SENDING MONEY TO OVERSEAS CITIZENS SERVICES
8AM-10PM WEEKDAYS; 9AM-3PM SATURDAY WASHINGTON TIME
202-647-5225
The following are instructions for sending money to a U.S. Citizen in an emergency financial situation abroad. When you use this service, a Department of State (DOS) trust account is established in the recipient's name in order to forward funds overseas. There is a $30 processing fee. We do not accept personal checks. Your money order or cashier's check must be made payable to the Department of State. Upon receipt, we send a telegram to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad authorizing next workday disbursement. The recipient must contact the Embassy or Consulate to arrange receipt. The forwarding of funds will be delayed if you fail to provide the recipient's overseas location. Funds are normally disbursed in the foreign country's currency and not in U.S. dollars.
Western Union: If you have a major credit card, you may telephone Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or 4176. Otherwise, tell your local Western Union agent that you wish to purchase a money order for the desired amount plus $20 (DOS fee) and made payable to the Department of State. A message with your name and overseas location of the recipient must accompany the money order. Western Union charges a fee based on the amount sent. The money order and message are sent to:
Overseas Citizens Services (OCS)
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Funds are normally received electronically in OCS within several hours. We have a Western Union check writer in our office and an officer is available to receive funds during the hours listed at the top of the page.
Bankwire: It may take 1 to 3 days to process a bankwire transaction. If you choose this option, tell your bank that you want to wire the desired amount plus $32 to:
NationsBank
Department of State Branch
2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Tel. 202-624-4750
via ABA number: 114000653; account number; 7476363838; account name: pupid State Department; special instructions: OCS/Trust for benefit of (recipient's name), U.S. embassy/consulate (city, country); and include your name and telephone number. The wire instructions must include the recipient's full name and overseas location. NationsBank notifies our office when funds are received. The #32 fee includes the $30 DOS fee and Nationsbank's $12 wire fee.
Overnight Regular Mail: Obtain cashier's check or money order for the desired amount plus $30 (DOS fee), made payable to the Department of State. Attach a letter with your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name and location of the overseas recipient. Mail to:
Overseas Citizens Services
CA/OCS, Room 4811
Department of State
2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520.
Regular mail can take 7 to 10 workdays to reach CA/OCS, and even overnight mail may not reach our office for several days.
The aforementioned instructions can also be found at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América
Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10
Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala
Phone: (502) 331-1541
Fax: (502) 332-4353
Email: AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov