Your vote counts, wherever you are! If you forgot to register and/or request a ballot, there's still time to cast your vote, but you'll have to act fast. Register and/or request a ballot today using the federal post card application at www.FVAP.gov. Select the electronic ballot delivery option, include your email address (and fax number) and send it to local election officials in your state. Almost every state lets you send it by email or fax. Once your application is processed, they will send you your ballot via fax or email, depending on your state's rules. Vote as soon as you receive the blank ballot. Registration deadlines vary and some are as early as October 7, so check your state's requirements and deadlines carefully.
From late-September through mid-October, U.S. embassies and consulates… more »
As the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, I had the distinct pleasure today of briefing leaders from the travel and tourism industry on the strides we and our partners have made in transforming how we facilitate travel by legitimate visitors to the United States, while maintaining the highest standards of border security. My remarks were part of a half-day Strategic Dialogue on International Travel to review the progress we have made in meeting and exceeding the President's travel and tourism goals.
You see, our consular officers in 222 visa issuing posts around the world have always understood that they are often the first and only interaction a foreigner will have with a U.S citizen. The visa process protects our borders, but it is also an integral part of our public face beyond those borders. This is why we are working harder than ever to make that process… more »
We at the State Department are well aware of the dynamic global tourism market of the 21st century -- and the opportunities it presents to expand our trade and investment everywhere. So we are working to promote and support our own travel and tourism industry to engender jobs and business for our citizens, and to make travelling to the United States as welcoming as possible.
Last week, we celebrated UN World Tourism Day, which the United Nations World Tourism Organization observes every year to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. And today, for the first time, our Travel and Tourism Conference will bring together leaders from the travel and tourism industry to find… more »
Today marks five days until the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics. Many U.S. citizens will be attending the Games, and I had the opportunity to engage with some of those individuals last week during a Twitter Q & A. I received many thoughtful questions, and much of what we discussed also applies to any U.S. citizen traveling abroad. Here are 10 useful tips for travelers:
• Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Let us know your travel plans through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free online service. This will help us contact you if there is a family… more »
Summer has arrived in Washington once again. The heat index is rising and more tourists arrive every day with their friends and family to view the nation's memorials and historical sites. When I walk along the National Mall, I see international tour groups and hear snippets of conversation in dozens of languages: French, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, and Chinese, to name a few. It's clear that the United States is open for business and ready to welcome visitors from all over the world!
The U.S. Department of State works hard to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States. We understand that keeping our borders secure while welcoming the world are not incompatible priorities. We also understand that every international visitor contributes to the growth of the U.S. economy. The Bureau of Consular Affairs, where I work, is responsible for the security and efficiency… more »
June 14 is Flag Day, and Americans everywhere are proudly flying the red, white, and blue. Here at the State Department, and at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, we are joining Secretary Clinton to gear up for Global Economic Statecraft Day . Today in Washington and nearly every other world capital, more than 350 events in 138 countries will let U.S. diplomats show what they do every day to help American businesses around the world. You can watch Secretary Clinton's remarks on Economic Statecraft right here on state.gov.
U.S. embassies are using this day to bring together local and American business to forge stronger economic ties, increase trade and commerce, promote tourism,… more »
U.S. citizens traveling to storm-prone regions during hurricane and typhoon season should carefully consider the potential dangers and inconveniences associated with their travel before finalizing plans. Even inland areas far from the coastline can experience destructive winds, tornadoes, and floods from tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons. Those who choose to travel should devise an emergency plan in advance of their departure. Prior to leaving the United States, enroll your trip on the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at the travel enrollment website or at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
For U.S. citizens overseas, in the event of a tropical storm, hurricane, or typhoon, the U.S. embassy will send out emergency messages and… more »
I am pleased to join millions of our older citizens as they celebrate Older Americans Month. The theme of this year's celebration, "Never Too Old To Play!" puts a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding, and passing on that knowledge to other generations in a variety of significant ways. International travel is increasingly one of the more popular ways that older Americans "play" as they visit new places and learn about new cultures. The experiences older Americans share with their families and friends upon return further enrich all generations in our communities.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs is to ensure the safety and welfare of our fellow citizens overseas. An estimated 6.3 million Americans live overseas and another 65 million travel abroad… more »
This week, I was privileged to join our Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, David Donahue, in representing the State Department at the International Pow Wow in Los Angeles. Hosted each year by the U.S. Travel Association, the Pow Wow is the industry's premier marketplace for international travel. Exhibitors from America's top vacation spots meet with tour organizers and travel agents from around the world who are eager to bring international visitors to the United States.
You might wonder what the State Department is doing at a show like the Pow Wow. While a significant number of international visitors (65 percent) don't need a visa to visit the United States, we are streamlining the visa process for those who do.
The State Department plays an important role… more »
This week marks the 31st annual National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). This week-long campaign sponsored by the Department of Justice's Office of Victims of Crime originated as an opportunity to remember the rights of victims of crime and to acknowledge the advocates who work on their behalf. The theme of this year's event is "Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim."
This theme falls very much in line with the overall mission of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. OCS is responsible for the protection and safety of all U.S. citizens traveling abroad -- many in far-off and isolated locations.
While overall U.S. citizen travel abroad has declined in recent years, the volume of young Americans choosing to study abroad… more »
Thank you, Jonathan, for this insightful post on World Food Day and the importance of strengthening our efforts as an international community to end world hunger…
more »
Spokesperson Nuland (Oct. 17): "Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael Posner, led a 22-member interagency delegation from the U.S. to discuss the full range of human rights issues affecting the country." more »
Oct. 16: Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, held a conversation with Ann Cody, Director of Policy and Global Outreach, BlazeSports; and Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA. more »
![This Jan. 31, 2012 file photo shows a woman voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections in Cleveland as early voting began in Ohio's March 6 presidential primary. [AP File Photo]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234613im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_1006_vote_m.jpg)
![Travelers walk through the terminal at Washington’s National Airport, Nov. 2010. [AP File Photo]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234613im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1222_airport_travel_m.jpg)
![A passenger jet is framed between British and Olympic flags as it flies over London, July 23, 2012. Opening ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics are scheduled for Friday, July 27. [AP Photo]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234613im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0723_olympics_travel_m.jpg)
![Mt Rushmore National Memorial, as seen in a screenshot of a Consular Affairs video inviting travelers to the United States. [State Department image/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234613im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0630_experience_america_m.jpg)
![This satellite image shows Hurricane Bill in the Atlantic ocean on August 18, 2009. [AP Photo/NOAA]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234613im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0606_hurricane_m.jpg)
![Travelers queue at the Duesseldorf International Airport on March 27, 2012. in Duesseldorf, Germany. [AP File Photo]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20121018234613im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0501_travel_may_m.jpg)
