590 Xariel Tax Services 3155 Mount Pleasant St. NW Washington, DC 20010-2784 Tel: [1] (202) 797-2116 For other MoneyGram locations, see their website at: www.moneygram.com. Western Union Chicago Acme Currency Exchange205 West Randolph Chicago, IL 60606 Tel: [1] (312) 372-7748 Merchants C/E #2 Inc. 111 West Washington Chicago, IL 60602 Tel: [1] (312) 263-6994 Payday Loans 172 W Madison St., Suite A Chicago, IL 60602 Tel: [1] (312) 782-8419 Travelex Currency #226019 S La Salle St. Chicago, IL 60603 Tel: [1] (312) 807-4941 Houston Greyhound #6860 2121 Main St. Houston, TX 77002 Tel: [1] (713) 759-6581 Just A Dollar901 Main St. Houston, TX 77002 Tel: [1] (713) 659-3933 Stanton's 1420 Edwards St. Houston, TX 77007 Tel: [1] (713) 227-4893 Woodforest Natl Bank #502274 University Center, University Of Houston Houston, TX 77204 Tel: [1] (713) 743-1080 Los Angeles Continental Currency #315400 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013 Tel: [1] (213) 623-9852 Foreign Currency Exchange 520 Grand Ave., Suite #L-100 Los Angeles, CA 90071 Tel: [1] (213) 627-5404 Holly Star Check Cashing239 E 7th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014 Tel: [1] (213) 614-7918 Rapid Income Tax633 N Spring St., Suite 9 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tel: (213) 626-2677 Miami Cash A Check #0759 NE 1st St. Miami, FL 33132 Tel: [1] (305) 377-0037 Mail and Business Center123 SE 3rd Ave. Miami, FL 33131 Tel: [1] (305) 374-1700 Publix #0054311 SW 7th St. Miami, FL 33130 Tel: [1] (305) 860-9477 Rey Rey Rey's Cash128 NE 2nd Ave. Miami, FL 33132 Tel: [1] (305) 381-9030 New York City Check Change #2249 Eldridge St. New York, NY 10002 Tel: [1] (212) 979-9400 Money Centers115 Essex St. New York, NY 10002 Tel: [1] (212) 673-2382 MPS Worldwide Express175 D Layfayette St. New York, NY 10013 Tel: [1] (212) 947-7328 Twins 99 Cents Plus203 Grand St. New York, NY 10013 Tel: [1] (212) 226-8889 San Francisco Fast Cash #24422 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 Tel: [1] (415) 353-0200 Mail Box 4U 1230 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102 Tel: [1] (415) 621-1991 Money Mart #19541101 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: [1] (415) 861-2751 Safeway #1507 2020 Market San Francisco, CA 94114 Tel: [1] (415) 861-7660 Seattle Central Loan1016 1st Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 Tel: [1] (206) 624-0430 Moneytree #85715 3rd Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 Tel: [1] (206) 652-2300 Rite Aid #5210 802 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 Tel: [1] (206) 623-1190 Travelex Currency #2371400 Pine St. Level 3, Westlake Centre Seattle, WA 98101 Tel: [1] (206) 682-4525 Washington D.C. A-1 Check Cash1420 K St. NW Washington, DC 20005 Tel: [1] (202) 216-9463 Chateau's BoutiquePentagon Concourse Dept Of Defense Washington, DC 20301 Tel: [1] (703) 486-0071 Mail Boxes Etc #04042000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20006 Tel: [1] (202) 457-8166 Travelex Currency #7291701 15th St. NW Washington, DC 20005 Tel: [1] (202) 783-3654

United States: Lost or Stolen Cards and Checks

ACCESSING FUNDS Currency You cannot use any other currency in the U.S., but some major banks will offer to change other currencies. Larger hotels often offer currency exchange, but don't expect great exchange rates, so it is advisable to arrive with U.S. Dollars. Otherwise, you can change money in airport kiosks, private exchange offices, banks, or at American Express and Thomas Cook offices; none will offer optimal rates. ATMs ATMs are prevalent most everywhere in the country and offer the best exchange rates. If you bank with a large, international bank in your home country, transactions may be free if you use ATMs of that same bank or its associated banks in other countries. Check with your bank before departure for ATM locations at the destination to which you plan to travel. Traveler’s Checks Traveler's checks in U.S. currency are widely accepted at banks, hotels, and department stores, although smaller establishments may refuse to cash them. It is best to buy traveler's checks denominated in U.S. currency before travel. Visitors should note that many banks do not have the facility to cash traveler’s checks and those that do require items of identification such as passport, credit card or driving license, and are likely to charge a high commission. To avoid a surcharge on exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to take traveler’s checks in U.S. Dollars. Credit Cards International bankcards (MasterCard, Visa, and Access) are widely accepted in most businesses, while American Express, Diners Club, and Discover credit cards are less widely accepted. Credit/bank cards offer the most favorable exchange rates. Hotels accept the full range of bank and credit cards. A traveler can obtain cash advances using a credit card from select banks. Your credit card company translates foreign purchases into your own currency when the charges appear on your credit card statement. However, be aware that most credit card companies now charge a “foreign transaction fee” for converting foreign currency—sometimes up to 2% of each purchase transaction!  This could add up quickly. Read the fine print of your card disclosure paperwork or call your credit card company to verify. For details regarding merchant acceptability and other available services, you must check with your credit or debit card company. Travelers should also notify their credit card company when they travel out of the country. Cards and the requisite funds can suddenly be frozen without any notification if credit card security notices unusual activity and flags it as suspicious. In this case, your card will be declined if you attempt to use it, i.e., at the end of an otherwise successful business deal in a restaurant.  If this does occur, notify your card company immediately, as it may take 24 hours to reinstate!  Have other payment options on hand in case such an occasion does occur. Currency Restrictions - There are no restrictions on the import or export of either foreign or local currency. Note: Banks will not cash a personal check unless you have an account there. Retail businesses will only accept local (very local) checks. Most major cities have American Express offices. American Express Chicago American Express Travel Service 605 North Michigan Ave., Suite 105 Chicago, IL 60611 Tel: [1] (312) 943-7840 Fax: [1] (312) 943-8740 Email: nmichiganctn@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 6p.m., Saturday 9a.m. to 5p.m. Houston American Express Travel Service 650 West Bough Lane, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77024 Tel: [1] (713) 465-3494 Fax: [1] (713) 465-3649 Email: houstontownandcountryctn@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 6p.m. and Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m. Los Angeles American Express Travel Service 8493 W 3rd St. At La Cienega Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90048 Tel: [1] (310) 659-1682 Fax: [1] (310) 659-1151 Email: beverlyconnectiontfs@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 6p.m., Saturday 10a.m. to 3p.m. Miami American Express Travel Service 100 Biscayne Boulevard, New World Tower Miami, FL 33132 Tel: [1] (305) 358-7350 Fax: [1] (305) 358-3932 Email: biscaynectn@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 5p.m. New York City American Express Travel 111 Broadway New York, NY 10006 Tel: [1] (212) 693-1100 Fax: [1] (212) 693-1229 Email: 111broadwayctn@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30a.m. to 5.30p.m. San Francisco American Express Travel Service 455 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94105 Tel: [1] (415) 536-2600 Fax: [1] (415) 512-8260 Email: Embarcaderoctn@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 5.30p.m., Saturday 10a.m. to 2p.m. Seattle American Express Travel 600 Stewart Seattle, WA 98101 Tel: [1] (206) 441-8622 Fax: [1] (206) 448-0656 Web: www.azumano.com Email: mmiller@azumano.com Washington D.C. American Express Travel Service 1501 K St. NW, On 15th at K St. Washington, DC 20005 Tel: [1] (202) 457-1300 Fax: [1] (202) 783-2970 Email: Dcconnecticutctn@aexp.com Hours: Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 5.30p.m. Additional locations may be found on the AmEx website: www.amextravelresources.com/search. MasterCard/Maestro/Cirrus ATM Locations Chicago Chicago National Bank 1800 S Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60608 Nesnah Inc. Dba Minuteman Ctr 2477 S Archer Ave. Chicago, IL 60616 Skylark 2149 S Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60608 Houston 600 Preston and LA 600 Preston St. Houston, TX 77002 Bank One 600 Preston St. Houston, TX 77002 Franklin St Motor Bank 800 Franklin St. Houston, TX 77002 Los Angeles Bank Of The West 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St., Ste. 101 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Express Loto 201 N Los Angeles St., Ste. 14 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Los Angeles Federal Credit Union 200 N Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012-4801 Miami Burdines 22 E Flagler St. Miami, FL 33131 City National Bank (Miami) 25 W Flagler St. Miami, FL 33130 Dade County Federal Credit Union 73 W Flagler St., Ste 136 Miami, FL 33130 New York City Duane Reade #289 280 Broadway New York, NY 10007 Emigrant Savings Bank 261 Broadway New York, NY 10007 Manhattan/Broadway and Chambers #4 270 Broadway New York, NY 10007 San Francisco Atm Inside Rite Aid 1496 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102 Market-Van Ness 1525 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Walgreens #4609 1301 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Seattle 4th At Madison Wall 1001 4th Ave. Seattle, WA 98154 5th And Columbia 701 5th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 Gateway 700 5th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 Washington D.C. American Red Cross 1730 E St. NW Washington, DC 20006 United Unions 1750 New York Ave. NW Washington, DC 20006 White House Federal Credit UN 1724 F St. NW Washington, DC 20006 For other MasterCard ATM locations, see their website at:www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html. Visa ATM Locations Chicago Credit Union 1 1901 W Harrison St. Chicago, IL 60612 Hours: 24 hours Dupage National Bank 1750 W Harrison St. Chicago, IL 60612 Hours: 24 hours First Financial Bank 1900 W Van Buren St. Chicago, IL 60612 Hours: 24 hours Houston Bank Of America 1816 Shepherd Houston, TX 77007 Hours: 24 hours Exxon/Mobil 5401 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77007 Hours: 24 hours Money Access Service Inc. 4324 Washington Ave. Houston, TX 77007 Hours: 24 hours Los Angeles Access Cash International 1701 S Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006-5803 Hours: 24 hours Money Access Service Inc. 2171 Venice Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90006 Hours: 24 hours Union Bank Of California 1803 S Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006 Hours: 24 hours Miami Chasewood Bank 2238 SW 57 Ave. Miami, FL 33155 Hours: 24 hours Commercial Bank Of Florida 1550 SW 57 Ave. Miami, FL 33144 Hours: 24 hours Sedano's 4803 SW 8th St. Miami, FL 33134-2522 Hours: 24 hours New York City Cardtronicslpc 666 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10022 Hours: 24 hours Money Access Service Inc. 666 Lexington New York, NY 10022 Hours: 24 hours Sterling National Bank 425 Park Ave. New York, NY 10017 Hours: 24 hours San Francisco Market Street 2275 Market ST. San Francisco, CA 94114 Hours: 24 hours Sterling Bank And Trust, FSB 2122 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94114 Hours: 24 hours TRM Atm Corp. 200 Fillmore St. San Francisco, CA 94117 Hours: 24 hours Seattle BANK OF AMERICA 1401 1st Ave. Seattle, WA 98101 Hours: 24 hours Homestreet Bank Two Union Square Lobby Seattle, WA 98101 Hours: 24 hours Verity Credit Union 1519 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 77546 Hours: 24 hours Washington D.C. CVS 1900 7th St. NW Washington, DC 20001 Hours: 24 hours EDS Credit Union 1622 7th St. Washington, DC 20001 Hours: 24 hours Industrial Bank, N.A. 2000 11th St. NW Washington, DC Hours: 24 hours For other Visa ATM locations, visit their website at: http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/. LOST OR STOLEN CARDS AND CHECKS American Express Lost and Stolen Cards Toll-free: [1] 800-221-7282 Visa Card Toll-free: [1] 800-847-2911 Diners Club In the country: [1] 800-234-6377 Out of the country: [1] 303-799-1504 MasterCard Toll-free: [1] 636-722-7111 Visa Traveler’s Checks Toll-free: [1] 800-227-6811