***U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs

The Office of Overseas Citizens ServicesWhen You Need Help...
**Overseas Citizens Services**
Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs isresponsible for the welfare and whereabouts of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad.  OCShas three offices:  American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, the Office of Children'sIssues and the Office of Policy Review and Interagency Liaison. 

**AMERICAN CITIZENS SERVICES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT  (ACS)**
American Citizens Services and Crisis Management  corresponds organizationally to AmericanCitizens Services offices set up at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world.  ACS hassix geographical divisions with case officers who assist in all matters involving protective servicesfor Americans abroad, including arrests, death cases, financial or medical emergencies, and welfare and whereabouts inquiries.  The office also issues Travel Warnings and ConsularInformation  Sheets and provides guidance on nationality and citizenship determination, documentissuance, judicial and notarial services, estates and property claims, third-country representation,and disaster assistance.

***Arrests***
Over 2,500 Americans are arrested abroad annually.  More than 30% of these arrests are drugrelated.  Over 70% of drug related arrests involve marijuana or cocaine.
The rights an American enjoys in this country do not travel abroad.  Each country is sovereignand its laws apply to everyone who enters regardless of nationality.  The U.S. government cannotget Americans released from foreign jails.  However, a U.S. consul will insist on prompt access toan arrested American, provide a list of attorneys, and provide information on the host countryslegal system, offer to contact the arrested Americans family or friends, visit on a regular basis,protest mistreatment, monitor jail conditions, provide dietary supplements, if needed, and keep theState Department informed.
ACS is the point of contact in the U.S. for family members and others who are concerned about aU.S. citizen arrested abroad.

***Deaths***
Approximately 6,000 Americans die outside of the U.S. each year.  The majority of these arelong-term residents of a foreign country.  ACS assists with the return of remains forapproximately 2,000 Americans annually.
When an American dies abroad, a consular officer notifies the next of kin about options and costsfor disposition of remains.  Costs for preparing and returning a body to the U.S. are high and arethe responsibility of the family.  Often local laws and procedures make returning a body to theU.S. for burial a lengthy process.

***Financial Assistance***
If destitute, Americans can turn to a U.S. consular officer abroad for help.  ACS will help bycontacting the destitute person's family, friends, or business associates to raise private funds.  Itwill help transmit these funds to destitute Americans.
ACS transfers approximately 3 million dollars a year in private emergency funds.  It can approvesmall government loans to destitute Americans abroad until private funds arrive.
ACS also approves repatriation loans to pay for destitute Americans' direct return to the U.S. Each year over $500,000 are loaned to destitute Americans.

***Medical Assistance***
ACS works with U.S. consuls abroad to assist Americans who become physically or mentally illwhile traveling.  ACS locates family members, guardians, and friends in the U.S., assists intransmitting private funds, and, when necessary, assists in arranging the return of ill or injuredAmericans to the U.S. by commercial carrier.

***Welfare and Whereabouts of U.S. Citizens***
ACS receives approximately 12,000  inquiries a year concerning the welfare or whereabouts of anAmerican abroad.  Many inquiries are from worried relatives who have not heard from thetraveler.  Others are attempts to notify the traveler about a family crisis at home.
Most welfare/whereabouts inquiries are successfully resolved.  However, occasionally, a person istruly missing.  It is the responsibility of local authorities to investigate and U.S. consuls abroadwill work to ensure their continued interest in cases involving Americans.  Unfortunately, as in theU.S., sometimes missing persons are never found.

***Consular Information Program***
ACS issues fact sheets on every country in the world called Consular Information Sheets (CIS). The CIS contains information on entry requirements, crime and security conditions, areas ofinstability and other details relevant to travel in a particular country.
The Office also issues Travel Warnings.  Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends deferral of travel by Americans to a country because of civil unrest, dangerousconditions,  terrorist activity and/or because the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with the countryand cannot assist an American in distress.  
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings may be heard anytime, by dialing the Office ofOverseas Citizens Services travelers' hotline at (202) 647-5225 from a touchtone phone.  Theyare also available via Consular Affairs' automated fax system at (202) 647-3000, or at any of the13 regional passport agencies, at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, and through the airlinecomputer reservation systems, or, by sending a self-addressed, stamped business size envelope tothe Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Room 4811, U.S.Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818.
If you have a personal computer, modem and communications software, you can access them, andother consular handouts and publications through the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CABB). This service is free of charge.  To access CABB, dial the modem number:  (202) 647-9225; setmodem speed (it will accommodate 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 or 14400 bps); and terminalcommunications program to N-8-1 (parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit).

***Disaster Assistance***
ACS coordinates the Bureau's activities and efforts relating to international crises or emergencysituations involving the welfare and safety of large numbers of Americans residing or traveling in acrisis area. Such crises can include plane crashes, hijackings, natural disasters, civil disorders, andpolitical unrest.

**CHILDREN'S ISSUES (CI)**
The Office of Children's Issues (CI) formulates, develops and coordinates policies and programs,and provides direction to foreign service posts on international parental child abduction andinternational adoptions.  It also fulfills U.S. treaty obligations relating to the abduction of children.

***International Adoptions***
CI coordinates policy and provides information on international adoption to the potential parents. In 1994, over 8,000 foreign born children where adopted by U.S. citizens.  The Department ofState cannot intervene on behalf of an individual in foreign courts because adoption is a  privatelegal matter within the judicial sovereignty of the country where the child resides.  This office can,however, offer general information and assistance regarding the adoption process in over 60countries.

***International Parental Child Abductions***
In recent years, the Bureau of Consular Affairs has taken action in thousands of cases ofinternational parental child abduction.  The Bureau also provides information in response tothousands of  additional inquiries pertaining to international child abduction, enforcement ofvisitation rights and abduction prevention techniques.  CI works closely with parents, attorneys,other government agencies, and private organizations in the U.S. to prevent internationalabductions.
The Hague Convention provides for the return of a child to his or her habitual place of residenceif the child has been wrongfully removed or retained.  CI has been designated by Congress as theCentral Authority to administer the Hague Convention in the United States. 

**POLICY REVIEW AND INTERAGENCY LIAISON (PRI)**
The Office of Policy Review and Interagency Liaison (PRI) provides guidance concerning theadministration and enforcement of laws on U.S. citizenship, and on the documentation ofAmericans traveling and residing abroad.  The Office also provides advice on matters involvingtreaties and agreements, legislative matters, including implementation of new laws, conductsreconsiderations of acquisition and loss of U.S. citizenship in complex cases abroad, andadministers the overseas federal benefits program.

***Consular Conventions and Treaties***
PRI works closely with other offices in the State Department  in the negotiation of consularconventions and treaties, including  prisoner transfer treaties.  
As a result of these prisoner transfer treaties, many U.S. citizens convicted of crimes andincarcerated abroad have returned to the U.S. to complete their sentences.

***Federal Benefits***
Over a half-million people receive monthly federal benefits payments outside the U.S.  In manycountries, the monthly benefits checks are mailed or pouched to the consular post and thendistributed through the local postal service.  In other countries, the checks are mailed directly intothe beneficiaries foreign bank accounts.  Consular officers assist in the processing of individualbenefits claims and problems; investigate claims on behalf of the agency concerned; and performother tasks requested by the agencies or needed by the beneficiaries or survivors.

***Legislation***
PRI is involved with legislation affecting U.S. citizens abroad.  The Office participates in hearingsand provides testimony to Congress on proposed legislation, particularly legislation relating to thecitizenship and welfare of U.S. citizens.  They also interpret laws and regulations pertaining tocitizens consular services, including the administration of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

***Privacy Act***
PRI responds to inquires under the Privacy Act.  The provisions of the Privacy Act are designedto protect the privacy and rights of Americans but occasionally complicate efforts to assist U.S.citizens abroad.  As a general rule, consular officers may not reveal information regarding anindividual Americans location, welfare, intentions, or problems to anyone, including familymembers and Congressional representatives, without the expressed consent of that individual.  Inall potential cases, consular officers explain Privacy Act restrictions and requirements so that allindividuals involved in a case understand the Privacy Act's constraints.

**Hours of Operation:**
Monday-Friday 8:15 a.m.-10:00 p.m.,and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.:Telephone:  (202) 647-5225*

For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and Holidays,Telephone:  (202) 647-4000 Request the OCS duty officer.

*Overseas Citizens Services has a 24-hours a day hotline at (202) 647-5225  for  AmericanCitizens Services (including travel and citizenship information).  Policy Review and InteragencyLiaison can also be reached at this number. 

The Office of Children's Issues can be reached by calling (202) 736-7000.

*Bureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Public Affairs U.S. Department of State
Department of State Publication 10252

Travel Publications****