Consular Service - Embassy of the United States of America, Conakry

The Consular Section of the Embassy provides such services as travel warnings, medical alerts, passport issuance for and registration of American citizens, and nonimmigrant visa issuance for travel to the United States. In the event of an emergency involving a U.S. citizen during non-working hours, an Embassy duty officer is available. To contact the duty officer, the U.S. citizen should telephone the Embassy and describe the problem to the Marine Security Guard, who will then notify the duty officer.
American citizens may visit the Consular Section any time during business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 16:30 p.m Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. on Friday.

Passports
The Consular Section issues emergency passports to U.S. citizens and accepts applications for regular validity passports. Previous passport holders whose passports have expired or been lost or stolen must prove their citizenship and identity, as do first-time passport applicants. U.S. citizens who travel extensively may ask for extra passport pages at no cost.

Registration
American citizens traveling or residing in Guinea are strongly encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the Embassy. This allows the Embassy to know more accurately the number and location of U.S. citizens should an emergency arise. It also enables the Consular Officer to locate an individual in case of a family or business emergency in the United States. Registrants can be assured that Privacy Act restrictions preclude the Embassy from releasing information about a citizen without his/her explicit authorization.

Births in Guinea
Parents of American children born abroad should obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, which is evidence of the child's U.S. citizenship. Reports of Birth Abroad should be obtained as soon as possible after the birth of the child and cannot be issued after age eighteen. Parents will have to submit proof of their citizenship and identity as well.

Notaries and Assistance with Federal Agencies
The Consular Officer can notarize documents for use in Guinea or the United States. Powers of attorney, affidavits, wills, and depositions are common documents notarized by the Consular Section. The Consular Section can also legalize translations and true copies of documents for use in certain states. The Consular Section has most federal income tax forms, but it does not carry state income tax forms. The Consular Officer does not advise taxpayers on United States tax law. U.S. citizens wishing to apply for Social Security cards may apply at the Consular Section. A passport and an original or notarized copy of the birth certificate are needed to complete the application. The Consular Section maintains up-to-date copies of the U.S. Voting Assistance Guide, Absentee Ballot Applications, and Federal Post Card Registrations.

Services to United States Citizens in Distress
The Consular Section maintains a list of attorneys and notaries practicing law in Conakry. The Consular Officer, however, is not permitted to advise Americans on legal matters or to recommend a particular lawyer. The Consular Section provides services to Americans in distress, including visiting detainees in Guinean custody, arranging financial assistance for Americans who are temporarily without money, providing information about physicians and hospitals, helping family members and friends in the United States locate and transmit information to American citizens believed to be in Guinea, and handling the deaths of Americans abroad.

Immigration and Visa Assistance
The Consular Section issues Nonimmigrant visas to eligible foreigners who wish to go to the United States on a temporary visit, usually for tourism, business, or study. Contact the Consulate for details on documentation requirements. The Embassy in Conakry does not process immigrant visa cases; these are handled by the Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, or Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, for foreigners who qualify for permanent residence in the United States.

New Procedures Concerning Visa Fees and Interview Appointments

All visa applicants residing in Conakry must pay the visa application fee at ECOBANK’s downtown location in order to obtain an appointment for a visa interview.

The application fee, as established by the U.S. Government, is 200,000 Guinean francs or 100 U.S. dollars. The receipt issued by ECOBANK will include details of payment and list an appointment date. Please note due to the large demand for visa services, there is a waiting list for appointments. Applicants should make their appointments at ECOBANK up to 3 months before their planned travel. Applicants living outside of Conakry can make their appointments by sending an e-mail to ConsularConakr@state.gov or calling the Consular Section at (224) 41-15-20 ext. 4167.

Applicants should arrive at the Embassy on the day of their appointment by 7:30 am with their completed application, photos, receipt, and supporting documents.

ECOBANK will accept visa fees and schedule appointments during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 16:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. ECOBANK’S downtown office is located in the Immeuble Al Imam on Avenue de la Republique.

Visa application forms and printed information on the visa application process are also available at ECOBANK. Please be advised that ECOBANK employees and officials are forbidden from helping visa applicants complete application forms and from providing advice to visa applicants. Visa applicants should direct their questions to the staff of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section.

The U.S. Embassy also wishes to remind visa applicants that photographs submitted with visa applications must be taken with a light-colored background. Subjects should be facing the camera; glasses, hats, or head coverings are not allowed

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