Consul's Corner - Travel & Safety Tips from a Diplomatic Career

Disclaimer: The information in this post is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney–client relationship. Although care is taken to ensure accuracy, laws and regulations relating to U.S. citizenship and identification can change. Individuals should consult a qualified legal professional or the appropriate government agency before acting on any information discussed here.

Laws and consular procedures may change rapidly; therefore, I cannot guarantee that this information is current or correct. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional advice from a qualified attorney, legal counsel, or the U.S. Department of State. — A U.S. Consul is a Foreign Service Officer who serves as the primary “face” of the U.S. government for citizens and travelers overseas, focusing on practical, public-facing services. After a 23 year career in public service, my daily responsibilities as one remained as mysterious as the job title, itself.

Generally, our service to the public includes:

• Protecting U.S. Citizens: We provide emergency and non-emergency support for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad, including assisting with arrests, assaults, hospitalizations, or deaths; theft and replacing lost passports; and coordinating evacuations during natural disasters or civil unrest.
• Vital Record Services: Consuls document major life events for Americans abroad. We review evidence from U.S. citizen parents to issue Consular Reports of Birth Abroad that granted U.S. citizenship to their children born outside of the United States. We also work with families and handle the remains of our citizens who died naturally or prematurely in our assigned country to issue Consular Reports of Death Abroad that affect estate and insurance claims. We also are commissioned U.S. notaries public and at times travel to remote parts of a country to offer notarization services to U.S. citizens who otherwise have difficulty traveling to the nearest embassy or consulate.
• Border Security and Visas: We safeguard U.S. borders by interviewing and adjudicating visa applications for foreign nationals wishing to visit, study, work temporarily or immigrate permanently in the United States.
• Facilitating Public Participation: We assist Americans abroad with absentee voter registration and mail-in voting, federal benefits such as social security checks, and selective service registration.
• Commercial Support: We help foster U.S. trade by assisting American businesses with local regulations and protecting commercial interests. We collaborate with diplomatic security colleagues to keep U.S. businesses operating in a country current on potential security threats.

While an Ambassador represents the President to a foreign government in the capital city, Consuls are often “on the ground” in multiple major cities across a country to provide these direct services to the public.