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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Bureau of Public Affairs Questions are arranged alphabetically by subject. Scroll through the page or click on a letter below to jump to questions on topics starting with that letter. Use the Back button on your browser to return to this index.
About the State Department What does the State Department do? The State Department is the lead federal agency responsible for U.S. foreign affairs. The Department of State helps to shape a freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through formulating, representing, and implementing the President's foreign policy. For an introduction to the activities of the State Department, please see: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/436.htm Mission http://www.state.gov/m/rm/rls/dosstrat/2004/23503.htm How is the State Department organized? Bureaus and Offices http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/42.htm Where can I find an organization chart of the State Department? Organization Chart http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/7926.htm Adoption -- International adoptions What federal agencies handle international adoptions? The two federal agencies that handle the issues involved in immigration and citizenship for international adoption are the State Department for travel visas and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The following resources may help you to direct your inquiries: International Adoption Homepage International Adoption Guidelines http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/fororphan.htm USCIS: Locate the Nearest Field Offices Via Clickable Map http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/statemap.htm Ambassadors Where can I find information about Ambassadors and Chiefs of Missions? Information and biographies are available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/c130.htm Attachments I want to send a file to the State Department, but my e-mail keeps bouncing back – what can I do? The State Department does not accept e-mail attachments; if you have a question or comment, please use our web mail form at: http://contact-us.state.gov/ Background Notes Where can I find Country Background Notes? Background Notes are available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/ When and by whom are Background Notes updated? Background Notes are updated by desk officers in each regional bureau and released on the Web site soon after receipt by the Bureau of Public Affairs. Update schedules for Notes vary widely from one regional bureau to another. Most State Department offices and bureaus do not deal with inquiries by e-mail, but telephone numbers are available at: http://foia.state.gov/MMS/CountryOffices/cntry_off.asp Can I get an e-mail when Background Notes are updated? To receive the latest releases of Country Background Notes by e-mail, subscribe to the DOSBACK e-mail subscription at: http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html Birth certificates I am a U.S. citizen, where can I obtain a copy of my birth certificate? To obtain a copy of a birth certificate, if you were born a U.S. citizen in a U.S. state, please see: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm You also may wish to contact: U.S. Department of State Passport Correspondence Office 1111 Nineteenth Street NW, Suite 510 Washington, DC 20524 Tel: 202-955-0307 I am not a U.S. citizen, where can I obtain a copy of my birth certificate? Foreign Embassies in the U.S. http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/ Business information and contacts Where can I find answers to business questions? For business information or to contact the State Department with business questions, please see: http://www.state.gov/business/ Business Frequently Asked Questions http://www.state.gov/e/eb/cba/c599.htm Where can I find business contacts in a particular country? Business Contacts http://www.state.gov/e/eb/cba/190.htm I am trying to conduct business abroad; where can I find information about this? Doing Business Abroad http://www.state.gov/e/eb/cba/176.htm I want to start an export business; where can I find information on exporting products? U.S. Government Export Portal http://www.export.gov To which countries can my business not export products? Department of Commerce: Export Controls http://www.bxa.doc.gov/licensing/exportingbasics.htm Child abduction Where can I get assistance if my child was abducted and taken to another country? For direct assistance, please contact the Office of Children's Issues: Office of Children's Issues U.S. Department of State 2401 E Street, NW Room L127 Washington, DC 20037 Tel: 202-736-9130 Toll Free (within U.S.) Tel: 1-888-407-4747 (8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. eastern time) Fax: 202-736-9133 http://travel.state.gov/officeofchildissues.html Also see: International Parental Child Abduction http://travel.state.gov/abduct.html Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program http://travel.state.gov/pia_program.html Commercial Fraud/Scams Are the e-mails and/or faxes I’ve received from Nigeria offering me business opportunities legitimate? Fraudulent e-mail and fax solicitation started in Nigeria, but reports show that both e-mail messages and faxes originate from Lagos, Congo, and Sierra Leone, in addition to Nigeria. For information on these types of solicitations, please see the following Web sites: Tips for Business Travelers to Nigeria http://travel.state.gov/scams.html How do I protect myself from e-mail solicitation? For additional information about how to avoid this kind of e-mail, please note the following from the Federal Trade Commission:
http://www.ftc.gov/spam Country research I am researching other countries, where can I find information about them? Please see the following sites for information: http://www.state.gov/countries/ Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html U.S. Embassies and Consulates http://usembassy.state.gov Major State Department Publications http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/221.htm For additional research links on countries: http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/ercdesk/countryPF.html Your local library can also help you with books, news articles and journal articles on your topic. To find your local federal depository library via a clickable map, please see: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html Diplomatic Immunity Who is granted diplomatic immunity? How does one get diplomatic immunity? Where can I find information about diplomatic immunity? For information on diplomatic immunity, please see: Diplomatic and Consular Immunity http://www.state.gov/m/ds/immunities/c9127.htm Serving the Foreign Diplomatic Community http://www.state.gov/m/ds/immunities/ Immunity Issues: Telephone Numbers http://www.state.gov/m/ds/immunities/c9125.htm Dual Citizenship I want dual citizenship with the U.S. and another country, how do I get it? For information about dual nationality, please see: http://travel.state.gov/acs.html#cit How can I lose my dual citizenship? For information on how someone may LOSE his/her dual citizenship status, please see: http://travel.state.gov/loss.html What agency handles citizenship and immigration? The U.S. federal agency that handles issues of citizenship and immigration is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a bureau in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. You may find more information from the USCIS Frequently Asked Questions About Naturalization at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/faq.htm Education, Exchanges, and Scholarships Where can I get information about education, exchanges, and scholarships? Please see: http://exchanges.state.gov/ Where can I get information about the Fulbright Program? Please see: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/ Where can I get an application for a scholarship? To obtain application forms and specific requirements, you must to contact the individual universities in the United States directly. You also may find more information about financial aid and educational opportunities on the following Web sites: U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/NLE/U.S.NEI/us/study-us.html How can I pay for my education? You can find information about financial aid and funding your education at the following Web sites: U.S. Department of Education: Funding Your Education http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/FYE/index.html U.S. Department of Education: Finding Out about Financial Aid http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/student.html U.S. Department of Education: Access America for Students Where can I get information about embargoes and sanctions on other countries? Please see the Defense Trade Controls Embargo Reference Chart: http://www.pmdtc.org/country.htm For further assistance at the State Department, please write: Commercial and Business Affairs 2201 C Street, NW, Room 2318 U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Tel: 202-647-1625 Fax: 202-647-3953 E-mail: cbaweb@state.gov For additional information, please see: Bureau of Industry and Security: License Application and Policy Guidance Fact Sheets http://www.bxa.doc.gov/licensing/exportingbasics.htm Bureau of Industry and Security: Export Counseling Excluded Parties Listing System Treasury Department: Office of Foreign Assets Control Treasury Department: International Trade Data System Where can I find information about foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S., including where they are located? For embassies and consulates of other countries in the U.S., please see the following sites: Foreign Embassies in the U.S. http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/ How can I locate a foreign diplomat located in the U.S.? Diplomatic List http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/ How can I locate Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments in the U.S.? Central Intelligence Agency: Chiefs of State & Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/chiefs/index.html Embassies -- U.S. Where can I find information about U.S. embassies and consulates in foreign countries, including where they are located? To locate a U.S. Embassy Web site, please see: http://usembassy.state.gov How can I locate a U.S. diplomat in another country? To locate contact addresses and key officers at U.S. Embassies, please see: http://www.foia.state.gov/mms/KOH/keyofficers.asp Please note that many State Department offices and posts do not deal with the public via e-mail. The State Department's Bureau of Information Resources and Management does not provide a directory of e-mail addresses for posts or individuals, but we will ensure that this bureau is aware of all public requests for e-mail addresses. Embassy Post Reports What kind of career could I have with the State Department? For information about Foreign and Civil Service, Student Programs and Internships, and more, please see: http://www.state.gov/employment.cfm Where can I get a list of open jobs at the State Department? The 24-hour Civil Service Job Vacancy Line telephone number is 202-647-7284. A list of State Department job openings by U.S. government agency is available at: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/agency_search.asp Perform an agency search, by typing “Department of State” in the search box or selecting “Department of State” from the menu. Each open position listed explains how to apply for that job. Often you can apply on-line, but in some cases, you may need to complete federal employment application forms and pass exams to be eligible for employment. To contact the Office of Recruitment at the State Department: Can the State Department give me a list of international job openings? Please see specific embassy sites for international jobs. Embassy web pages are at: http://usembassy.state.gov Employment (U.S.) How do I get a job in the United States? Where can I get a list of open jobs in the U.S. government? Please see the following sites: Office of Personnel Management: U.S.A. Jobs http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook which includes descriptions of jobs, experience and education requirements, earnings, etc. http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm Department of Labor: America's Job Bank (includes job listings) http://www.ajb.dni.us/ U.S. Office of Personnel Management http://www.opm.gov/ Exchange Rates Where can I find the latest foreign exchange rates? The State Department's Web site does not include the information you are seeking, but the Library of Congress site links to foreign exchange rate converters at: http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/beonline/exchange.html Export Forms What forms do I have to complete if I want to export military items to another country? Export licensing Forms DS-2032 and DSP-83 can be downloaded from: http://www.pmdtc.org/getforms.htm Other forms, such as DSP-5, DSP-61, DSP-85, and DSP-119 can be ordered through the online ordering system at: http://www.pmdtc.org/forms/formorders.htm These forms also may be requested by sending a fax to 202-261-8264 identifying the form and stating a quantity. For general inquiries about and guidance on licensing and compliance matters, please contact the Office of Defense Trade Controls directly at: Where is the closest federal depository library to me where I can find archives of State Department documents? To find your local federal depository library via a clickable map, please see: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html Foreign Assistance Where can I find information about foreign assistance provided by the U.S.? Please see: State Department International Affairs Budget http://www.state.gov/m/rm/rls/iab/ U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) http://www.usaid.gov/ USAID Publications http://www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/ Foreign Policy Opinion Will I get a response if I send the Secretary of State an e-mail expressing my opinion on U.S. foreign policy? Secretary Powell receives so much mail that he cannot personally review each message. On behalf of the Secretary, the State Department's public information officers in the Public Communication Division, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Liaison, read each e-mail received. E-mails solely expressing foreign policy opinions or congratulating the Secretary are carefully recorded. The Secretary is committed to keeping in touch with people throughout the U.S. and the world. Your continued interest and participation in foreign affairs is very important to the Secretary. The following Web sites contain a wide variety of information from the State Department: http://www.state.gov/ For information, please contact the Bureau of Public Affairs at: Public Communication Division PA/PIL/PC U.S. State Department Washington, DC 20520 Tel: 202-647-6575 Fax: 202-261-8577 (the Secretary’s public fax) http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html Foreign Policy Research Where can I find information on U.S. foreign policy for my research paper? We cannot conduct research for you, but we refer you to the following sites: International Topics and Issues http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/ Press and Public Affairs http://www.state.gov/press/ History, Education and Culture http://www.state.gov/history/ For Foreign Policy information prior to 2001, please see the archive: http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/faq.html Foreign Service How do I join the Foreign Service? For general information about careers in the State Department including the Foreign Service, please see: http://www.careers.state.gov For additional information about the Foreign Service or other State Department careers, please contact: Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment U.S. Department of State HR/REE, SA-1 2401 E Street, NW, 5th Floor Highrise Washington, DC 20522 Tel: 202-261-8888 Fax: 202-261-8841 When is the next Foreign Service Exam? Where can I find information about a former State Department Foreign Service officer? A good source for State Department biographies at your local federal depository library is the State Department's Biographic Register: Author: United States. Department of State. Fulbright Program Office of Academic Exchange Programs Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs U.S. Department of State, SA-44 301 4th Street, S.W., Room 234 Washington, DC 20547 Tel: 202-619-4360 Fax: 202-401-5914 E-mail: academic@state.gov Great Seal http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/27807.pdf Am I allowed to use the Great Seal of the United States? What are the laws regarding the Great Seal of the United States? Use of the Great Seal of the United States is governed by Public Law 91-651, Title 18 of the United States Code. This is a criminal statute with penal provisions, prohibiting certain uses of the Great Seal that would convey or reasonably be calculated to convey a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof. Although the Secretary of State is custodian of the Seal, the Department of State has no authority to grant or withhold permission for use of reproductions, facsimiles, or likenesses of the Seal, or any part thereof. The Department of Justice determines, based on the circumstances of each case, whether any particular use violates the Statute. Consequently, the Department of State's policy has been to discourage use of the Great Seal, except when used for governmental or educational purposes, and the Department does not provide artwork for its use other than for official State Department material. The Office of Presidential Appointments manages the use of the Great Seal. Human Rights Reports Where can I find the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published by the State Department? What government agency is responsible for immigration? Immigration questions are handled by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS provides a toll-free telephone number for immigration and naturalization questions: 1-800-375-5283. Additional information may be found at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm Immigration Statistics Where can I find immigration statistics? The State Department Web site does not contain information specifically on your topic; however, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs has some related statistics at: Visa Services http://travel.state.gov/passport_statistics.html Where can I find information about refugees? For information about refugees, please see: Bureau of Population, Refugees & Migration U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Statistics http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/immigration.html International Narcotics Reports Where can I find International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports? The State Department Web site provides online Narcotics Reports from 1996 to the present at: http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/nrcrpt/ Older reports are not available online, but you may be able to find the information you need at your local federal depository library. When are International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports published? Link request Who can answer my specific question regarding copyright on state.gov? Do I need to worry about Mad Cow Disease when I travel to other countries? Please see Medical Information for Americans Abroad: http://travel.state.gov/medical.html The Centers for Disease Control provides general disease information as well as travel information on diseases and health at: Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cjd/cjd.htm CDC: Travelers' Health http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ CDC: Mad Cow Disease http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/madcow.htm What is Mad Cow Disease? General information about this disease may be found at: Food & Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html Trying to Keep "Mad Cow Disease" Out of U.S. Herds, from FDA Consumer http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/201_cow.html Passport Information Where and how do I get a U.S. passport? Information about Passports is available at: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html For contact information for the National Passport Information Center, please see: http://travel.state.gov/npicinfo.html How much does it cost to get a U.S. passport? Please see the passport fee schedule at http://travel.state.gov/newfees.html How do I obtain a copy of my Passport Records? To request copies of passport records, please see the following Web sites for information: How to Obtain Copies of Your Passport Records http://www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy/research_topics/passport_applications.html Passport Statistics How many passports does the State Department issue each year? For passport statistics from 1974 to the present, please see: http://travel.state.gov/passport_statistics.html Patterns of Global Terrorism Where can I get a copy of "Patterns of Global Terrorism"? The current edition of this publication is available on the State Department Web site at: http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/ Also, you may purchase a copy directly from the Government Printing Office. For ordering information, please see: http://bookstore.gpo.gov The information you need to provide is: Stock Number: 041-015-00229-5 Price: $36.00 (U.S.); $50.40 (Non-U.S.) PDF: Adobe Acrobat .pdf File To download the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat at no cost, please see: Per Diem Rates -- Domestic U.S. General Services Administration: Domestic Per Diem Rates Per Diem Rates -- Foreign http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/ You can subscribe to receive foreign per diem rates by e-mail: http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html If you have further questions on foreign per diem rates: Office of Allowances Bureau of Administration U.S. Department of State SA-1, Room H426 2401 E St, NW Washington, DC 20522 Tel: 202-663-1121 E-mail: AllowancesO@state.gov The CONUS domestic rates are not available via the State Department, but you can find them online at the U.S. General Services Administration: Where can I find the latest Section 920 Table of Allowances? Thank you for your question about Section 920 Department of State Standardized Regulations information. For the latest postings, please see our Web site at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/920/ For additional information about per diem rates and Section 920 information, please contact the Office of Allowances at: Office of Allowances Bureau of Administration U.S. Department of State SA-1, Room H426 2401 E St, NW Washington, DC 20522 Tel: 202-663-1121 E-mail: AllowancesO@state.gov Press Briefings and Statements Current Press Briefings http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/ What the Secretary Has Been Saying http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/ Daily briefings and press statements are also available via e-mail subscription at: http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html Daily press briefings prior to 2000 http://secretary.state.gov/www/briefings/index.html Press statements prior to 2000 http://secretary.state.gov/www/briefings/statements/index.html Protocol Where can I find information about diplomatic etiquette and protocol? The State Department Web site provides the following resources on diplomatic protocol and etiquette: Overseas Briefing Center: Protocol for the Modern Diplomat http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/15742.pdf Foreign Affairs Manual: 2 FAM 300, Protocol, Precedence, and Formalities http://foia.state.gov/Regs/Search.asp Secretaries of State Where can I find information about former Secretaries of State? Please see: About the State Department http://www.state.gov/aboutstate/ U.S. Department of State for Youth http://future.state.gov/future/who/secretary/former/index.html Archive: Secretaries of State http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/officers/secstate.html Archive: State Department Office of the Historian FAQ http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/faq.html Secretary Powell – Biography Where can I find Secretary Powell’s biography? For biographical information on Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, please see: http://www.state.gov/secretary/ Can I find out where the Secretary of State will be on any given day? For information on Secretary Powell’s schedule, please see: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/c11024.htm What does the Secretary of State do? For information on the duties of the Secretary of State, please see: http://www.state.gov/secretary/96.htm Speaker Request How can I get a person from the State Department to speak at my location? To arrange for a representative to speak at your location, please contact: Regional Programs Office of Public Liaison Bureau of Public Affairs U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW, Room 2206 Washington, DC 20520-2204 Tel: 202-647-8411 State Department Employees - Locating and Contacting You can also find listings for State Department key officers at: To locate someone in the Foreign Service, please contact the Employee Services Center at 202-647-3432, or write: Employee Services Center U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW, Room 1252 Washington, DC 20520 If you wish to contact the overseas post where the person you seek last worked, see the foreign posts and overseas missions at: Can I get a State Department form online? To access State Department forms online, please see the following sites: Passport Forms DS-11, 19, 64, 82, 3053 http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html Non-immigrant Visa Application (Form DS-156) http://travel.state.gov/DS-0156.pdf Supplemental Non-immigrant Visa Application (Form DS-157) http://travel.state.gov/DS-0157.pdf Defense Trade Controls: DS-2032, DSP-83, ELLIEnet, and Order Export Forms DSP-5, 61, 73, 85, 119 are available at: http://pmdtc.org/getforms.htm State Department List – privacy I want information on the individuals and companies with whom the State Department does business. Where can I find it? Section (n) of the Privacy Act expressly prohibits agencies from selling or renting mailing lists. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the State Department does not compile or maintain lists of individuals for public availability. Please see the full text of the Privacy Act for more information: http://foia.state.gov/privacy.asp State Department Listserv How can I automatically receives State Department documents and publications? To read about State Department electronic mailing lists and manage your e-mail subscriptions, please see: http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html State Department Records Where can I find old records of the State Department? Microfilmed copies of older State Department records can be obtained by contacting the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). NARA records are arranged by the creating agency and are assigned particular "record group" numbers. State Department records can be found in Record Group 59. More information about NARA's State Department holdings is available at the following sites: Guide to the General Records of the Department of State http://archiveseleanor.nara.gov/iwg/declassified_records/rg_059_state_department/rg_059_general_records_1.html To contact NARA with questions about State Department records: http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/contact_us.html Use the inquire Form at: http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/inquire_form.html State Department Reports – Major Publications Where can I get reports and publications issued by the State Department? Major State Department Publications are available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/221.htm Teaching Overseas Where can I find information about teaching overseas? Please see: http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c6776.htm Or contact: Office of Overseas Schools U.S. Department of State Room H328, SA-1 Washington, D. C. 20522-0132 Tel: 202-261-8200 Fax: 202-261-8224 E-mail: overseasschools@state.gov Tourism Statistics Where can I get statistics about the tourism industry? The State Department Web site does not include information specifically on your topic, though you may wish to see the following: Visa Statistics http://travel.state.gov/passport_statistics.html For other federal agencies more directly focused on tourism statistics, please see: Bureau of Transportation Statistics: American Travel Survey http://www.bts.gov/programs/ats/ International Trade Administration: Tourism Industrieshttp://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/ Tours Can I take a tour of the State Department when I’m visiting Washington, DC? Guided tours of the State Department are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Tours are 45 minutes in duration. Reservations are required and should be made approximately four weeks in advance, due to the large volume of requests. Please call or write the Department's tour office: How do I know if I will be safe if I travel overseas? For the most current information on travel warnings and related updates, contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Public Affairs, at 202-647-5225 or visit their Web site at: http://travel.state.gov To see travel warnings and consular information sheets by country, please see: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in the country you are visiting also may provide additional information and links about the country on their Web site at: http://usembassy.state.gov Travel publications are available at: http://travel.state.gov/travel_pubs.html Travel advisories and consular information are also distributed via e-mail on the State Department's DOSTRAVEL e-mail group. You can learn more about the DOSTRAVEL electronic subscriptions and how to subscribe here: State Department e-mail subscriptions Travel warnings are issued as necessary and unless otherwise specified, are in effect until the State Department issues either a new warning or a notice that the current warning will expire. Therefore, the warnings listed on our site are current although they were issued months before. When was the last Travel Advisory on Worldwide Caution issued? Families in the United States whose U.S. citizen relatives abroad are directly affected by a crisis can also communicate with the Department of State through our Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management at 202-647-5225. If a 24-hour task force or working group is established in the Department of State Operations Center to manage the crisis, you will be directed to the Task Force at 202-647-0900. For more information, please see: http://travel.state.gov/crisismg.html Where can I find health information for the foreign country I’m getting ready to visit? International travelers can also check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, through their hotline at: 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) fax: 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ Treaties Where can I find information about current and past treaties the U.S. has signed? The State Department Web site provides the following resources on treaties: Treaty Actions http://www.state.gov/s/l/c8455.htm U.S. Bilateral Investment Treaties http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/fs/22422.htm Archive of U.S. Bilateral Investment Treaties http://www.state.gov/www/issues/economic/bit_treaty.html U.S. Arms Control Treaties & Other Agreements http://www.state.gov/t/ac/trt/ Archive of Arms Control and International Security http://www.state.gov/t/ac/trt/c7905.htm Archive of Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs http://www.state.gov/www/global/oes/index.html Office of the Legal Adviser http://www.state.gov/s/l/ The search engine at GPO Access: Senate, House and Treaty Documents (1995-present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/index.html Law Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/law/guide/treaties.html Visas for Americans How does a U.S. citizen get a visa to travel to another country? For Americans wishing to visit other countries, please see the following site for information on foreign entry requirements: http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html To contact a local foreign consulate in the United States please see: http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/ Visa Affidavit of Support (I-864) How do I file an Affidavit of Support for a Relative? Please see: Affidavit of Support http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-864pkg.htm Affidavit of Support Checklist http://travel.state.gov/checkliStreethtml General Information & Frequently Asked Questions: Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html Visa Denial Why was my visa denied? Information about visa denial is available at: http://travel.state.gov/visadenials.html How can I reapply for a visa that has been denied? For reapplication to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Embassy that is handling your case, please see: http://usembassy.state.gov Visa Information & Contacts Who can I talk to about my visa? For assistance, please contact the experts at Visa Services directly at: Public Inquiries Visa Services U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20522-0106 Tel: 202-663-1225 http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html What is the e-mail address for the Visa Services office and is there any special format I should use when sending an e-mail? If you choose to contact Visa Services by e-mail at usvisa@state.gov, the Visa Office requires that you type a particular code into the subject line of your e-mail message in order to more efficiently process your inquiry. These codes are included below: IF YOU ARE IN THE U.S., and would like to stay longer, or work in the U.S., or change from a certain visa category to another, or change your employer, type INS For information on visa denial, type DENIAL If you want to visit the U.S., type VISIT If you want to work in the U.S., type WORK For information on cultural exchange programs, type EXCHANGE If you want to study in the U.S., type STUDENT For information for "J" visa waivers, type 212eWAIVER For information on renewing E, H, I, L, O, or P visas in the U.S, type REVALIDATION For information on traveling abroad (i.e., outside the U.S.), type FOREIGN If you want to live permanently in the U.S., type IMMIGRATE For information on marrying an alien, type MARRIAGE For information about adopting a foreign child, type ADOPTION If you have a question about a specific visa case at a particular post, type one of the following: REGION:AFRICA NOTE: Be sure to include any case specific inquiry includes the full name of the applicant, his/her date and place of birth, date of application, location of the Foreign Service post concerned, and the visa case number. Visa Lottery http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ For information on previous DV visa lotteries, please contact the National Visa Center at: National Visa Center 32 Rochester Ave. Portsmouth, NH 03801 Tel: 603-334-0700 Visa Services publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin describing immigrant visa categories and current priority dates as well as information on the diversity visa lottery; see: http://travel.state.gov/visa_bulletin.html Visa retrogressionWhat is visa retrogression? Visa numbers for some categories have "retrogressed," meaning that the priority dates have been set backward instead of forward. Retrogressions happen when the legal limit for available visa numbers is approaching or has been reached. However when the new fiscal year starts in October, priority cutoff dates will return again to the most recent date. For further information, please see the Visa Bulletin: http://travel.state.gov/visa_bulletin.html Visa Statistics http://www.travel.state.gov/visa_bulletin.html U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services: Immigration Statistics http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/aboutus/statistics/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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