Passport/Visa

The Department of State is the agency responsible for issuing passports and visitor visas. Responsible for maintaining our diplomatic presence in foreign countries, the State Department also provides services to American citizens abroad, including issuing Certificates of Birth Overseas to children of American citizens born while their parents were living in a foreign country.

The phone number to call and check about passports doesn't work or my phone is blocked so I can't call. What can I do?

There are two phone numbers you can try: 1-900-225-5674 or for the hearing impaired (TDD) 1-900-225-7778. These calls will be automatically charged to your phone bill. If you can't make this call because of a block on your phone you should call 1-888-362-8668 (TDD 1-888-498-3648) and have your credit card ready. You should have your full name, date of birth, where and when you applied, and when you are traveling ready for the representative.

If you still cannot call for whatever reason or you find there is a problem with your application, please feel free to call my office at 1-800-866-2701.

I would like a friend/relative from a foreign country to come visit me for the summer. What steps do my friend and I have to take?

The Department of State web page details what kind of visa your friend or relative may apply for and also has a list of all the U.S. Embassies, Consulates. Generally, your friend or relative will need to come prepared to prove they are not planning on immigrating to the United States. He or she should provide evidence of property, financial statements, ties to the community through work, organizations they belong to, and ties to family and friends. You may have to act as the sponsor for your friend or relative, meaning you can prove you will be financially responsible for your guest.

I would like to get my tourist/student/business visa extended. What do I need to do?

You should first contact the closest foreign consulate office for detailed instructions. Extension of your visa will depend on whether or not you have a valid passport and what the date stamped on your I-94 form states.

I am a U.S. citizen who recently gave birth to a child in a foreign country. How do I apply for citizenship for my child?

The birth of a child abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s) should be reported as soon as possible to the nearest American consular office for the purpose of establishing an official record of the child's claim to U.S. citizenship at birth. The official record is in the form of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. This document, referred to as the Consular Report of Birth or FS-240, is considered a basic United States citizenship document.

A Consular Report of Birth can be prepared only at an American consular office overseas while the child is under the age of 18. Usually, in order to establish the child's citizenship under the appropriate provisions of U.S. law, the following documents must be submitted:

1. An official record of the child's foreign birth
2. Evidence of the parent(s)' U.S. citizenship (e.g., a certified birth certificate, current U.S. passport, or Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship)
3. Evidence of the parents' marriage, if applicable
4. Affidavits of parent(s)' residence and physical presence in the United States.

In certain cases, it may be necessary to submit additional documents, including affidavits of paternity and support, divorce decrees from prior marriages, or medical reports of blood compatibility. All evidentiary documents should be certified as true copies of the originals by the registrar of the office wherein each document was issued. A service fee of $65 is prescribed under the provisions of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 22.1, item 9, for a Consular Report of Birth.

I was born in a foreign country while my parent was stationed there. How do I prove my U.S. citizenship?

A person, who acquired United States citizenship through birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) or who acquired U.S. citizenship by derivative naturalization, may apply for a Certificate of Citizenship under the provisions of Section 341 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Application for this document may be made in the United States at the nearest office of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security. Upon approval, a Certificate of Citizenship will be issued in the name of the subject, but only if that person is in the United States. Obtaining this certificate involves presentation of basically the same documentation required to obtain a Consular Report of Birth. Under law, the Consular Report of Birth and the Certificate of Citizenship are equally acceptable as proof of citizenship.