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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Bureau of Public Affairs
May 2004

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.

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About the State Department

Adoption -- International Adoptions

Ambassadors

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/.
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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?

    If you were born a U.S. citizen outside the U.S., please see: http://travel.state.gov/consular_records.html.

    If you were born the citizen of another country you may need to contact a consular officer at one of that country's foreign embassies or consulates. 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/misc/10125.htm

    Foreign Consular Offices in the United States
    http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/

Business Information and Contacts

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Child Abduction

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/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1217.html

    Advance Fee for Business Scams
    http://travel.state.gov/Publications/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:

    Avoid displaying your e-mail address in public spaces, including newsgroup postings or chat rooms, on Web sites, or in an online service's membership directory.

    Check a Web site's privacy policy before submitting your e-mail address.  Be sure to include the Web site doesn't plan to sell your address. If possible, "opt out" of any such plans.

    Read and understand Web site forms before you transmit personal information. If possible, select the "opt out" choice if the Web site plans to share your information.

    Create two e-mail addresses - one for personal messages and the other for public use, such as in newsgroups or chat rooms. Or, consider a disposable e-mail address service: it creates a separate e-mail address that forwards your e-mail to your permanent address. If the disposable address begins to receive spam, you can shut if off without affecting the permanent address.

    Create a unique e-mail address. Spammers often use "dictionary attacks" to sort through possible name combinations at large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or e-mail services to find valid addresses. So a common name, like "jdoe," may get more spam than a unique name, like "jd51x02oe."

    Use an e-mail filter. Some e-mail accounts provide a tool to filter out potential spam or channel it to a bulk e-mail folder. You may want to ask whether this option is available when choosing an ISP.

    Report the spam to the ISP - yours and the sender's. Often the e-mail address is "abuse@[your ISP's name].com" or postmaster@[your ISP's name].com

    The ISP may be able to stop further spam. Report the problem to the FTC. Send the actual spam item to: uce@ftc.gov

    Be sure to include the full e-mail header so that your complaint can be followed up. If your complaint has to do with "remove me" or "unsubscribe" offers not working, complete and submit the FTC's complaint form at: http://www.ftc.gov

    For more on spam and how to avoid it, please see:
    http://www.ftc.gov/spam

Country Research

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Diplomatic Immunity

Dual Citizenship

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Education, Exchanges, and Scholarships

Embargoes and Sanctions

Embassies -- Foreign in the U.S.

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

Employment (State Department)

  • 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/
  • 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:

    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

  • Can the State Department give me a list of international job openings?

    Announcements for employment opportunities with international organizations are posted on this site every 2 weeks:
    http://www.state.gov/p/io/empl/
  • Where can I get a list of open jobs at U.S. embassies?

    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:

    PM/DDTC, SA-1, 12th Floor
    Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
    Bureau of Political Military Affairs
    U.S. Department of State
    Washington, DC 20522-0112
    Telephone (8:15 AM - 5:00 PM):
    Receptionist: 202-663-2980
    Response Team: 202-663-1282
    Case Status: 202-663-2700
    http://www.pmdtc.org/contactus.htm
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Federal Depository Library (Archives)

  • 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

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 Rice 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:
    The Secretary's Web pages
    http://www.state.gov/secretary/

    State Department Homepage
    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

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?
    For information about this exam, including online registration and exam study guides, please see:
    http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/join/examinfo.html

Foreign Service Officer (Former)

  • 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.
    Title:  Biographic register.
    Published:  Washington, U.S. GPO
    LC Call Number: JK851 .A3

Fulbright Program

  • Where can I find information on becoming a Fulbright scholar?

    For information, including application requirements, please see:
    http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/

    For additional information, please contact:

    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
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Great Seal

  • What is the Great Seal of the United States?

    For the history of the Great Seal, please see:

    http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/faq.html#seal

    A more complete publication is also available in PDF (requires Adobe Acrobat reader) at:
    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.

    For further information, please contact:

    Office of Presidential Appointments
    U.S. Department of State
    2201 C Street, NW, Room 2336
    Washington, DC 20520
    Tel: 202-647-9731
    Fax: 202-647-4694
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Human Rights Reports

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Immigration

  • 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

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/p/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?

    International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports are published annually in March.
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Link Requests

  • Can I put a link on my Web site to the state.gov?

    Please feel free to link to the State Department's Web site. Material is in the public domain unless a copyright is noted.

  • Who can answer my specific question regarding copyright on state.gov?

    The Bureau of Public Affairs can answer specific questions regarding copyright. Please contact:

    Public Communication Division
    Office of Public Liaison
    Bureau of Public Affairs
    U.S. Department of State
    2201 C Street, NW, Room 2206
    Washington, DC 20520-2204
    Tel: 202-647-6575
    E-mail form: http://contact-us.state.gov/
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Mad Cow Disease

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Passport Information

Passport Statistics

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 File

  • Why can't I download an Adobe Acrobat file (PDF)?

    If you are having difficulty, check the PDF file and if it is working correctly, there may be a problem with your Adobe Acrobat configuration. For example, some people using Acrobat Reader 3.0 have experienced problems with files created in newer versions while in other cases, users may not have Adobe Acrobat installed or may not have it correctly configured to work with their web browser.

    To download the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat at no cost, please see:
    http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

    After downloading, you will need to install the software and you also may need to check to see whether it is configured correctly as a "plugin" in your browser. For additional help installing and configuring Adobe Acrobat, please see:
    http://www.adobe.com/support/main.html

Per Diem Rates -- Domestic

Per Diem Rates -- Foreign

Per Diem -- Section 920 DSSR

  • 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

Protocol

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Secretaries of State

Secretary Rice -- Biography

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

  • Where can I call to find a State Department employee?

    The State Department's main switchboard is 202-647-4000. Telephone numbers of individual State Department employees are available on the Web as released by the Bureau of Administration:
    http://www.foia.state.gov/mms/index.asp

    A directory of e-mail addresses is not available.

    You can also find listings for State Department key officers at:
    http://www.foia.state.gov/mms/KOH/keyofficers.asp
  • Where can I call to find a member of the Foreign Service?

    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:
    http://usembassy.state.gov

State Department Forms

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 receive 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

State Department Reports -- Major Publications

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Teaching Overseas

Tourism Statistics

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:

    Tour Office
    U.S. Department of State
    Washington, DC 20520
    Tel: 202-647-3241
    Fax: 202-736-4232
    TDD: 202-736-4474
    http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/diprooms/tour.html

Travel Safety - Travel Warnings & Advisories

  • 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/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.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/tips/brochures/brochures_1231.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
    http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html
  • How do I know if the travel warnings are up to date?

    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?
    On January 9, 2004, a Public Announcement on Worldwide Caution was issued. This announcement is set to expire on July 9, 2004. The full text is available at: http://www.ds-osac.org/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=2903

    How can I get in touch with my relative who is traveling in a crisis area?
    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://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1223.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

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Visas for Americans

Visa Affidavit of Support (I-864)

Visa Denial

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://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/aau.htm
  • 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
    REGION:SOUTH ASIA
    REGION:EUROPE
    REGION:CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
    REGION:CANADA
    REGION:NEAR EAST

    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

  • Is it too late to apply for the DV-2005 visa lottery?

    The application submission period for DV-2005 is now over, and all submission processing at this Web site has stopped. All further processing of DV-2005 applications will take place at the Kentucky Consular Center:
    http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html

    Please watch this page for updated information about the 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 Retrogression

  • What 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/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_2252.html

Visa Statistics

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