American Citizens Services Newsletter
ACS Newsletter (February 2008)
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau
Welcome to the February newsletter! Here are this month's topics:
New Topics:
- Upcoming Holidays and Other Closures
- New Passport Application Requirements for ALL Minors Under Age 16
- Macau Day: February 27, 2008 – Addition of services
- Voting Information Updates
Continuing Topics of Interest:
- Check Your Passport's Validity
- Need More Passport Pages?
- Online Appointment System for all American Citizens Services
- Internet-Based Registration System
- Subscribing/Unsubscribing
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AND OTHER CLOSURES
The Consulate General will be closed on the following holidays:
February 1 | | ACS Unit internal training (open for emergencies only) |
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February 7 | | Chinese Lunar New Year |
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February 8 | | The Second Day of Chinese Lunar New Year |
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February 18 | | George Washington's Birthday |
NEW PASSPORT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MINORS UNDER AGE 16
Starting February 1, 2008, new regulations for passports for minors will come into effect. The new rule extends the two–parent consent and personal appearance requirements to all minors under the age of 16. This means that 14 and 15 year-olds must also now comply with the same rules that previously applied to minors under 14. Most significantly, a minor under age 16 MUST appear with BOTH parents when submitting an application for a passport. The appearance of both parents cannot be waived, (although there is provision, in certain circumstances, for one parent to present a letter of authorization, together with one attending parent). In addition, the application MUST include the following items:
- Application Form DS-11 (effective February 1, a revised form will be available at http://www.travel.state.gov)
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship of the minor
- Documentation of Evidence of Child's Relationship to Parents/Guardians
- Parental Identification
- Notarized Parental Application Authorization Letter (If One Parent is absent)
- Two Passport Photos (2x2 inches, color photo with a plain white background)
- Fees for application (US$82)
- Social Security Number
MACAU DAY: FEBRUARY 27, 2008 – ADDITION OF SERVICES
On Wednesday, February 27, 2008 our staff will travel to Macau to provide limited services for American Citizens. Services to be offered during this visit include notarials (US$30/HKD240 for each signature of consular officer), passport processing (US$82/HKD656, US$67/HKD536, or US$97/HKD776 depending on age and type), and birth registration (US$65/HKD520 for each child).
During this visit, the American Citizen Services unit will process requests for additional passport pages, provided your passport is in good condition. Please note that this service is being offered on a trial basis only. If you wish to apply for more passport pages in Macau, you must complete and sign the application form (DS-4085) in full and scan and email it or fax it to our office no later than Monday, February 25. In addition, please send a copy of the bio page of your passport (the page with your photo) with the application. Our email address is questions@hongkongacs.com and our fax number is +852 2845-4845. Please bring the completed application form with your passport to Macau Day, where the additional pages will be added. Please note that due to recent changes in U.S. passport processing requirements, we may not be able to process all requests from Macau. If we are unable to provide this service to you in Macau, we will notify you and ask you to come to the Consulate General in Hong Kong.
Services will be available from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Academy of Music, located at Rua de Santa Clara, No. 19, 2/F., adjacent to City Hall and near Catholic Social Services, Rua de Santa Clara 13, Macau. Clients who are physically challenged and/or require special arrangements to access this location may call 2841-2211, 2841-2323 or 2841-2225 in advance to facilitate access.
To enable us to best assist you in Macau-
- Please check our website (http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov) for information on what specific identification, forms and supporting documents are required for each service.
- Please present your passport for all services.
- Please bring the original and one photocopy of each piece of identification and/or supporting document (such as passports, birth certificates, marriage and divorce certificates, Macau ID cards, etc.).
- Please have all relevant form(s) completed before requesting any passport services. Download the forms from our web site.
- Please bring exact cash (US or HK dollars) for any fee services you require. Patacas will not be accepted.
If you need a service not listed above, please contact us in advance at 2841-2211, 2841-2323, or 2841-2225. We may be able to bring with us what you need for that service.
VOTING INFORMATION UPDATES
State Voter Registration Verification Websites
States and territories are making it easier to find out your voter registration status. Twenty-two states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have web sites where a voter can check their registration status. NOTE: The website addresses are subject to change.
Please check http://www.fvap.gov/vao/stregissites.html for updates.
- Arizona, https://servicearizona.com/webapp/evoter/select_language.do
- Arkansas, https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/
- Colorado, www.sos.state.co.us/Voter/voterHome.do;jsessionid=0000XG2ue4KEtN2QUYQ
- Delaware, pollingplace.delaware.gov/
- District of Columbia, www.dcboee.org/voterreg/vic_step1.asp
- Georgia, www.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/Locator.asp
- Indiana, www.indianavoters.com/PublicSite/Public/PublicVoterRegistration.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Note: You can also check the status of your Provisional Vote. - Iowa, www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterReg/RegToVote/search.aspx
- Kansas, https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/
- Kentucky, cdc.ky.gov/VICWeb/index.jsp
- Louisiana, sos.louisiana.gov/polllocator/
- Maryland. mdelections.umbc.edu
NOTE: You can get a sample ballot at this site also. - Michigan, michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633-49313--,00.html
- Nebraska, https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/
Note: You can also check the status of your Provisional Vote. - Nevada, www.nvsos.gov/elections/
- New Mexico, https://voterview.state.nm.us/
- North Carolina, www.sboe.state.nc.us/votersearch/seimsvot.htm
NOTE: You can check the status of your Provisional Vote at this site also. - Ohio, www.sos.state.oh.us/sosapps/elections/voterquery.aspx
- Pennsylvania, www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/cwp/view.asp?a=1206&Q=446253&sureNav=|
- Puerto Rico.www.ceeput.org/serviciosLineas/estatusEelectoral/index.htm
NOTE: This site is in Spanish and you need your voter registration number to verify your status. - Rhode Island, www.sec.state.ri.us/vic/
- South Carolina, https://webprod.cio.sc.gov/SCSECVoterWeb/voterInformationSearch.do
- Utah, gva1.utah.gov/elections/polling.aspx
- Virginia, https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/PublicSite/Public/FT2/PublicLookup.aspx?Link=Registration
- Washington, www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/lookup.aspx/
- West Virginia, www.wvvotes.com/voters/am-i-registered.php
OTHER EARLY PRIMARY ELECTIONS
The following states will hold Primary elections early in 2008. An asterisk indicates a change from the date printed in the Voting Assistance Guide:
Alabama | | February 5, 2008 |
Arizona* | | February 5, 2008 |
Arkansas | | February 5, 2008 |
California | | February 5, 2008 |
Connecticut | | February 5, 2008 |
Delaware | | February 5, 2008 |
Georgia | | February 5, 2008 |
Illinois | | February 5, 2008 |
Missouri | | February 5, 2008 |
New Jersey | | February 5, 2008 |
New Mexico (D) | | February 5, 2008 |
New York | | February 5, 2008 |
Oklahoma | | February 5, 2008 |
Tennessee | | February 5, 2008 |
Utah | | February 5, 2008 |
Louisiana | | February 9, 2008 |
District of Columbia* | | February 12, 2008 |
Maryland | | February 12, 2008 |
Virginia | | February 12, 2008 |
Washington | | February 19, 2008 |
Wisconsin | | February 19, 2008 |
Massachusetts | | March 4, 2008 |
Ohio | | March 4, 2008 |
Rhode Island | | March 4, 2008 |
Texas | | March 4, 2008 |
Vermont | | March 4, 2008 |
Puerto Rico | | March 9, 2008 |
Mississippi | | March 11, 2008 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov. The toll-free number for Hong Kong is 800-962191. Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington DC 20301-1155, and email at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.
Check Your Passport's Validity
Please carefully review the validity of your current U.S. passport.
Many governments require US travelers to have at least 6 months validity left in their passports for entry into their countries.
Regular passports are received within 10 calendar days after the US Consulate receives the application. More information can be found at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_passports.html
Need more passport pages?
If your full-validity U.S. passport has not expired yet, but has no blank pages left for visas, we can add additional pages for you free of charge. Barring any unusual circumstances, we can usually add pages to your passport in about 45 minutes, while you wait. You need to make an appointment for this service. In some cases, you can have a courier assist you in this process. Learn more at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_supplement.html
Online Appointment System for All American Citizens Services
Online appointments are required for all services provided by the American Citizens Services Unit at the U.S. Consulate General Hong. Book your appointment at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov
Internet-Based Registration System
U.S. citizens around the world who travel or reside abroad can record foreign trip and residence information at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. The Department of State invites US Citizens to register themselves and their families. The registration information is used to communicate with US citizens and assist them in case of an emergency. If citizens are already registered with this consulate, the Department asks that they please re-register on line to update their records.
The registration site provides up-to-date travel information customized to each citizen's unique travel agenda and itinerary. The data citizens provide is secured behind Department of State firewalls, accessed only by cleared personnel in Embassies, Consulates, and the Department of State, and releasable only with the US Citizen's permission under the provisions of the Privacy Act.
Subscribing/Unsubscribing
Anyone who wishes to sign up to receive this monthly ACS email newsletter and the travel advice we provide can do so simply by going to our web page at and submit their email address in the fill-in box towards the bottom of the page. You can also unsubscribe through the web page.
New subscribers will be sent the last few messages we have sent out in a digest form to help them catch up. Back issues are on the web at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_newsletter.html.
This newsletter is published by the American Citizens Services Unit, U.S. Consulate General, Hong Kong, tel: 2841-2211, 2841-2323, 2841-2225; fax: 2845-4845; e-mail: questions@hongkongacs.com; website: http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov; All services by online appointment only.
Last modified: January 29, 2008
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