Bureau of Consular Affairs

Bureau of Consular Affairs
Bureau overview

Jurisdiction	Executive branch of the United States
Headquarters	Harry S. Truman Building, Washington, D.C., United States
Annual budget	$3.48 billion (FY 2017)^[1]
Bureau executive	Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Parent department	U.S. State Department
Website	http://travel.state.gov/

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.

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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.

External links

Travel.state.gov, the Bureau of Consular Affairs website

v t e United States Department of State
Headquarters: Harry S Truman Building Antony Blinken, Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Deputy Secretary of State and 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
Under Secretary for 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
Under Secretary for Economic 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
Under Secretary for Arms Control 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
Under Secretary for Public 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
Under Secretary 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
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, 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
Bureaus/Offices reporting 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

This page was last edited on 16 March 2024, at 02:35

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