News for American Citizens

What's new

• Warden Message: Register to Vote NOW! (Updated October 1, 2008)
• Travel Warning: Serbia
• Warden Message: Increases to U.S. Passport Fees and New Parental Signature Requirements for U.S. Minors (Updated February 1, 2008)
• NATO Summit - Important Information for Travelers to Bucharest

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Warden Message: Register to Vote NOW!

American citizens should register to vote now for the November 4, 2008 presidential and general elections. Many states close voter registration 30 days before the general election. Don’t forget the time it takes for voting forms to reach the U.S. by mail.

Voters who have not yet registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot should complete a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) on the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website at http://www.fvap.gov. You may also pick up a hard copy of the 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.

FPCAs may be mailed to your local voting officials in the U.S. through the regular international mail or from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Some states also accept FPCAs by fax or e-mail. (See specific mailing options below.)

Voting

Your local voting officials should mail your absentee ballot 30 to 45 days before the November 4 general election to your overseas address. Return your voted ballot as early as possible. Be aware of your state’s ballot receipt deadline, as well as any postmarking and/or postage 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 http://www.fvap.gov as well.

Mailing Options for Voting Materials

Voters in Romania have a number of options for mailing Federal Postcard Applications, voted state ballots, and Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots to their local election officials in the United States. Mailing addresses for local election officials and state mailing deadlines can be found in the Voting Assistance Guide, available on-line at www.fvap.gov.

1. First Class Mail: You may mail your Federal Postcard Application or voted ballot to the United States through the Romanian mail system with appropriate international postage. Mail to the U.S. takes approximately seven days.
2. Diplomatic Pouch: The U.S. Embassy in Bucharest can send your FVAP or FWAB back to the United States via internal diplomatic pouch for free if you drop off the completed application at the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit. Please note, however, that transmission by diplomatic pouch to the East Coast takes approximately ten days. Processing of mail at the diplomatic pouch facility in the Washington, D.C. area and onward delivery by the U.S. Postal Service to local election officials across the United States can take another one to four days. The ACS Unit will place a date stamp and seal on your ballot as evidence of the date and location from which the ballot was mailed but this is not a postmark. Voters should make every effort to submit their completed ballots to the U.S. Embassy no later than October 14 for diplomatic pouch mail.
3. Express Courier: Last-minute voters can use express courier services such as FedEx, UPS and DHL to send their voted ballots to all states and territories except Alabama. Express courier companies cannot deliver to post office boxes, so you will need to know the street address of your local voting official in the United States. Mail sent by express courier companies is not postmarked. Contact information for some local express courier companies follows:
• FedEx: www.fedex.com Phone 021 201 4822
  (In Romania, FedEx contracts through International Romexpress Service Ltd)
  * From September 15 to October 29, FedEx will ship voted ballots from Romania to the United States for the special price of $23.50. See also https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/ExpressYourVote.htm for more details on this special offer.
• UPS: www.ups.com Phone: 021 2338877, 021 208 0461
  * UPS is offering a free service on Friday, October 24 at which time they will send a single shipment of ballots to the State Department Pouch Facility in Virginia. From there the ballots will be sent out via the U.S. Postal Service to the appropriate precinct in each state. Voters will need to drop off their ballots at the Embassy prior to the close of public hours on Friday, October 24 to take advantage of this special offer. UPS will also ship voted ballots from Romania to the final destination in the United States for the special price of $26.18.
• DHL: www.dhl.com Phone: 021 222 1777

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest is also available to answer questions about absentee voting. To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call 021-200-3300 and ask for the American Citizens Services Unit or send an e-mail to VoteBucharest@state.gov.

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Travel Warning: Serbia (Updated February 27, 2008)

This Travel Warning updates U.S. citizens about safety and security concerns in Serbia and replaces the travel alert of February 21, 2008. On February 22, 2008, the Department of State ordered the departure from Serbia of non-emergency personnel and eligible family members of American employees at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.

On February 21, a large organized demonstration in front of the Serbian Parliament in downtown Belgrade turned violent. Street protesters in different locations clashed with police and attacked the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade. The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade remains temporarily closed to the public. U.S. Citizens should strongly consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Serbia at this time. American citizens in Belgrade are advised to avoid areas where demonstrations may take place, such as the U.S. Embassy.

U.S. citizens or family members concerned for the safety of U.S. citizens in Serbia or with an after-hours emergency may call 24/7 at 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada. Callers outside the U.S. and Canada should call our regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade expects that future gatherings and events protesting Kosovo's declaration of independence, both official and unofficial, could pose security risks for onlookers and participants. Businesses and organizations with U.S. affiliations may serve as focal points for these demonstrations.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. Avoid the areas of demonstrations and exercise caution. Since the timing and routes of marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, American citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

ALL U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is located at 50 Kneza Milosa Street. The Embassy website is http://belgrade.usembassy.gov

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Warden Message: Increases to U.S. Passport Fees and New Parental Signature Requirements for U.S. Minors

On February 1, 2008, the U.S. Government will increase its fees for certain U.S. citizen passport services. For adult applicants renewing a passport, the total fee will increase to $75. For first-time applicants age 16 and over, the total fee will increase to $100. The fee for minors under 16 years of age will be $85.

Effective February 1, 2008, passport applicants who are U.S. citizen minors under the age of 16 must appear personally with their parents to establish identity, proof of citizenship and proof of relationship. For parental application permission, both parents must appear together and sign, or one parent may appear to sign and submit the other parent’s notarized statement, or one parent may appear, sign, and submit primary evidence of sole authority. Minors age 16 and 17 may apply in person with their own identification, but for security reasons, parental consent may be required. If your child does not have identification of their own, a parent will be required to accompany the child and present identification.

Please refer to the Department of State’s website at www.travel.state.gov for complete information on all new requirements, including downloadable revised forms that must be used as of February 1, and the U.S. Embassy website at http://bucharest.usembassy.gov.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website http://bucharest.usembassy.gov and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Citizens living and residing in Romania are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov. U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy via e-mail: acsbucharest@state.gov or by calling (021) 200-3300 ext. 0. This complete message is available on the Embassy’s website at http://bucharest.usembassy.gov.

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NATO Summit - Important Information for Travelers to Bucharest

During the first week of April 2008, Bucharest will host leaders from more than 50 countries for a NATO Summit. Travelers during this time should expect not only traffic disruptions, but increased security at airports, borders, and around the capital, as well as business closures and hotel room unavailability in areas of downtown Bucharest. Travelers should also recognize the potential for protest activity at various locations around the capital, including some protests that may be anti-NATO and/or anti-U.S. in nature.

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