Please contact the ACS Unit immediately to report the death or serious injury of a U.S. citizen.  The State Department web site desciribes the type of assistance that the ACS Unit can offer in the case of the Death or Injury of an American Citizen Abroad.

The ACS Unit provides guidance to family members of the deceased on how to make arrangements for local burial or to return the remains to the U.S.  The ACS Unit also produces a Consular Report of Death for the family to use as proof of death in legal proceedings in the U.S.  Please note that the ACS Unit cannot produce this report until a local death certificate is issued. 

The Embassy regrets that it does not have funds available to help with the return of remains or other costs associated with the funeral arrangements.  The Embassy will assist in arranging documentation for remains shipped to the U.S. and will oversee the required preparations, but all costs are the responsibility of the family.  Cremation and local burial are both available options for consideration.  While shipment of remains via commercial airlines is possible, it is very expensive and takes some time.

Please contact the ACS Unit immediately to report the arrest of a U.S. citizen.  The State Department web site describes the type of assistance that the ACS Unit can offer in the case of the Arrest or Detention of an American Citizen Abroad. U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are subject to the laws of the Afghan government.  If a U.S. citizen is arrested in Afghanistan, a Consular Officer will visit the prisoner in jail to verify his or her wellbeing, facilitate communication with family members, and provide a list of local lawyers.  The ACS Unit cannot pay for legal representation.  Consular Officers monitor conditions in Afghan prisons and can protest allegations of abuse against U.S. citizen prisoners when requested to do so.

The State Department web site describes the type of assistance that the ACS Unit can offer in the case of American Citizens Missing Abroad. If you are concerned about the welfare of a U.S. citizen or need make contact in an emergency, the ACS Unit may be able to assist.