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Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management Bureau of Consular Affairs

Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management Bureau of Consular Affairs. “ The America Desk ”. Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management.

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Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management Bureau of Consular Affairs

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  1. Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis ManagementBureau of Consular Affairs “The America Desk”

  2. Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management • The Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) exists to serve Americans traveling or residing abroad. Our primary goal is to meet the needs of American citizens while providing them with premier customer service.

  3. American Citizens Abroad • 60 Million Trips a Year • Up to 4.5 Million Present Overseas

  4. Travelers’ Services • Emergency Passport Issuance • Financial Assistance • Welfare/Whereabouts • Arrest Cases

  5. Travelers’ Services, Cont’d • Crime/Terrorism Victims’ Assistance • Death and Estate Cases • Crisis Response

  6. Emergency Passport Issuance • Report lost passport to nearest Embassy or Consulate ASAP • Passport records now electronic – expedites emergency issuance • WHTI requires all U.S. citizens to have a passport for travel by air to and from U.S. By 2008 this requirement will be extended to overland and sea travel as well.

  7. Financial Assistance • Funds transfer from U.S. • Lender of last resort • Emergency dietary/medical assistance • Repatriation funds

  8. Welfare/Whereabouts • What we do if you don’t call Mom • Emergency notification • In event of a crisis – call home!

  9. Arrest Cases • U.S. citizens overseas subject to local laws • Consular notification and access • Monitor case; communications with U.S.

  10. Crime and Terrorism Victims’ Assistance • CA/OCS provides liaison with state, local, and federal programs to assist victims of crime • Embassy can assist Americans in filing a criminal complaint and provide an attorneys list for legal representation

  11. Crime and Terrorism Victims’ Assistance, Cont’d • Kidnappings: • Assistance to families, liaison with USG law enforcement when requested, but; • No USG Concessions to those holding official or private Americans hostage • No USG ransom payment • No USG release of prisoners

  12. Death Cases • Notify NOK • Facilitate repatriation/disposition of remains • Estate

  13. Crisis Response • Welfare/whereabouts • Immediate needs • Departure/assisted evacuation

  14. Crisis Response, cont’d • Evacuations: • Commercial, then charter, as available • U.S. military as last resort, usually on cost re-imbursable basis. • U.S. citizens priority • One bag, no pets

  15. Crisis Response, cont’d • Lebanon • 15,000 Americans evacuated • Largest evacuation since WWII • 140 officers to assist with evacuation • 24 hour task force in Washington; 7,500 man hours

  16. Consular Information Program • No Double Standard Policy • 1990 Aviation Security Improvement Act • Specific, credible, non-counterable threat • Broadly applied by policy

  17. Make Good Choices “Know Before You Go” The Consular Information Program aims at helping Americans living and traveling abroad make informed decisions and plans.

  18. Consular Information Documents • Consular Information Sheets • Travel Warnings • Public Announcements • Warden Messages • Fact Sheets

  19. Collaborative Process • Information from variety of sources • Embassies, consulates • Intelligence community • Media • Foreign governments • Others

  20. Clearance Process • Variety of offices review and approve a message: • Embassy • Regional Bureau • Diplomatic Security • “Seventh Floor” offices

  21. Help Us Help You • Register • Inform family and friends • Complete emergency contact information on passport/passport application • Call home

  22. Consular Information • www.travel.state.gov • 1-888-407-4747 (in U.S. and Canada) • 202-501-4444 (outside of U.S.)

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