American Citizens Services Newsletter
ACS Newsletter (August 2008)
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau
Welcome to the August Newsletter! Here are this month's topics:
New Topics:
Continuing Topics of Interest:
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AND OTHER CLOSURES
The Consulate General will be closed on the following holiday:
September 1 Labor Day
OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS
The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong is ready to assist American citizens visiting the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events. On Saturday, August 9, Sunday, August 10, Saturday, August 16, and Sunday August 17, the American Citizens Services Unit will be open 9:00 am-12 noon for walk-in emergency services only.
The Hong Kong government has prepared extensively for the Equestrian Events and security officials have stated that the overall terrorism threat level is moderate. In accordance with our Worldwide Caution, U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at travel.state.gov.
U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Hong Kong should regularly check the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Hong Kong at travel.state.gov for the latest safety and security information, as well as the U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong website at hongkong.usconsulate.gov. Americans planning to attend the Olympic or Paralympic Games are advised to register their presence with the U.S. Consulate or Embassy and read the updated Olympics Fact Sheet.
PLANNED CONSULAR SERVICES ON MACAU DAY
On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, our staff will travel to Macau to provide limited consular services for American Citizens. Services to be offered during this visit include notarials (US$30 for each signature of the consular officer), passport processing (US$75, US$85, or US$100 depending on age and type), birth registration (US$65 for each child), and adding additional visa pages. Please note that we will only be able to accept credit cards as payment – no cash transactions will be permitted. Customers may pay using MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club or Discover card. Customers must present their card at the time of payment and the person whose name is listed on the card must be present to sign the payment slip. All charges will be in U.S. dollars.
Provided your passport is in good condition, the American Citizens Services unit will also process requests for additional passport pages. Please note that this service is being offered on a trial basis only. In order to have additional pages inserted in your passport 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, August 25. The form is available for download here. In addition, please send a copy of the biographic page of your passport (the page with your photo) with the application. Our email address is acshk@state.gov and our fax number is (852) 2845-4845. Bring the completed application form with your passport to Macau Day, where the additional pages will be added. If we are unable to provide this service to you in Macau, we will notify you in advance of Macau Day 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 (see map - PDF format)*, 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 (852) 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 for information on what specific identification, forms and supporting documents are required for each service. Download the appropriate forms and bring them with you.
- Please present your U.S. 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.).
If you need a service not listed above, please contact us in advance at (852) 2841-2211, 2841-2323, or 2841-2225. We may be able to bring with us what you need for that service.
HAVE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?
We encourage you to visit the newly redesigned Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov, the official U.S. government website for overseas voters. The updated website features an automated Voter Registration and Ballot Delivery tool that will greatly improve the vote-by-mail process.
There are two options for overseas voters using the FVAP website:
- Visit www.fvap.gov and click "Get Started" to be directed to an online Federal Postcard Application and instructions for your state; or
- Visit www.fvap.gov and click "Use our New Automated Tool to Register/Request a Ballot" under Quick Links in the lower right-hand corner of the home page. You will be redirected to www.fvap.com, a fully automated site that requires you to create a user account and password.
Voter Registration & Requesting an Absentee Ballot
Voters who have not yet registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot should do so now using the FVAP website. You may also pick up a hard copy of the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
You should also complete a new Federal Postcard Application if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted.
Voting
Your local voting officials should mail your absentee ballot 30 to 45 days before the November 4 general election. Return your voted ballot as early as possible. Be aware of your state's ballot receipt deadline, as well as any postmarking requirements.
Emergency Ballots
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials. You can access the FWAB using www.fvap.gov as well.
Questions?
The Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting. To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call (852) 2841-2211, 2841-2225 or 2841-232 or send an e-mail to acshk@state.gov.
NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY INITIATIVES
The Department of Homeland Security has recently announced the launch of three initiatives – the Global Entry pilot program, the Passenger Service Program, and an expanded Model Ports Initiative – intended to strengthen customer service at U.S. ports of entry.
Global Entry is a customer service and security program designed to expedite the screening and processing of pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the U.S. Currently only U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) are eligible to join. The pilot started June 6, 2008 at George Bush Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy International and Washington Dulles International airports. Global Entry applicants will voluntarily provide their biographic and biometric information, undergo a background check and complete an interview with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Once accepted, Global Entry travelers can use a kiosk at any of the three pilot airports to verify their identity electronically and make any needed customs declarations. CBP has been accepting applications at www.cbp.gov/travel since May 12, 2008.
Under the new Passenger Service Program, CBP Program Service Managers will serve as a dedicated point of contact for identifying and resolving passenger issues. The initiative promotes customer service techniques in officer interactions with the traveling public, and includes joint efforts with the private sector and industry stakeholders to reduce wait times through the use of improved signage and technology. The program will be established at CBP's top 20 Model Ports.
The Department also is expanding the Model Ports Initiative to 18 additional airports. Originally established in 2006 as part of the Rice-Chertoff Initiative, Model Ports has enhanced border security with the use of the new technology while streamlining security processes and facilitating travel for legitimate visitors. In addition to brochures and increased signage, a new video, currently available in Spanish, French, German and English, will assist travelers through the customs and immigration process by providing practical information about the entry process and required entry documents and forms.
In a related effort, CBP is providing wait times online at http://www.cbp.gov for 16 of the busiest international airports and pedestrian wait times for 12 land border crossings in Arizona, California, and Texas.
REMINDER: NEW PASSPORT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MINORS UNDER AGE 16
On February 1, 2008, new regulations for passports for minors came 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 a 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
- 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
PASSPORT CARDS
The new U.S. passport card is designed to facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card cannot be used to travel by air and cannot be used to enter or exit Hong Kong or Macau. The card will have the same validity period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger. For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants will pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.
At the moment, the U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau is not able to accept applications for the passport card. Once we are able to accept such applications, an announcement will appear in this newsletter and on our website.
CHECK YOUR PASSPORT'S VALIDITY
Please carefully review the validity of your current U.S. passport. Many governments require U.S. travelers to have at least 6 months validity left in their passports for entry into their countries. Renewing a passport is easy and new passports are typically received within 10 calendar days after the U.S. Consulate receives the application. More information can be found at "Passports" page.
NEED MORE PASSPORT PAGES?
If your full-validity U.S. passport has not expired, 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 two hours or less. 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 "Adding Pages to Your U.S. Passport". The required form is available for download here.
ONLINE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM FOR 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. If you wish to come in for more than one service, please make more than one appointment.
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 U.S. Citizens to register themselves and their families. The registration information is used to communicate with U.S. 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 and submitting 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: acshk@state.gov; website: http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov; All services by online appointment only.
Last modified: August 8, 2008
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