Embassy/Consulate Assistance

There are US Embassies in more than 160 capital cities around the world. Each embassy has a consular section, and the consular offices do two things: 1) issue visas to foreigners and 2) help US citizens abroad.

Register with the nearest US embassy or consulate if you will be in a country for a month or more, or if you are visiting a country where there is a political or economic unrest. This makes it easier for staff there to reach you in an emergency or to replace a lost passport.

What the U.S. Embassy/Consulate CAN Do

Emergencies services:

• If you lose your passport, a consul can issue you a replacement, often within 24 hours. If you believe your passport was stolen, fist report the theft to the local police and get a police declaration.
• If you get sick, you can contact a consular officer for a list of local doctors, dentists, and medical specialists, along with other medical information. If you are injured or become seriously ill, a consul can help you find medical assistance and, at your request, notify your family and friends.
• If you lose your money and other financial resources, consular officers can help you contact your family, bank, or employer to arrange for them to send funds.
• If there’s an emergency at home and your family needs to reach you while you are abroad, they can call the State Department’s Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225. The State Department will relay the message to the consular officers in the country in which you are traveling. Consular officers will attempt to reach you and pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back to your family.
• If you’re caught in a natural disaster or civil disturbance, you should let your family know as soon as possible that you are safe or contact a US consul who will pass that message to your family through the State Department. Remember that, in a disaster, consuls face the same constraints you do: lack of electricity or fuel, interrupted phone lines, closed airports.

What the U.S. Embassy/Consulate CANNOT Do

• Consular officers cannot act as travel agents, banks, lawyers, investigators, or law enforcement officers. Do not expect them to find employment for you, get you residence of driving permits, act as interpreters, search for missing luggage, or settle disputes with hotel managers. They can, however, tell you how to get help on these and other matters.

Privacy Act Issues:

• As a general rule, consular officers may not revel information regarding an individual American’s location, welfare, intentions, or problems to anyone, including family members and Congressional representatives, without the expressed consent of that individual. Although sympathetic to the distress this can cause for concerned families, consular officers must comply with the provision of the Privacy Act.

If you are Arrested Abroad

• While in a foreign country, US citizens are subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which may differ significantly from those at home. Be sure to learn as much as you can about the local laws and customs of your destination, including information on alcohol consumption and drug possession and use.
• Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, can be expelled, fined, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.
• If arrested abroad, a citizen must go through the foreign legal process for being charged or indicted, prosecuted, possibly convicted and sentenced, and for any appeals process.

Consular services:

• The US consular officers CANNOT get a US citizen out of jail, provide legal advice, pay legal fees and/or fines, or act as attorneys. They can, however, provide the prisoner with a list of local attorneys and assist in obtaining legal representation.
• The US consular office does provide a variety of services to incarcerated citizens, but these depend on the local laws, level of local services available, and circumstances of the prisoner.
• Under international agreements and practice, you have the right to talk to the US consul in most countries. If arrested you must ask the authorities to notify a US consular officer nearest you, they cannot and will not do so without your request. If this is denied, try to have someone else contact the US consular officer for you.
• Upon notification of arrest, the US consular officer will visit the prisoner, advise him/her of rights according to local laws, and contact the prisoner’s friends and relatives with the prisoner’s consent. They will do whatever they can to protect the prisoner’s legitimate interests and to ensure that the prisoner is not discriminated against under local law. US consuls can transfer money, food and clothing to the prison authorities from the prisoner’s family or friends. They will try to get relief, if the prisoner is held under inhumane or unhealthy conditions.
• On-going support for the prisoner includes providing regular visits to the prisoner and reporting on those visits to the Department of State; providing loans to qualified destitute prisoners; arranging vitamin and mineral supplements to qualified prisoners; arranging for medical or dental care if not provide by the prison, to be paid for with the prisoner’s funds, or funds from the prisoner’s friends or family; arranging special family visits, subject to local law; protesting mistreatment or abuse to the proper authorities; attending the trail if the embassy/consulate feels that discrimination on the basis of US nationality might occur; and providing information about applying for pardon or prison transfer.
• Discretionary support, provided as needed, includes providing reading materials, subject to local laws; arranging with the American community to provide holiday meals; providing personal amenities (stamps, paper, toiletries) if permitted by the prison, from the prisoner’s or family’s funds; assisting in finding ways to expedite the prisoner’s mail; inquiring about possible prison employment; assisting in arranging correspondence courses.

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