Consular Section, American Citizen Services (ACS) Newsletter – September 2007
In keeping with updating the website with useful information- here is one for all of the US citizens out there.
U.S. State Department, U.S. Embassy Seoul
Consular Section, American Citizen Services (ACS) Newsletter
September 2007
The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following monthly newsletter via its warden system as a public service to U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea. Please feel free to disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations or to other Americans you know.
In this issue:
1. Health Information for Travelers
2. Social Security Numbers Are Required on U.S. Passport Applications
3. Voting Information
4. Dual Citizens and U.S. Passports
5. Reporting Internet Fraud
6. Recent Travel Warnings and Public Announcements
7. Next Consular Services Visit to Busan – September 19-20
8. Upcoming Holidays: September 3, 24-26; October 3, 8
9. Embassy Contact Information
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1. HEALTH INFORMATION FOR TRAVELERS
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website contains health information for travelers, including recommended vaccinations and the latest travel notices. For information by country, see the Travelers’ Health section at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel
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2. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ARE REQUIRED ON U.S. PASSPORT APPLICATIONS
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Please remember to provide your Social Security number (SSN) when applying for a U.S. passport. Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code (26 USC 6039E) requires U.S. citizens to provide their SSN, if they have one, when they apply for a U.S. passport. Generally, all U.S. citizens should have an SSN for U.S. tax purposes, since, regardless where in the world they live or where their money is earned, if their income is above a minimum level, they are required to file income tax returns with the IRS. If you have not been issued an SSN, you may enter zeros on the form when you apply for a passport. However, you should do this only if you have not been issued an SSN. If you have an SSN and do not provide it on the passport application, you are subject to a $500 penalty from the IRS.
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3. VOTING INFORMATION
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The Embassy will soon be receiving copies of the 2008 Federal Voting Assistance Guide and other voting materials. If your overseas group is planning a voter education campaign, we can provide voting materials and posters. We are also available to speak to your group about absentee voting procedures. Please contact us at voteseoul@state.gov if you would like more information about overseas voting. The Federal Voting Assistance website is www.fvap.gov.
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4. DUAL CITIZENS and U.S. PASSPORTS
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Passport processing delays in the U.S. have led many dual nationals to depart the U.S. without a valid U.S. passport. We would like to remind you that under Section 215 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185) requires U.S. citizens to use U.S. passports when entering or leaving the United States.
Exceptions to this requirement are listed in Section 53.2 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (One of these exceptions permits a child under the age of 12, who is included in the foreign passport of a parent who has no claim to U.S. citizenship, to enter the United States without a U.S. passport, provided the child presents evidence of his/her U.S. citizenship when entering the United States.)
Dual nationals may be required to use their other (non-U.S.) passport when entering or leaving the other country of which they are citizens. This will not endanger the individual’s U.S. citizenship as this law applies only to the use of the U.S. passport when entering or leaving the U.S.
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5. REPORTING INTERNET FRAUD
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We have all heard stories about or seen spam emails that guarantee a huge payoff if we provide a stranger with our bank details, or wire thousands of dollars to an unknown person in far-away country who will then send us millions in lottery winnings in return. To help combat the spread of these scams, financial and otherwise, the FBI has set up a new on-line resource at http://www.ic3.gov/ where you can report internet fraud. The website includes tips on fraud prevention and examples of the latest scams.
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6. RECENT TRAVEL WARNINGS AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
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The U.S. Department of State has recently issued travel warnings or public announcements for the following countries and regions:
Burundi 08/09/2007
Central African Republic 08/09/2007
Fiji 08/09/2007
Greece 08/27/2007
For additional information about these travel warnings and other public
announcements, click on this link:
http://travel.state.gov/travel
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7. NEXT CONSULAR SERVICES VISIT TO BUSAN – SEPTEMBER 19-20
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Officials from the Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit will offer consular services in Busan on September 19-20 at the offices of the United Seamen’s Service. Consular officers will be available on Wednesday, September 19, from 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. and on Thursday, September 20, from 9:00 a.m.–noon.
LOCATION:
The United Seamen’s Service
1185-8 Choryang-dong, Dong-ku
Busan, Korea
Tel.: 051-462-8029
A map of the location is available at: http://asktheconsul.org
American citizens will be able to apply for U.S. passports, additional visa pages in their current passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and Social Security cards. Consular officers will also offer notarial services and provide information regarding voting, federal benefits, and registration with the Embassy.
Any questions about requirements, particularly for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, should be directed by email to seoul_acs@state.gov. Please allow at least three days for a response.
If you plan to visit the ACS Unit in Busan, we strongly urge you to consult the website at http://www.asktheconsul.org for more information on our consular services and to ensure that you bring the proper forms (filled out in advance) and fees with you. In addition to bringing original supporting documents (i.e., birth certificate, passport, Certificate of Naturalization), please bring photocopies of all documents you plan to submit. There will not be a photocopier available on-site.
Any questions about requirements that cannot be answered from our website should be directed by email to seoul_acs@state.gov.
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Need Additional Pages in Your Passport During the Consular Visit to Busan?
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If you notify us prior to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 18, we can add pages to your passport in Busan while you wait. Please complete form DS-4085, which can be downloaded at: http://foia.state.gov/FORMS
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8. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: SEPTEMBER 3, 24-26; OCTOBER 3, 8
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The U.S. Embassy will be closed on the following dates:
September 3 (Monday) Labor Day
September 24-26 (Mon-Wed) Chusok (Korean Thanksgiving Days)
October 3 (Wednesday) National Foundation Day
October 8 (Monday) Columbus Day
Please be advised that the days just before and after a holiday usually are exceptionally busy in the American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy. Do not be surprised at a significantly longer wait for consular services on those days. If you visit us outside those times, you should have a shorter wait.
A complete list of all of our holiday closings for 2007 is available on-line at http://seoul.usembassy.gov
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9. EMBASSY CONTACT INFORMATION
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American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy Seoul
32, Sejongno, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-710, Korea
- or -
American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy, Seoul
Unit #15550
APO AP 96205-5550
Tel: 02-397-4114
Fax: 02-397-4101
DSN: 721-4114
English: http://www.asktheconsul.org/
Korean: http://www.usavisas.org/
E-mail: seoul_acs@state.gov
Popularity: 17% [?]
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