Well established US consulates and an embassy is a personal prerequisite for traveling to a country. 1. They are an advocate if you are involved in any legal o

Well established US consulates and an embassy is a personal prerequisite for traveling to a country. 1. They are an advocate if you are involved in any legal or criminal trouble. As a strange person in a strange land you might be targeted in unfair ways. 2. They can issue documentation. If you lose your passport a consulate should be your very first stop. If you give birth overseas that can issue the papers needed to give your child US citizenship. You can use them for absentee voting. 3. They are helpful in many emergencies and unexpected events. In the case of death they notify next-of-kin and help navigate the differences of two culture's dead customs and transfer of the body to home. If there's limited travel paths home (natural disaster, etc) they help secure safe travel home.