Welcome
to the Consular Section of the American Embassy in Praia
Versão
em Português
American
Citizen Services
The Consular
Section is open to the public for routine American Citizen services
every Thursday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM, appointments are not required.
The Consular Section provides U.S. citizens services and information for
the following:
U.S. passports,
Overseas births,
Federal benefits,
Voting
Notaries
The Section is available for
emergency American Citizen Services
anytime.
Fees for
consular services are collected in Escudos or U.S. dollars.
Americans
Traveling Abroad To Cape Verde – Tips, Warnings and Registration
Tips for
Traveling Abroad
Before
traveling to Cape Verde or any other country, the U.S. Department of
State encourages all Americans to check its website on Tips
for Traveling Abroad. For
more specific information on Cape Verde visit the Department’s Consular
Information Sheet.
Travel Warnings,
Public Announcements and Warden Messages
From
time to time, the Department of State receives unconfirmed reports that
prompt concern about the safety and security of U.S. Government
personnel, and private American citizen’s abroad. In addition, the
possibility remains that terrorists and other groups or individuals may
take actions against Americans and American interests. In the past,
these groups and individuals have not distinguished between U.S.
government and civilian targets. Security continues to be a prime
concern at U.S. government facilities worldwide, likewise, U.S. citizens
traveling or residing abroad are urged to review their own personal
security practices, to be attentive to their surroundings and to
exercise caution.
Prior
to traveling American’s are encouraged to read the Department’s
current Travel
Warnings. Travel Warnings are issued when the State
Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The State
Department issues Public
Announcements to disseminate information quickly about
terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions that pose
significant risks or disruptions to Americans.
The
U.S. Embassy Praia has instituted a Warden System.
Wardens are volunteers who have agreed to disseminate information
and provide assistance to other Americans living in their area.
Periodically the Embassy will send out messages to our Wardens who will
then provide the information to Americans resident in their district.
If you would like to know the name and contact information for
the Warden covering your island or area of Cape Verde please contact the
U.S. Embassy, Praia at 2615616. For
the Warden system to work best, American’s living or traveling through
Cape Verde should register with the Embassy.
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Registration
Travel
registration is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S.
citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.
Registration allows you to record information about your upcoming trip
abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an
emergency. We strongly
recommend that all U.S. Citizens in Cape Verde register with the
Embassy. Registration provides proof of citizenship in case of a lost or
stolen passport and allows the Consular Section to contact you in
emergencies. A U.S. passport is required for registration. The Privacy
Act prevents the Consular Section from divulging registered information
without the express consent of registrants. The Department of State has
made registering even easier with an Internet Travel
Registration Website. The
site is secure and all data collected via the Travel Registration
Website falls under the Privacy Act.
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Passports
The
consular section can only issue limited emergency passports. Regular
passport applications are accepted and sent to the U.S. for issuance.
This process takes approximately 15 working days.
The
fee for first-time issuance of an adult passport (over 16 years of age)
is US$85. The fee for first-time issuance of a minor’s passport (16
and under) is US$55.
The
fee is US$55 for renewal of an adult passport; US$70 for renewal for a
person under the age of 16.
Payment
must be made at the time of application. Credit cards or personal or
traveler’s checks are not accepted.
Each
passport applicant must submit the following documents:
1.
Passport Application form DSP-11 (first time applicants), DSP-82
(passport renewals), and/or DS-3053 (children under 14).
2.
Two photographs (2" square, NON POLAROID, matte finish showing full
view of face with a light colored background) are required.
3.
Previous passport or U.S. birth certificate.
4.
Photo identification.
If
your passport was lost or stolen, you will need to present a police
report, proof of your identity and citizenship, and a fee of US$70. All
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register their presence with the
Embassy, as it will facilitate passport issuance in the event of a lost
or stolen passport.
In
the event of an emergency requiring immediate travel, U.S. citizens may
be issued a limited passport the same day.
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Overseas
Births
When
a child is born overseas to an American citizen parent or parents, the
child may be entitled to a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and a U.S.
passport. The fee for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad is US$40. The
following must be presented at the interview:
1.
Personal
appearance of the child.
2.
An
original copy of the child’s birth certificate
3.
Parent’s
passports.
4.
The
original or certified copy of the parents marriage certificate an/or
proof of the termination of any previous marriage (death or divorce
certificates).
5.
Two
photographs (2" square) of the child.
6.
The fee
of US$40 for the child’s Consular Report of birth.
7.
If only
one parent is a U.S. citizen, U.S. law requires that he or she must
present evidences that they have been physically present in the U.S. a
requisite length of time to transmit citizenship.
8.
Consular
Report of Birth Abroad Form DS-2029.
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Notaries
The
Consular Section provides notarial services, including acknowledgements
and affidavits by American Citizens. There is generally a fee of US$55
per notarization. Bring your passport and another form of
identification. We recommend that U.S. citizens authenticate their
documents (especially educational certificates) in the U.S. before
coming to the Embassy. Consular personnel are unable to authenticate
educational documents and civil registry documents that have not been
first authenticated by the Department of State. Notarial Services are
provided on Wednesdays between 11am – 12pm.
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Federal
Benefits
The
Embassy has information about Selective Service as well as Social
Security and Veterans benefits. We also provide assistance with Social
Security Number (SSN) applications.
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Voting
The
Consular Section has voting information for all 50 States. The Federal
Post Card Application that allows Americans to register to
vote abroad is available on-line and at the Consular Section.
Remember in order to vote you must register.
To learn more about registering to vote as well as voting abroad,
please visit the Federal
Voting Assistance Website.
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Assistance
and Information
The
Consular Section maintains lists of local lawyers and doctors although
we cannot recommend a particular individual. In case of death, arrest,
or financial emergency, the Consular Section staff can assist Americans.
Americans overseas are subject to local law and the jurisdiction of
local courts. The Embassy cannot obtain the release of American citizens
from jail. The Embassy does not provide loans except for repatriation in
the case of destitution. The Embassy can not assist American citizens in
finding jobs.
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Counter
Terrorism Rewards
On
August 7, 1998 terrorist bombs killed over 250 innocent civilians when
they exploded at the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar Es Salaam,
Tanzania. These two cowardly attacks seriously wounded several thousand
men, women and children, civilized people everywhere reject such act or
random violence, no one should be forced to live in fear wondering when
the next attack will occur.
On
September 11, 2001, the world witnessed the attacks on the U.S. World
Trade Center and the Pentagon when many American and Foreign lives was
lost. Many security measures have been taken by the U.S. Government to
prevent incidents such as these from ever happening again. For your own
safety, we urge every American to be extremely careful when traveling
abroad.
The
United States government is offering a reward for information leading to
the arrest and conviction, in any country, for the person or persons
responsible for the bombings. A reward of up to Two Million Dollars may
be paid to any person who furnishes such information. The reward is
available under the U.S. Department of State Counter Terrorism Rewards
Program. This program is designed to protect innocent lives by punishing
past terrorist acts and preventing future ones. The U.S. Government may
also provide for the protection of the identify and the possibility of
relocation for persons and their families who contribute such
information.
Persons
wishing to report information about these bombings, or any other
terrorist attack, should contact the authorities or the nearest U. S.
Embassy or Consulate. In the U.S., contact the Federal Bureau of
Investigation or call he U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security
Service at 1-800-HEROES-1 (within the U.S. only). Information may also
be provided by writing: HEROES, P.O. Box 96781, Washington, D.C.
20090-6781, USA. Email: Heroes@Heroes.Net.
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