Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
The Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) is a bureau of the United States Department of State reporting to the under secretary of state for management. The mission of the Bureau is to administer laws, formulate regulations and implement policies relating to the broad range of consular services and immigration. As of 2021[update], the bureau is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Rena Bitter.
History
The precursor to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs was created in 1952 upon passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Bureau was charged with issuing visas and passports, and extending visas for non-immigrants in the United States. For a temporary period of time in 1954, the Bureau was known as the Bureau of Inspection, Security, and Consular Affairs. In 1979, the security functions were moved to an Office of Security, which later became the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs was formed.[2]
Offices
The Bureau of Consular Affairs manages eight offices: the Offices of the Comptroller, Consular Systems & Technology, Executive Director, Fraud Prevention, Overseas Citizen Services, Policy Coordination & Public Affairs, Passport Services, and Visa Services.[3]
Office of Comptroller
The principal strategic and resource management office for the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Office of Consular Systems & Technology
Develops, installs, and provides training for the Bureau's automated information processing systems.
Office of Executive Director
Provides a full range of management support for the Bureau, including management of the Bureau's IT systems and infrastructure, human resources, and controlled consular supplies.
Office of Fraud Prevention
Dedicated to providing resources, tools, and information that enhances consular officers' ability to detect and deter passport and visa fraud.
Office of Overseas Citizen Services
Advises and supports U.S. citizens and U.S. embassies and consulates around the world in such matters as:
- Deaths
- Arrests
- Robberies
- Citizenship and nationality (including both acquisition of citizenship through naturalization and the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 and renunciation of citizenship)
- Federal benefits (including Social Security)
- Notarization of documents
- International child abduction
- International adoptions
To assist the traveling public, the bureau issues country specific information, travel warnings, and travel alerts concerning conditions in countries where Americans may be planning to visit or reside. The Bureau also maintains the volunteer Warden Program, designed to help protect and inform US citizens in host nations.
Office of Policy Coordination & Public Affairs
Articulates the Bureau's policy through media relations, public outreach, Congressional liaison, and strategic planning.
Office of Passport Services
Issues U.S. Passports to American citizens. Over 119 million valid U.S. passports are currently in circulation. 13.5 million passports and passport cards were issued in fiscal year 2013.
Since June 1, 2009, all American travelers entering the United States, including at land borders or air/sea ports of entry, are required to show proof of citizenship, which can include the passport book or passport card.
The Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Passport Services is Don Jacobson.
Passports may be issued domestically in the US as well as by US embassies or consulates abroad. In 2006, the Bureau began the widespread issuance of Electronic Passports or "e-passports."[4]
Visas Services Office
Following regulations established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), consular officers overseas under the guidance of the Bureau's Office of Visa Services are responsible for issuing all non-immigrant and immigrant visas. (Over 7.75 million non-immigrant visa and approximately 744,000 immigrant visa cases were processed in fiscal year 2006.)
The Bureau of Consular Affairs also administers the provisions of the INA as they relate to the Department of State in coordination with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the United States Department of Homeland Security.
International child abduction and adoption
The Office of Children's Issues creates, develops and coordinates policies and programs on international child abduction and international adoption issues. In this respect, it is the US Central Authority under the terms of the Hague Abduction Convention and the Hague Adoption Convention.
References
- ^ "FY 2019 Congressional Budget Justification - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs" (PDF). U.S. Department of State. February 12, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ "Bureau of Consular Affairs History". AllGov. January 30, 2013.
- ^ "Organization". travel.state.gov. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "Media Note from the Office of the Spokesman, US Dept. of State, Washington, DC" (Press release). US Dept of State. August 14, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2006.
Further reading
- Keegan, Nicholas M. US Consular Representation in Britain Since 1790 (Anthem Press, 2018).
Primary sources
- "Foreign Service Journal" complete issues of the Bureau's monthly news magazine, 1919-present
External links
- Travel.state.gov, the Bureau of Consular Affairs website
- v
- t
- e
Deputy Secretary of State for
Management and Resources
- Office of Foreign Assistance
- Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy
- Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
- Office of the U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region
Political Affairs
- Bureau of African Affairs
- Bureau of Counterterrorism
- Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
- Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
- Bureau of International Organization Affairs (United States Mission to the United Nations)
- Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
- Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
- Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Growth, Energy, and the Environment
- Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
- Bureau of Energy Resources
- Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of Global Food Security
- Office of Global Partnerships
- Office of the Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary
and International Security
- Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
- Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
- Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
- International Security Advisory Board
Diplomacy and Public Affairs
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- Bureau of Global Public Affairs
- Global Engagement Center
- International Expositions Unit
- Office of Global Youth Issues
- Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy
- United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy
for Management
- Bureau of Administration
- Bureau of Budget and Planning
- Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Bureau of Diplomatic Security
- Bureau of Global Talent Management
- Bureau of Information Resource Management
- Bureau of Medical Services
- Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
- Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services
- Foreign Service Institute (Office of the Historian)
- Office of Foreign Missions
- Director of Diplomatic Reception Rooms
- Office of Management Strategy and Solutions
- Office of White House Liaison
Democracy, and Human Rights
- Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations
- Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
- Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
- Office of Global Criminal Justice
- Office of International Religious Freedom
- Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
- Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
directly to the Secretary
- Chief of Staff
- Office of the Counselor
- Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy
- Bureau of Intelligence and Research
- Bureau of Legislative Affairs
- Executive Secretariat (Operations Center)
- Policy Planning Staff (Foreign Affairs Policy Board)
- Office of Civil Rights
- Office of Diversity and Inclusion
- Office of Global Women's Issues
- Office of Inspector General
- Office of the Chief of Protocol
- Office of the Legal Adviser
- Office of the Ombudsman
- Office of the Secretary's Special Representative for Syria Engagement
- Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology
- Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
- Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
- Office of the Special Representative for Venezuela
- Office of the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority
- Office of the U.S. Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment
- Iran Action Group
- Foreign Service Grievance Board
- Secretary's Open Forum