Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad are charged with providing consular protection and services to United States citizens abroad. The safety of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad is the highest priority of the Department of State. Service to the public is OCS’s mission.
This web site contains extensive information that we hope will be helpful to you. Please review our web-based material first as it may answer your questions. If you are looking for information on a particular subject, this A-Z index should assist you in locating the topic. We appreciate your suggestions for how to make our material more useful.
If you are inquiring about an actual life or death emergency, or require other assistance not addressed in the web-based material, contact Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) or our after-hours duty officer by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (202) 647-5225.Abduction, International Parental Child Abduction
CDC Information on International Adoptions
Citizenship for Adopted Children - link to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security
Citizenship for Adopted Children
Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of Kin
Affidavits and Acknowledgement of Documents Abroad (See Notarial Services)
Agriculture, Pets and Wildlife
Travelers' Tips on Bringing Food, Plant and Animal Products into the U.S.
Know Before you Go; Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs
Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws
Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife, FEMA
Animals (See Agriculture, Pets and Wildlife)
Animals and Emergencies - FEMA
Consular Access and Notification- Arrest of Foreign Nationals in U.S.
Authentication
U.S. Department of State Authentication Office
Background Notes on Foreign Countries
Birth Certificates
How to Get Copies of U.S. Birth Records
How to Get Copies of Reports of Birth for Children Born Abroad
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Child Support Enforcement Abroad
Does My Child Have U.S. Citizenship?
How to Document the Citizenship of a U.S. Citizen Born Abroad?
Checklist for Establishing a Citizenship Claim for Person Born Abroad
How Can I Lose U.S. Citizenship?
How Can I Renounce U.S. Citizenship?
Will I Lose U.S. Citizenship If I Obtain Public Office in a Foreign Country?
Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Foreign Military Service
Affidavit of Physical Presence, Parentage to Transmit U.S. Citizenship
Consular Information Sheets - Travel Safety Conditions in Foreign Countries
Consulate
Country Information
Crime
Consular Information Sheets - See the crime section for each country.
U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Abroad
Crisis
Crisis Preparedness for Children
Crisis Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities
Crisis Preparedness for Older Americans
Health Links - Crisis related health issues
Cruise Ships, International (CDC Sanitation Inspections)
Customs Requirements - Import/Export
Death Certificates
Getting Copies of U.S. Death Certificates
Getting Reports of Death for U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad
Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad
Deaths of U.S. Citizens Abroad
Estates of U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad
Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of Kin
Deaths of U.S. Citizens in Foreign Countries - National Archives
Education
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs
Embassy
U.S. Embassies and Consulates Abroad Home Pages (see Consular Section, American Citizens Services)
U.S. Embassy and Consulate Phone Numbers Abroad (see Consular Information Sheets, Registration Paragraph)
Foreign Embassies in the United States
Emergency Medical and Dietary Assistance (EMDA) (See Financial Assistance)
Personal Belongings of U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad
Transferring Proceeds of an Estate from One Country to Another
Affidavit of Surviving Spouse/NOK
Federal Agencies Services Abroad
Fees, Consular
Financial Assistance in an Emergency Abroad
Gold Key Matching Services, U.S. Trade International Partners
HIV Testing Requirements for Entry into Foreign Countries
Overseas Security Advisory Council Publications
Key Officers of the Foreign Service
Kidnapping (See Also Parental Child Abduction)
Loan, Repatriation - See Financial Assistance
Lost Passports Abroad - U.S. Passports Will No Longer be Issued Abroad - Press Release - 4/2/02
Marriage Abroad in Specific Countries
Medical
Medical Information for Americans Abroad
Nationality (See Citizenship)
Tips for Older American Travelers
Passports
Getting a Replacement for a Passport Lost/Stolen Abroad
U.S. Passports Will No Longer be Issued Abroad - Press Release - 4/2/02
Passports for Minors Abroad
New Law on Passports for Minors
Passport Services for Minors in the United States
Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
How to Get Copies of Your Passport Records
Pets, Wildlife and Agriculture
Travelers' Tips on Bringing Food, Plant and Animal Products into the U.S.
Know Before you Go: Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs
Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws
Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife - FEMA
Pets and Disasters - FEMA
Questions - Call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225.
Records
Birth, Death and Marriage Records
Passport Records - National Archives
Passport Records - Department of State
Release of Records
Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean
Tips for Business Travelers to Nigeria
Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa
Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa
Tips for Travelers to South Asia
Tourism
Foreign Tourist Offices in the United States
U.S. Department of Commerce Tourism Office
U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
V
Visas
Wildlife, Pets, and Agriculture
Travelers' Tips on Bringing Food, Plant and Animal Products into the U.S.
Know Before you Go: Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs
Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws
Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife - FEMA
