Consular 101

The Bureau of Consular Affairs Congressional Liaison Office supports Members of Congress and their staff by providing information and direction for contacts to help you resolve your constituent inquiry.

Our mission

Consular Affairs (CA) directly serves the American people and supports the U.S. economy.

Our mission is to:

1

Help U.S. citizens who are in other countries.

Our highest priority is to protect and serve the interests of U.S. citizens abroad. This includes assisting Americans in other countries during significant moments such as births, adoptions, medical emergencies, deaths, arrests, and disasters.
2

Issue passports to U.S. citizens.

We issue millions of U.S. passports each year, allowing citizens to travel the world.
3

Adjudicate visa applications by foreigners to travel to or reside in the United States.

We protect U.S. borders and facilitate valid travel to the United States by issuing visas to qualified visitors, workers, students, and immigrants.

How to work a case with us

Routine inquires and status of passport and visa applications should always first be directed to the congressional contacts for the specific office or agency.

Consular on the Hill is available by email or phone to help when you:

Are unsure of what agency to contact.
Have a question that is out of the ordinary.
Need help understanding a response from an agency.

We're available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., ET.

ConsularOnTheHill@state.gov

Visit us in the Senate - Russell 189 office on Tuesday and Thursday or call:

202-228-1605

Visit us in the House - Longworth B245 office on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday or call:

202-226-4641

Casework we handle vs. don't handle

There are many issues affecting U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad. Use the information below to help you understand what the Consular on the Hill office supports and what it doesn’t. If we can’t assist, we’ll suggest the best contact.

What we handle

Help U.S. citizens who are in other countries

Emergencies or crime while traveling abroad
Handle special needs during a global crisis
Family members of U.S. citizens abroad seeing information or support
Missing U.S. citizens abroad

Issue U.S. passports to U.S. citizens

Inquiries on passport status
Working to resolve passport issues

Adjudicate U.S. visa applications of foreign nationals

Inquires on nonimmigrant and immigrant Visa status
Sharing how best to resolve issues

Who to contact for what we don't handle

Foreign country embassy in the U.S. - Private U.S. citizens who need to receive or extend a visa or resident status in another country.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - Help for people who were not allowed entry into the country at a U.S. port of entry.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) - Lost or replacement green cards, including adjusting the status and filing immigration petitions.
FEMA - Disaster response in U.S. territories abroad.

Casework guidelines

1

Ask what’s been done so far

Always ask if the constituent has already been in touch with the embassy or another office regarding their case. Understanding why they are unhappy with the previous response or what actions can be helpful.
2
Use online resources
For routine questions, direct constituents to Travel.State.gov and individual U.S. embassy websites.
- The U.S. embassy website in the country where someone is traveling or residing should be their first stop.
- These sites provide information on emergency services and appointment scheduling.
3
Gather details
If the answer isn’t found in the online status tools, ask for the following details from the constituent:
- Type of case (e.g., passport application, visa application, arrest overseas).
- Location of the case (specific U.S. embassy overseas or passport agency in the United States).
- Full name, date of birth, and passport number of the person needing consular assistance (could be the passport applicant, visa applicant, or a U.S. citizen in trouble abroad). The person providing this information may not be the constituent calling you.
- Description of the issue.
- Any previous responses from a consular office.
- Privacy Act waiver if required (refer to Limitations on Consular Actions).
4
Petition-based visa inquiry
If the question relates to a petition-based visa application, ask the constituent which agency they last heard from.
- Typically, U.S.-based petitioners work with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) first.
- If USCIS has approved the petition and sent it to the State Department, you can inquire with the National Visa Center or the U.S. embassy overseas.
- USCIS approval is required in order for us to receive information on the case.

Status tools for consular inquiries

The Bureau of Consular Affairs offers several online tools for constituents to find out the status of various types of consular applications.

U.S. Passports

Application information is available at the U.S. passport application status tool.

The status is trackable 7-10 business days after the application is submitted.
U.S. government officials, Member of Congress or staffers must use a government computer or mobile device to be able to check the status of an official or diplomatic passport.

U.S. Visas

Visa application information and fee payment is available in the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) tool.

Select the visa type of nonimmigrant or immigrant.
Enter the application ID or case number to search for the status.
Search the embassy website for links and information about local service providers that allow you to track the delivery of a passport after a visa interview.

J-visa waiver

Enter your case number in the J-visa waiver status tool.