Integrity Legal

Posts Tagged ‘consular report of birth abroad’

6th January 2011

เมื่อเร็วๆนี้สิ่งที่เป็นที่น่าสนใจของบล็อกคือ ความพยายามของสมาคมทนายความคนเข้าเมืองอเมริกันในการที่จะให้กงสุลที่ความตื่นตัวที่จะออกใบรับรองการเกิดในต่างประเทศและเพิ่มความพยายามที่จะสร้างขั้นตอนเพื่อลดการปลอมแปลงเอกสารที่สำคัญนี้ อ้างโดยตรงจากเว็บไซต์กระทรวงแห่งสหรัฐอเมริกา:

กระทรวงแห่งรัฐมีความยินดีเป็นอย่างยิ่งที่จะแนะนำการออกแบบใหม่ของรายงานกงสุลในเรื่องการเกิดในต่างแดน(CRBA) CRBAนี้เป็นบันทึกที่รับรองอย่างเป็นทางการว่า เด็กที่เกิดในต่างแดนจากพ่อแม่ที่เป็นพลเมืองอเมริกานั้นได้สัญชาติอเริกันโดยการเกิด เอกสารที่มีการออกแบบใหม่นี้มีความปลอดภัยซึ่งสามารถที่จะขัดขวางการเปลี่ยนแปลงหรือปลอมแปลงได้

สถานทูตอเมริกาและสถานกงสุลทั่วโลกได้มีการพิมพ์ CRBAs ตั้งแต่การริเริ่มในปี1919 มีผลบังคับตั้งแต่วันที่ 3 มกราคม 2554 ซึ่งจะมีการพิมมพ์ที่หน่วยบริการพาสปอร์ตในพิร์ตเมาส์ นิวแฮมเชียร์ และนิวออร์ลีน หลุยเซียนา การเป็นศูนย์กลางของการผลิตและการกำจัดการแจกจ่ายแบบฟอร์มที่ว่างเปล่าทั่วโลกเป็นหลักประกันว่า ต้องมีการปรับปรุงคุณภาพของรูปแบบและลดการปลอมแปลง

การยื่นขอพาสปอร์ตสหรัฐอเมริกาและการออกแบบCRBA จะใช้ในแง่มุมของผู้ปกครองดูแลซึ่งตรงข้ามกับแม่และพ่อ การเปลี่ยนแปลงที่สำคัญต้องการที่จะอธิบายถึงเพศของเด็กที่ได้มาจากพ่อและแม่และความแตกต่างของครอบครัวแต่ละแบบ

มันยังคงเป็นการเปลี่ยนแปลงที่มีผลกระทบต่อพฤติการณ์การฉ้อฉลที่เกี่ยวข้องกับรายงานของกงสุลเกี่ยวกับการเกิดในต่างประเทศ อาจกล่าวได้ว่า รายงานของกงสุลเกี่ยวกับการเกิดในต่างประเทศนั้นเป็นการเปลี่ยนแปลงที่สำคัญในเรื่องของเอกสารในฐานะที่เป็นหลักฐานแสดงสัญชาติของคนอเมริกันที่เกิดนอกสหรัฐอเมริกา โดยส่วนมากพ่อแม่มักได้รับรายงานของกงสุลเกี่ยวกับการเกิดทันทีก่อนที่จะขอพาสปอร์ตสหรัฐอเมริกาในฐานะของเด็กที่เกิดในต่างประเทศ

ผู้เขียนบล็อกเห็นว่า สิ่งที่น่าสนใจคือ กระทรวงแห่งรัฐมีขั้นตอนที่สร้างเอกสารที่มีความเป็นกลางทางเพศมากขึ้น เช่นเดียวกับการเคลื่อนไหวในปี 2010 กระทรวงแห่งรัฐประกาศมาตรการที่จะนำไปใช้ในทางปฏิบัติเพื่อที่จะอนุญาตให้มีการแปลงเพศและเปลี่ยนเพศในพาสปอร์ตสหรัฐอเมริกา นับเป็นสิ่งที่ปรากฏได้ว่า ความพยายามต่อความเป็นกลางทางเพศในการที่จะปรับเลี่ยนข้อมูลรายงายของกงสุลเกี่ยวกับเด็กที่เกิดในต่างประเทศทำให้ตระหนักว่า บทบาททางเพศภายในครอบครัวและโดยโครงสร้างของครอบครัวอเมริกัน ครอบครัวอเมริกันนนั้นได้มีการฉีกกฎเดิมมากขึ้นเมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับในอดีต

ายใต้สถานการณ์ที่แน่นอน เด็กที่เกิดนอกสหรัฐอเมริกานั้นไม่สามารถที่จะได้รับสิทธิการเป็นพลเมืองสหรัฐอเมริกาโดยอัตโนมัติ พ่อแม่ชาวอเมริกันนั้นสามารถที่จะทำให้เด็กกลายเป็นพลเมืองอเมริกันได้โดยการยื่นคำขอรับสิทธิประโยชน์คนเข้าเมืองตามพระราชบัญญัติสัญชาติเด็ก (CCA)ปี 2000 เด็กที่เกิดจากคนสัญชาติอเมริกันนั้นกลายเป็นพลเมืองสหรัฐอเมริกาโดยกฎหมายซึ่งตา CCA จะได้รับใบรับรองสัญชาติซึ่งเหมือนกับใบรับรองการแปลงสัญชาติแม้ว่าในทางทฤษฎีผู้ถือจะไม่ได้สัญชาติอเมริกันโดยตามธรรมชาติ

For related information please see: Department of State.

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5th January 2011

It recently came to this blogger’s attention, thanks to the efforts of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), that the Consular Report of Birth Abroad Certificate is being altered and updated in an effort to take further steps to ensure less forgery of such vitally important documents. To quote directly from the American State Department’s official website:

The Department of State is pleased to announce the introduction of a redesigned Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). The CRBA is an official record confirming that a child born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. The redesigned document has state-of-the-art security features that make it extremely resistant to alterations or forgery.

CRBAs have been printed at U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world since their introduction in 1919. Effective January 3, 2011, CRBAs will be printed at our passport facilities in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and New Orleans, Louisiana. Centralizing production and eliminating the distribution of controlled blank form stock throughout the world ensures improved uniform quality and lessens the threat of fraud.

Applications for U.S. passports and the redesigned CRBA will also use the title of “parent” as opposed to “mother” and “father.” These improvements are being made to provide a gender neutral description of a child’s parents and in recognition of different types of families.

It remains to be seen whether these changes will have a significant impact upon incidences of fraud in connection with Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA). That said, the Consular Report of Birth Abroad is an extremely important document as it is evidence of nationality for Americans born outside of the United States of America. Frequently, parents obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad immediately prior to obtaining a US Passport on behalf of a child born overseas.

This blogger found it interesting that the Department of State has taken steps to make such documents more gender neutral. In a similar move, in 2010, the State Department announced that measures had been implemented to allow transgender individuals to change their sex on their US Passport. It would appear that the efforts toward gender neutrality implemented in the updating of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad take into account the fact that the traditional gender roles within families and the family structure itself are in something of a state of flux as American families are becoming increasingly unorthodox compared to times past.

Under certain circumstances, children born to some Americans outside of the USA are not automatically vested with United States Citizenship. Should that be the case, then the American parent may be able to see that their children become US Citizens by filing a petition for immigration benefits pursuant to the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000. Those children of American Citizens who become US Citizens by operation of law pursuant to the CCA may obtain a Certificate of Citizenship which is very similar to a naturalization certificate although the bearer is not technically a naturalized US Citizen.

For related information please see: Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

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17th November 2010

For those who regularly read this blog it is likely well known that the administration regularly posts information regarding the holiday schedules of US Missions abroad in an effort to forestall fruitless trips to an American Mission abroad due to lack of knowledge regarding official American recognition of bot US and foreign holidays. The following was quoted directly from the official website of the United States Embassy in Iraq:

U.S. Mission Baghdad will observe the following holidays in calendar year 2010.

Date

Day

Holiday

Country

December 31, 2009 Thursday New Year’s Day US
January 17 Sunday Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday US**
February 14 Sunday Presidents’ Day US**
February 28 Monday Prophet’s Birthday Iraq*
May 1 Saturday Labor Day Iraq
May 30 Sunday Memorial Day US**
July 4 Sunday Independence Day US
July 14 Wednesday Republic Day Iraq
September 5 Sunday Labor Day US**
Sep 10-12 Fri-Sun Eid Al-Fitr Iraq*
October 10 Sunday Columbus Day US**
November 17-19 Wed-Fri Eid Al Adha Iraq*
November 11 Monday Veterans’ Day US
November 25 Thursday Thanksgiving US
December 8 Wednesday Islamic New Year Iraq*
December 26 Sunday Christmas US

* This Iraqi holiday is determined by the lunar cycle. Exact dates must be confirmed by local authorities and are subject to change.

** In keeping with the spirit of the Monday Holiday Bill, the intention of which is to provide three-day holiday weekends, U.S. holidays covered by the Monday Holiday Bill will be observed on Sundays.

The Embassy will consider moving the observation date of local holidays (religious and secular) falling on weekends in the event that the Iraqi Government issues guidance mandating that the private and public sectors change the observance date.

The situation in Iraq is likely more turbulent at the time of this writing when compared to other jurisdictions in which a US Mission is present. That said, there are still those who may need services which can only be provided by an American Citizen Services (ACS) post abroad. Services that are often sought include, but are not limited to: notary services, Consular Report of Birth Abroad issuance, US passport renewal, and addition of visa pages. Those interested in requesting such services from the American Citizen Services section of the United States Embassy in Iraq are well advised to check the official website of the Post in order to ascertain whether or not an appointment can be made online. Setting an online appointment can greatly facilitate the processing of requests with ACS as Consular Officers can prepare in advance to provide necessary services.

Those interested in issues pertaining to visas are well advised to check with either the Non-Immigrant Visa Unit or the Immigrant Visa Unit in order to ascertain the proper procedure for requesting a visa to the USA. It should be noted that for purposes of processing the K1 visa is considered to be an immigrant visa.

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5th September 2010

The administration of this blog often posts the holiday closing schedules of various United States Embassies and Consulates in the Asia-Pacific region in an effort to provide assistance to American travelers and expats or foreign nationals seeking services at an American Mission abroad. The following holiday closing schedule for the US Embassy in New Zealand was quoted directly from the official website of the Post:

Date

Occasion

Location

January 1 – Friday New Year’s Day NZ/US
January 2 – Saturday Day After New Year’s Day NZ
January 18 – Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday US
January 25 – Monday Wellington Anniversary (Wellington Only) NZ
February 01 – Monday Auckland Anniversary (Auckland Only) NZ
February 6 - Saturday Waitangi Day NZ
February 15 – Monday Presidents’ Day US
April 02 – Friday Good Friday NZ
April 05 – Monday Easter Monday NZ
April 25 – Sunday Anzac Day NZ
May 31 – Monday Memorial Day US
June 7 – Monday Queen’s Birthday NZ
July 5 – Monday Independence Day US
September 6 – Monday Labor Day US
October 11 – Monday Columbus Day US
October 25 – Monday Labour Day NZ
November 11 – Thursday Veterans Day US
November 12 – Friday Canterbury Anniversary (Christchurch Only) NZ
November 25 – Thursday Thanksgiving Day US
December 25 – Saturday Christmas Day NZ/US
December 26 – Sunday Boxing Day NZ

Those traveling to American Missions abroad are often in search of a US Embassy or US Consulate that can assist in visa matters and other proceedings which must be carried out by US government personnel. Such activities include, but are not limited to: Consular Report of Birth Abroad issuance, US passport renewal, addition of visa pages, and notarial services. Generally, the American Citizen Services Section of a United States Consulate can assist in these matters. Those with business at an American Citizen Services post are encouraged to check the official website of the US Embassy in order to ascertain if appointments can be scheduled online. This can greatly streamline processing of requests as ACS officers can anticipate customer requests and prepare to provide appropriate services.

Those seeking a visa to the United States of America often require a visa interview in order to complete the adjudication process. Those seeking a visa interview are well advised to contact the local post or check the official website for details about appointment scheduling. Usually the protocols for non-immigrant visa interview appointments are different than the protocols for setting immigrant visa interview appointments (for purposes of visa processing, generally the K1 visa is considered to be an immigrant visa).

For related information in Thai context please see: US Visa Thailand.

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25th August 2010

Those who read this blog regularly will no doubt have noticed that we frequently post the holiday closing schedules for US Embassies and Consulates throughout the region. This is done in an effort to forestall unnecessary trips to a US Embassy or US Consulate as many foreign nationals are unfamiliar with American holidays and many American Citizens may be unfamiliar with local holidays.

Every year, Americans travel to American missions abroad in order to obtain certain services which cannot be performed by anyone except a Consular Officer. Generally, each American Mission has an American Citizen Services Section to provide vital services to Americans abroad. Services of this nature include, but are not limited to, Consular Report of Birth Abroad issuance, new US passport issuance, notarization services, addition of new visa pages, and in rare cases Americans seek a Consulate in order to renounce their US Citizenship (in recent months this has been on the rise, but those thinking about renouncing their US Citizenship would be wise to consult an American attorney about the ramifications of such a decision).

Those wishing to partake of services from a US Embassy abroad should look at the Post’s official website in order to learn if they make appointment online. If so, this can save the American Citizen a great deal of time and trouble as the Consular Officers can better anticipate the American’s needs prior to his or her arrival at the post. Furthermore, complicated requests could be more easily streamlined where the officers’ have been placed on notice.

Those seeking assistance from a Visa Unit attached to an Embassy or Consulate overseas are well advised to contact the Post directly in order to ascertain how interview appointments at Embassies are processed and scheduled.

Those seeking information related to US visas should see the following: US Visa Thailand or K1 visa

The holiday schedule posted below is quoted directly from the official website of the US Embassy accredited to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu:

Listed below are Fiji and U.S. National holidays on which the Embassy is closed.

Holiday Date Observed
New Year’s Day Friday, Jan 01, 2010
Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday Mon, Jan 18, 2010
President’s Day Mon, Feb 15, 2010
Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday Mon, Mar 1, 2010
National Youth Day Mon, Mar 22, 2010
Good Friday Friday, Apr 2, 2010
Easter Saturday Sat, Apr 3, 2010
Easter Monday Mon, Apr 5, 2010
Memorial Day Mon, May 24, 2010
Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day Fri, May 28, 2010
Queen’s Birthday Mon, Jun 14, 2010
Independence Day Mon, July 5, 2010
Labor Day Mon, Sep 6, 2010
Fiji Day/Columbus Day Mon, Oct 11, 2010
Diwali Fri, Oct 5, 2010
Veterans Day Thurs, Nov 11, 2010
Thanksgiving Day Thu, Nov 25, 2010
Christmas Day Mon, Dec 27, 2010
Boxing Day Tue, Dec 28, 2010

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13th August 2010

The following is the holiday closing schedule for the United States Embassy in the Philippines quoted directly from the official Embassy website:

Holiday Nationality Legal Date Closing Date
New Year’s Day U.S./PHL Fri, Jan 1 Fri, Jan 1
M. L. King Jr. Day U.S. Mon, Jan 18 Mon, Jan 18
President’s Day U.S. Mon, Feb 15 Mon, Feb 15
Maundy Thursday PHL Thurs, Apr 1 Thur, Apr 1
Good Friday PHL Fri, Apr 2 Fri, Apr 2
Bataan & Corregidor / Heroism Day PHL Fri, Apr 9 Fri, Apr 9
Labor Day PHL Sat, May 1 Sat, May 1
National Presidential and Local Elections PHL Mon, May 10 Mon, May 10
Memorial Day U.S. Mon, May 31 Mon, May 31
Independence Day PHL Sat, Jun 12 Mon, Jun 14
Independence Day U.S. Sun, July 4 Mon, July 5
Ninoy Aquino Day PHL Sat, Aug 21 Mon, Aug 23
National Heroes Day PHL Mon, Aug 30 Mon, Aug 30
Labor Day U.S. Mon, Sept 6 Mon, Sept 6
Eid-ul-Fitr (Subject to Proclamation) PHL TBD TBD
Columbus Day U.S. Mon, Oct 11 Mon, Oct 11
All Saints’ Day PHL Mon, Nov 1 Mon, Nov 1
Veterans Day U.S. Thurs, Nov 11 Thur, Nov 11
Thanksgiving Day U.S. Thurs, Nov 25 Thur, Nov 25
Bonifacio Day PHL Tues, Nov 30 Mon, Nov 29
Christmas Day U.S./PHL Sat, Dec 25 Fri, Dec 24
Rizal Day PHL Mon, Dec 27 Mon, Dec 27
New Year’s Day (CY 2011) U.S./PHL Sat, Jan 1 Fri, Dec 31Th

The administration of this blog frequently posts information such as this in an effort to forestall needless trips to US Embassies and Consulates abroad. This author has traveled to more than one US Embassy abroad only to find the facilities closed in observance of an American or local holiday.

Many Americans overseas find that they require services which can, sometimes, only be performed by an American Citizen Services (ACS) Section of a US Consulate or Embassy abroad.  Services such as this include, but are not limited to: US passport obtainment, visa page addition, promulgation of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or notarial services. In situations where services such as these are sought, Americans are well-advised to check the official website of the US Mission in their area in order to ascertain if appointments with ACS can be booked online. This can greatly streamline the processing of an American’s request as the Consular Officers can be put on notice of the appointment and also, in some cases, of the services sought.

Those seeking visas from a United States Mission abroad should check with the Mission’s Visa Unit in order ascertain how visa interview appointments should be scheduled. Often Immigrant visa applications are handled differently compared to non-immigrant applications (for those interested in US family visa obtainment, the K1 visa [Fiance Visa] is usually treated as an immigrant visa for application processing purposes).

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11th August 2010

Americans traveling or residing outside of the United States are often in need of services that can only be provided by an American Citizen Services Section of a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad. Services often sought include, but are not limited to: US passport issuance, visa page addition, promulgation of Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, an notarization. For those living abroad, trips to the US Embassy can be time consuming and may interfere with one’s day-to-day business. Therefore, streamlining the process for the aforementioned services can save time and resources. For this reason, those Americans seeking services at an Embassy abroad are well advised to check the Embassy’s official website to determine if the Post allows for appointment scheduling online. This can provide convenience to the American and provide the Consular Officers at a given Post with an opportunity to prepare in advance to deal with a customer’s needs.

Those unrepresented individuals with a pending visa application before a Visa Unit at an American Embassy or Consulate should check directly with the post to find out how the visa interview process works as Visa Units generally schedule appointments based upon the Post’s capacity. In many cases, non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas have a separate  interview appointment process (for purposes of US Immigration the K1 visa is often effectively treated as an immigrant visa).

The administration of this blog often post the holiday closing schedules for various US Embassies and US Consulates in Asia in an effort to provide assistance to those who may have business at a Post. The following is the holiday closing schedule for the US Embassy in Japan quoted directly from the official website of the Embassy itself:

The Embassy will be closed to the public in observance of the following United States and Japanese holidays:

New Year’s Day Jan. 1, 2010 Friday
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday January 18 Monday
National Foundation Day * February 11 Thursday
President’s Day February 15 Monday
Vernal Equinox Day * March 22 Monday
Golden Week Holidays * April 29, May 3-5 Thursday, Monday-Wednesday
Memorial Day May 31 Monday
Independence Day July 4 Sunday (observed on Monday, July 5)
Marine Day * July 19 Monday
Labor Day September 6 Monday
Respect for the Aged Day * September 20 Monday
Columbus Day October 11 Monday
Veterans Day November 11 Thursday
Labor Thanksgiving Day * November 23 Tuesday
Thanksgiving Day November 25 Thursday
Emperor’s Birthday * December 23 Thursday
Christmas Day December 25 Saturday (observed on Friday, Dec. 24)

* Japanese holidays are indicated with an asterisk.

Note:

The Embassy will remain open for the following three Japanese holidays in 2010:

Adult’s Day January 11 Monday
Autumn Equinox Day September 23 Thursday
Culture Day November 3 Wednesday
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10th August 2010

The United States of America and the Republic of Korea have a long history of cooperation. The USA maintains an official Mission in Korea in the form of a US Embassy. In an effort to provide relevant information to American travelers and expatriates in Asia, this blog often posts the holiday closing schedules of various American Embassies and Consulates. Below is the holiday closing schedule for the US Embassy in Korea quoted directly from the US Embassy’s official website:

The American Embassy will observe the following American and Local holidays during  2010.
2010 Name American/Local
January 1 (Fri) New Year’s day American/Local
January 18 (Mon) Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday American
February 13 (Sat) Seol-Nal (Lunar New Year Days) Local
February 15 (Mon) Presidents’ Day American
March 1 (Mon) Sam Il Jul (Independence Movement Day) Local
May 5 (Wed) Orininal (Children’s Day) Local
May 21 (Fri) Sukka Tansin Il (Buddha’s Birthday) Local
May 31 (Mon) Memorial Day American
July 5 (Mon) Independence Day American
September 6 (Mon) Labor Day American
Sept. 21, 22, 23 (Tue, Wed, Thu) Chusok (Korean Thanksgiving) Local
October 11 (Mon) Columbus Day American
November 11 (Thu) Veterans Day American
November 25 (Thu) Thanksgiving Day American
December 24 (Fri) Christmas Day American/Local

As this author has previously come to find, it can be frustrating to show up at a US Embassy or US Consulate to find it closed in observance of either a local or American holiday. Therefore, those with business before a United States Embassy or Consulate abroad are well advised to consult the official website of the Mission prior to traveling to the Post. Furthermore, those with business before an American Citizen Services Section of a United States Embassy or Consulate are well advised to check online to ascertain if the Post allows appointment to be set over the internet. Those seeking a new US passport, visa pages, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or notarial services are often required to appear before American Citizen Services abroad in order to have their request processed. In many cases, scheduling an appointment in advance provides the Consular Officers with the opportunity to prepare in advance to efficiently serve Citizens. By streamlining the process it can decrease the wait time for Americans traveling to the Post.

Those wishing to schedule a visa interview appointment for an Immigrant visa such as a CR1 Visa or an IR1 visa are advised to check directly with the Post regarding such appointments. The same can be said for those wishing to schedule a non-immigrant visa appointment for travel documents such as the US Tourist Visa or the US Student Visa (For purposes of Consular adjudication the K1 visa is usually considered an immigrant visa).

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8th August 2010

The administration of this blog routinely posts the holiday closing schedules of US Embassies and US Consulates in Southeast Asia and India in an effort to provide information to travelers who may need assistance at a local Post. Below is the holiday closing schedule for the US Embassy accredited to Sri Lanka and the Maldives quoted directly from that Embassy’s official website:

The American Embassy will observe the following American and local holidays in 2010.

Date

Event

Type

January  01 (Friday) New Year’s Day American
January  14 (Thursday) Tamil Thai Pongal Day Local
January 18 (Monday) Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. American
February 04 (Thursday) National Day Local
February 15 (Monday) Presidents’ Day American
March 1 (Monday) In Lieu of Holy Prophet’s Birthday Local
March 29 (Monday) Bak Full Moon Poya Day Local
April 13 (Tuesday) Day Prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day Local
April 14 (Wednesday) Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day Local
May 3 (Monday) In Lieu of May Day Local
May 27 (Thursday) Wesak Full Moon Poya Day Local
May 31 (Monday) Memorial Day American
July 05 (Monday) In lieu of Independence Day American
August 24 (Tuesday) Nikini Full Moon Poya Day Local

September 06 (Monday)

Labor Day American
October 11 (Monday) Columbus Day American
November 11 (Thursday) Veteran’s Day American
November 25 (Thursday) Thanksgiving Day American
December 20 (Monday) Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day Local
December 24 (Friday) In Lieu of Christmas Day American

Americans traveling or residing overseas often find themselves in need of services routinely performed by Consular Officers at an American Citizen Services Post. The services most often sought by Americans abroad include: Passport renewal, adding of new visa pages, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notarial services. As an example, in Thailand, many Americans wishing to register a marriage in the Kingdom must first obtain a notarized affidavit from the US Embassy Bangkok or the US Consulate Chinag Mai stating that they are legally free to marry.

Those seeking services at a United States Embassy or United States Consulate are well advised to check the holiday closing schedule before traveling to the post. Furthermore, those with business before the American Citizen Services Section of a US Consulate should ascertain whether or not the post takes appointments online. By scheduling an appointment in advance an American Citizen, or foreign national with business before the post, can put the Consular Staff on notice of expected services, which allows for more efficient service, and ensure that a place in line as some appointment times can be pre-booked online.

Those seeking visas are well advised to check with the local visa unit (either non-immigrant or immigrant depending upon the visa category) of the Consulate to learn about appointment booking procedures which may vary from post to post. For more information about United States Immigration please see: K1 visa.

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4th August 2010

Every year, many Americans travel throughout Asia. As a result, these American travelers sometimes find themselves in need of services that can only be handled by an officer of the government of the United States of America. For example, an American Citizen who loses his or her passport overseas is well advised to travel to the nearest US Embassy or US Consulate in order to apply for a replacement passport. Unbeknownst to some, American Missions abroad generally close their facilities in observance of both American holidays as well as holidays observed in the host country. This author has personally traveled to the US Embassy Bangkok only to find the Post closed in observance of American Veterans’ Day. Hopefully, by posting Embassy and/or Consulate holiday closing schedules on this blog it will forestall futile travel to a closed Post. The following is directly quoted from the official website of the United States Consulate in Mumbai, India:

Holidays 2010

Date

Day

Holiday

American/Indian

January 01

Friday

New Year’s Day

American

January 14 Thursday Makar Sankaranti (for Ahmedabad USCS only) Indian

January 18

Monday

Martin Luther King’s B’Day

American

January 26

Tuesday

Republic Day

Indian

February 12 Friday Mahashivratri Indian

February 15

Monday

Washington’s Birthday

American

March 1

Monday

Holi

Indian

March 16

Tuesday

Gudi Padwa (for Ahmedabad USCS only)

Indian

April 2

Friday

Good Friday

Indian

May 27

Thursday

Buddha Pournima

Indian

May 31

Monday

Memorial Day

American

July 05 *

Monday

Independence Day

American

August 19 Thursday Parsi New Year Indian

September 06

Monday

Labor Day

American

September 10 Friday Ramzan-Id (Id-ul-Fitar) Indian

October 11

Monday

Columbus Day

American

November 5

Friday

Diwali (Laxmi Pujan)

Indian

November 11

Thursday

Veterans’ Day

American

November 17 Wednesday Bakri Id (Id-ul-Zua) Indian

November 25

Thursday

Thanksgiving Day

American

December 24**

Friday

Christmas Day

American

* In lieu of July 4, Sunday
** In lieu of December 25, Saturday

Note: The American Citizens Services Unit will remain closed for services on every last Wednesday of each month for administrative purposes.

American Citizen Services (ACS) generally assists US Citizens, or Lawful Permanent Resident traveling abroad, with matters such as Passport issuance, Consular Report of Birth Abroad issuance, issuance of new visa pages, as well as notarizations. Those who may need to request the services of ACS are well advised to check the holiday closing schedule and also look to the official Consulate website in order to ascertain whether or not the Post provides online appointment scheduling. Scheduling an appointment online can greatly streamline dealing with ACS as Consular Officers are put on notice of requested services and can plan accordingly.

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