Emergency “To-Go” Bag Document Checklist (U.S.) – Free PDF

A free one-page checklist of the documents to keep together, copied and ready, in case of an emergency or an unexpected run-in with the authorities in the U.S.

What's on the page

• The ten documents to gather: ID, passports, birth certificates, Social Security card, immigration papers, marriage and children's records, medical records and prescriptions, emergency contacts, and power of attorney or caregiver authorization

• Six official links that open straight from the PDF: USA.gov identity documents, Social Security, USCIS, State Department passports, ACLU Know Your Rights, and the national immigration legal services directory

• Know-your-rights basics and how to keep copies safe

Print it for your emergency folder or save it to your phone. Review it every 6 to 12 months. This is general information, not legal advice.

Traveling abroad? Our Black Abroad 2026 travel guide covers passports, entry rules and emergency numbers for 18 destinations.