I am pleased to join millions of our older citizens as they celebrate Older Americans Month. The theme of this year's celebration, "Never Too Old To Play!" puts a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding, and passing on that knowledge to other generations in a variety of significant ways. International travel is increasingly one of the more popular ways that older Americans "play" as they visit new places and learn about new cultures. The experiences older Americans share with their families and friends upon return further enrich all generations in our communities.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs is to ensure the safety and welfare of our fellow citizens overseas. An estimated 6.3 million Americans live overseas and another 65 million travel abroad… more »
This week, I was privileged to join our Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, David Donahue, in representing the State Department at the International Pow Wow in Los Angeles. Hosted each year by the U.S. Travel Association, the Pow Wow is the industry's premier marketplace for international travel. Exhibitors from America's top vacation spots meet with tour organizers and travel agents from around the world who are eager to bring international visitors to the United States.
You might wonder what the State Department is doing at a show like the Pow Wow. While a significant number of international visitors (65 percent) don't need a visa to visit the United States, we are streamlining the visa process for those who do.
The State Department plays an important role… more »
Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for International Children's Issues, will hold a conversation with Ernie Allen, President and CEO, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, on international parental child abductions. The conversation will highlight how the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Children's Issues and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children work to prevent international abductions and to assist families after an abduction or wrongful retention has occurred. The discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs,… more »
This week marks the 31st annual National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). This week-long campaign sponsored by the Department of Justice's Office of Victims of Crime originated as an opportunity to remember the rights of victims of crime and to acknowledge the advocates who work on their behalf. The theme of this year's event is "Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim."
This theme falls very much in line with the overall mission of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. OCS is responsible for the protection and safety of all U.S. citizens traveling abroad -- many in far-off and isolated locations.
While overall U.S. citizen travel abroad has declined in recent years, the volume of young Americans choosing to study abroad… more »
I kicked off this morning on the South Lawn of the White House awaiting President Obama's welcome to UK Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha. As part of the arrival ceremony, the White House hosted a Tweetup, a gathering of people who regularly connect via Twitter, to share our messages with the world. I manage the Consular Affairs Twitter account, @TravelGov, where I focus on travel and staying connected with U.S. citizens as they go abroad.
Our world is ever-changing, the Twitterverse is always moving at lightning speed, and the issues that matter to us as citizens are constantly evolving. But there are fundamental ideals shared by the United States and the United Kingdom based on guiding principles rooted in our collective history. Those ideals translate into extending peace, engaging… more »
"Nancy came home one day and her son was gone. To her surprise, she found a note from her husband saying that they were moving to Japan and never coming back. Nancy remembered an international abduction case she had seen on the news and immediately called the Department of State's Office of Children's Issues. Nancy spoke with one of our Prevention Officers, and when we learned that her son did not have a passport, we enrolled him in the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP). When the father arrived at the San Francisco Passport Agency to apply for his son's passport, he found that a hold had been placed in the system.… more »
Passport Day in the USA is Saturday, March 10. This is the perfect time to renew or apply for your new passport.
Once you have your passport, you're ready to travel overseas! Well, almost ready. There are a few things you can do to better prepare for your upcoming trip.
First, check out our website: travel.state.gov. In the "International Travel" section of travel.state.gov, you'll find a variety of documents, including Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information, which describe conditions abroad that may affect a traveler's safety and security. Remember, a well-informed traveler is a safe traveler.
Next, sign up for our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). What is STEP? STEP is a free service… more »
Deputy Secretary of State Thomas R. Nides authored an opinion piece that appears today on CNN's Global Public Square Blog. The text of his piece also follows below:
"Here's a simple equation that will help the economy: Bringing more international visitors to America equals new jobs here at home. The United States is the world's top tourist destination, but our share of that market has dropped since September 11, 2001.
"International travelers added $134 billion in exports to our economy in 2010, and we know there is appetite for much more. The Department of Commerce estimates that every 65 additional international… more »
The United States advised the government of Syria that it has suspended all embassy operations effective February 6, 2012, given ongoing violence and a deteriorating security situation. All official U.S. embassy personnel and their family members have departed. In a statement, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said:
"We, along with several other diplomatic missions, conveyed our security concerns to the Syrian government but the regime failed to respond adequately. Ambassador Ford has left Damascus but he remains the United States Ambassador to Syria and its people. As the President's representative, he will continue his work and engagement with the Syrian people as head of our Syria team in Washington. Together with other senior U.S. officials, Ambassador Ford will maintain… more »
May 23: The State Department, through its office of the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), is pleased to announce $1.5 million in funding to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to support open governance and political participation in the Middle East and North Africa. more »
May 23: Today, Russia was invited to join the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) at a ceremony hosted by its parent body, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. ã more »
![Travelers queue at the Duesseldorf International Airport on March 27, 2012. in Duesseldorf, Germany. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0501_travel_may_m.jpg)
![Travelers walk through the terminal at Washington’s National Airport, Nov. 2010. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1222_airport_travel_m.jpg)
![President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stand with British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha on the South Portico balcony on the White House in Washington on March 14, 2012, during an official arrival ceremony on the South Lawn . [AP Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0314_obama_cameron_m.jpg)
![Two adults walk holding a child's hands. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0309_child_parent1_m.jpg)
![Woman enters U.S. Passport Office in downtown Washington, DC, June 20, 2007. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0327_passport_office_m.jpg)
![People look out the window at airplanes at Santos Dummont airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jan. 25, 2012. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0207_nides_travel_m.jpg)
![The U.S. Embassy building is seen in Damascus, Syria on January 12, 2011. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0206_embassy_syria_m.jpg)
