Embassy Announcement

TO:      American Citizens and Consular Wardens

FROM:   ACS Unit

DATE:   January 20, 2010

SUBJECT:   Embassy Services in Response to Haiti Earthquake

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following Warden Message to notify American Citizens of changes to our public services in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

The U.S. Embassy places the highest priority on providing emergency services to U.S. citizens. So far we have assisted with the evacuation of more than 500 U.S. citizens from Haiti and facilitated their safe return to the United States. Earthquake victims, evacuees, their families, and those with inquiries or information related to the earthquake may contact the Consular Section’s Earthquake Command Center at 809-731-4438, 4408, or 4433, which is open from 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

While the U.S. Embassy Consular Section in Santo Domingo is maintaining normal public hours for regularly scheduled applicants for U.S. passports, reports of births, and notarials, appointment numbers may be reduced. Emergency passport appointments not related to the Haiti earthquake can be made online at http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/passports-e.html.

As always the American Citizens Services Unit will see any emergency cases related to arrests, deaths, victims of crime, and welfare/whereabouts. Visa operations remain open, although some non-immigrant and immigrant visa services have been rescheduled. The Embassy’s response to the Haiti emergency could result in other interruptions to visa processing.

The U.S. Embassy will update this warden message if new information becomes available. For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy or contact the State Department Operations Center at 202-501-4444. From the United States you may dial 888-407-4747.
The Consular Section of the US Embassy is located at the corner of Cesar Nicolas Penson Street and Máximo Gómez Avenue, Santo Domingo, D.R.; telephone 809-731-4294; after hours emergency telephone 809-221-2171; ACS unit fax 809-689-6142; e-mail acssantodom@state.gov; web page www.usemb.gov.do.
American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov.