When should travelers call a U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

February 16, 2022

During a recent trip to Qatar, I found myself unable to leave the country when the PCR test result required to board a departing flight was delayed. A friend asked me whether I had called my embassy for help yet. I had never heard of a U.S. Embassy offering aid for travelers struggling with coronavirus regulations. Like many Americans who have traveled abroad, I had only a vague idea of what an embassy can — and can’t — do.