Help for Americans Abroad
Judgments, Enforcement of A to Z
Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad are charged with providing consular protection and services to United States citizens abroad. The safety of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad is the highest priority of the Department of State. Service to the public is OCS’s mission.
This web site contains extensive information that we hope will be helpful to you. Please review our web-based material first as it may answer your questions. If you are looking for information on a particular subject, this A-Z index should assist you in locating the topic. We appreciate your suggestions for how to make our material more useful.
If you are inquiring about an actual life or death emergency, or require other assistance not addressed in the web-based material, contact Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747.This is an official U.S. Government source. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
Abduction, International Parental Child Abduction
- International Adoptions
- CDC Information on International Adoptions
- Citizenship for Adopted Children - link to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security
- Citizenship for Adopted Children
Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of Kin
Affidavits and Acknowledgement of Documents Abroad (See Notarial Services)
Agriculture, Pets and Wildlife
- Travelers' Tips on Bringing Food, Plant and Animal Products into the U.S.
- Know Before you Go; Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs
- Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws
- Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife, FEMA
Animals and Emergencies - FEMA
- U.S. Department of State Authentication Office
- Authentication Functions of U.S. Consuls Abroad
- Hague Legalization Convention
- Academic Credentials
B
Background Notes on Foreign Countries
Birth Certificates
- How to Get Copies of U.S. Birth Records
- How to Get Copies of Reports of Birth for Children Born Abroad
- Births on High Seas
C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Does My Child Have U.S. Citizenship?
- How to Document the Citizenship of a U.S. Citizen Born Abroad?
- Checklist for Establishing a Citizenship Claim for Person Born Abroad
- How Can I Lose U.S. Citizenship?
- How Can I Renounce U.S. Citizenship?
- Will I Lose U.S. Citizenship If I Obtain Public Office in a Foreign Country?
- Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Foreign Military Service
- What is Dual Citizenship?
- Affidavit of Physical Presence, Parentage to Transmit U.S. Citizenship
Country Specific Information - Travel Safety Conditions in Foreign Countries
Consulate
U.S. Embassies and Consulates Abroad Home Pages
Country Information
- Consular Travel Information Program
- Judicial Assistance
- International Adoption
- Marriage and Divorce
- Background Notes
Crime
- Country Specific Information - See the crime section for each country.
- U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Abroad
- Child Victims of Crime
- Criminal Records Checks
Crisis
- Crisis Overseas
- Crisis Abroad Pamphlet
- Crisis Awareness
- Crisis Preparedness
- Crisis Preparedness for Children
- Crisis Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities
- Crisis Preparedness for Older Americans
- Health Links - Crisis related health issues
- Crisis Victims
Cruise Ships, International (CDC Sanitation Inspections)
U.S. Customs Traveler Information
D
Death
- Getting Copies of U.S. Death Certificates
- Getting Reports of Death for U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad
- Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad
- Deaths of U.S. Citizens Abroad
- Estates of U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad
- Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of Kin
- Deaths of U.S. Citizens in Foreign Countries - National Archives
- Deaths on the High Seas
Disasters
Drugs
- Medical Information for Americans Abroad
E
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Embassies and Consulates Abroad Home Pages
U.S. Embassy and Consulate Phone Numbers Abroad (see Country Specific Information)
Foreign Embassies in the United States
Estates
- Personal Belongings of U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad
- Transferring Proceeds of an Estate from One Country to Another
- Affidavit of Surviving Spouse/NOK
Evidence, Taking Depositions or Compelling Evidence Abroad
F
Federal Agencies Services Abroad
Financial Assistance in an Emergency Abroad
Money, Sending Emergency Funds Overseas
G
Gold Key Matching Services, U.S. Trade International Partners
H
HIV Testing Requirements for Entry into Foreign Countries
I
Insurance, Medical
J
K
Key Officers of the Foreign Service
- (See Also Parental Child Abduction )
- Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Publications
- Victims of Terrorism - see hostage/kidnapping
L
Lawyers
Loan, Repatriation - See Financial Assistance
Lost Passports Abroad - U.S. Passports Will No Longer be Issued Abroad - Press Release - 4/2/02
M
Medical
- Medical Evacuation
- Medical Information for Americans Abroad
- Medical Emergency
- Medical Emergencies Abroad (CDC)
- Medicare
- Shots
- Doctors Abroad
- Hospitals
- Insurance, Medical
Money, Sending Emergency Funds Overseas
N
Nationality (See Citizenship)
O
Older Americans
- Tips for Older American Travelers
- Crisis Preparation for Older Americans
Overseas Citizens Services (OSAC)
P
Passports
- Getting a Replacement for a Passport Lost/Stolen Abroad
- U.S. Passports Will No Longer be Issued Abroad - Press Release - 4/2/02
Passports for Minors Abroad
- New Law on Passports for Minors
- Passport Services for Minors in the United States
- Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
- How to Get Copies of Your Passport Records
Pets
- Travelers' Tips on Bringing Food, Plant and Animal Products into the U.S.
- Know Before you Go: Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs
- Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws
- Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife - FEMA
- Pets and Disasters - FEMA
R
Records
- Birth, Death and Marriage Records
- Passport Records - National Archives
- Passport Records - Department of State
- Release of Records
- Freedom of Information Act
- Privacy Act
- 22 CFR 171 - Access to Information
- 22 CFR 172 - Service of Process and Requests for State Department Official Testimony or Documentary Evidence
Religious Freedom, International
S
Tips for Students
- Spring Break
- International Student Identity Card
- International Study I.D. Cards
T
Tips for Older Americans
Tips for Students
Tips for Travelers to Canada
Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean
Tips for Travelers to Mexico
Tips for Business Travelers to Nigeria
Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa
Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa
Tips for Travelers to Russia
Tips for Travelers to China
Tips for Travelers to South Asia
Tourism
- Foreign Tourist Offices in the United States
- Tourist Complaints
- U.S. Department of Commerce Tourism Office
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- OFAC Sanctions for the Travel Industry
U
V
Visas
- Visa Requirements for U.S. Citizens Traveling Abroad
- Visa Requirements for Foreigners Traveling to U.S.
W
Wildlife, Pets, and Agriculture
- Travelers' Tips on Bringing Food, Plant and Animal Products into the U.S.
- Know Before you Go: Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs
- Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws
- Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife - FEMA
X
Y
Your Trip Abroad
Z