In fact, traveling to the USA is the dream of almost every Indian citizen nowadays. From relishing the American way of life to discovering charming spots, a trip to the USA can enliven anyone’s mind in a flash. However, your overseas travel experience can get negatively impacted if you happen to go cashless during your vacation. This is why you must research all the expenses prior to your trip and prepare a sound budget to keep such scenarios at bay.
Do you know what steps to take when you are out of cash during a foreign trip? Home to distinct races, religions and ethnic traditions, the USA is a world famous destination that attracts vacationers from all corners of the globe. Although the cultural diversity is enough to make the country stand out, there is a lot more in store for foreign travelers.
Given the wide range of museums, scenic mountain ranges and diverse cuisines, flying to the USA can pave the way for an memorable and exhilarating experience. However, the fun can come to an abrupt end if you run out of money in the middle of your trip. While travelers should plan for unforeseen circumstances beforehand, this wisdom would not come handy if you have already embarked on your trip.
There could be various reasons for running out of money like unexpected shopping expenses, exorbitant hotel bills, entertainment costs etc. If you are in the US and have no money left, thank your lucky stars you have landed on the right post for advice. Here are some useful steps you can take when you are out of funds to avoid money-related hassles.
1. Reload your forex card
When it comes to leaving on an international trip, people are often advised to carry some money in the form of cash and load the rest in their forex cards. The forex card serves as a life saver should travelers get pickpocketed during their journey. If you are fortunate enough to be having a prepaid forex card with you, your problem will be solved within minutes.
There was a time when customers had to cover huge distances to reach physical branches where they could get their forex cards reloaded. The good news is that technology has simplified things considerably and today's situation is totally different. With a smartphone and internet at your disposal, you can refill your forex card from anywhere in the world.
Top-notch forex card providers allow users to track their expenses by sending out instant text and email notifications. Since a forex card is chip-embedded and backed with rigid PIN protection, you will be protected against card frauds. Forex cards are not only easier to carry than hard cash but they also promise up to 6.5% savings over traditional credit/debit cards.
Even if you become a victim of theft and your forex card lands into the wrong hands, there would be no misuse and the credit goes to the solid security features. All it will take is a phone call to lodge a theft report and your card will be blocked within no time. No matter which city you are in, you can ask your forex card provider for emergency cash support too.
There are a handful of prominent providers that even go the extra mile and offer an insurance cover on forex cards absolutely free of cost. The insurance cover can come to the rescue of travelers by covering losses resulting from theft, assault and fraud. Also, the online balance checking facility of forex cards can prove to be quite useful for Indians abroad.
You can always check how much balance is remaining in your travel forex card to avoid running out of money again.
2. Consider getting a wire transfer done
Be it due to mismanagement of budget or unplanned expenses, finding the bank account empty is the worst nightmare for every stranded traveler. If you are in such a dire financial strait, don't let your composure get ruffled. Just act as fast as possible and ask your family or friends to initiate a wire transfer in your favor before things get real messy.
In layman's terms, wire transfer refers to an electronic transfer facility in which money is transferred to the respective beneficiary within 12 to 48 hours. Another popular way of transferring money to the USA is via foreign currency demand drafts.
In this traditional method, paper drafts are delivered overseas via mail or courier. After the physical draft is received by the beneficiary abroad, it has to be encashed. Although demand drafts are a secure and convenient way to send funds to the USA, the biggest issue with them is that their transfer can sometimes take 10 days.
Since you are in urgent need of money, it makes a lot more sense to go for a wire transfer over a demand draft which can be potentially time-consuming. For carrying out a wire transfer, documents like passport, PAN card and address proof will be required. What's good is that you can upload and sign all the documents online without going anywhere for the same.
Make sure the account details you share are correct and accurate or else the transaction may get delayed further. Although you may find many banks offering the wire transfer service, all of them charge up to ₹2,500 for each transfer along with various other service charges.
If you are looking for cost-effective outward remittance, BookMyForex is one of the best service providers in India that facilitates wire transfers up to $25,000. Above all, the platform waives off all processing charges for wire transfers and ensures savings of 2% over private banks.
All outward money remittances are processed through trusted banks only. Moreover, the remitter can track the progress of the transfer process until the funds are received by the beneficiary. The nicest thing is that money remittance is done at live USD exchange rates to give you the best bang for your buck.
So, ensure you use BookMyForex for wire transfer from India to USA to get the money quickly so that you can resume your travel without any financial worries.
3. Get in touch with the Indian embassy
The moment you realize that you have no money left, you should immediately reach out to the Indian embassy instead of overstaying your welcome in the US. The Indian Embassy to the USA is situated in Washington DC. Although there is nothing wrong with seeking assistance, there is no surety whether you will be helped or not.
If you are in some other city and don't have the means to reach the Indian Embassy, there is no need to lose hope. Alternatively, you can head to the nearest police station to return safely to India.
4. Tweet the foreign minister
This might seem implausible but you can also get help by tweeting to India's foreign minister. There have been several instances in the past where the external affairs minister has provided assistance to Indians stranded overseas. If luck works in your favor and your tweet gets noticed, you might get the needed monetary aid or help in some form or another.
Takeaway
Without a doubt, the history of the United States is extraordinarily fascinating. In fact, traveling to the USA is the dream of almost every Indian citizen nowadays. From relishing the American way of life to discovering charming spots, a trip to the USA can enliven anyone's mind in a flash.
However, your overseas travel experience can get negatively impacted if you happen to go cashless during your vacation. This is why you must research all the expenses prior to your trip and prepare a sound budget to keep such scenarios at bay.
If you are financially drained and stuck overseas with no one to approach, see to it you implement the aforementioned steps to avoid getting into a sticky situation.
