About Us
Source: http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/about-us.html
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
About Us
Worldwide Caution:
The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution.
Americans in the Middle East:
Americans in the Middle East should follow the latest guidance from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and can contact the U.S. Department of State to receive information or assistance.
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Intercountry Adoption
International Parental Child Abduction
Replace or Certify Documents
About Us
About Us
English
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Reports and Statistics
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About Us
Mission
The highest priority of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is to protect the lives and serve the interests of American citizens. Across the globe, we serve our fellow citizens during some of their most important moments and trying times – births, adoptions, medical emergencies, deaths, arrests, and disasters. We also help Americans connect with the world by issuing millions of U.S. passports each year.
We keep our country safe by issuing visas to qualified visitors, workers, and immigrants. Led by the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, our team is proud to be the public face of the Department of State, representing the best of U.S. values to millions of people around the world. We are here to serve our country and its people.
ALL
/
ALL
/
U.S. Passports
A U.S. passport is your ticket to international travel. The U.S. passport is a request to foreign governments to permit you to travel or temporarily reside in their territories and have access to lawful local aid and protection. The passport allows you access to U.S. consular services and assistance while abroad. Most importantly, it allows you to re-enter the United States upon your return home.
The Department of State issues U.S. passports to traveling U.S. citizens. We protect the integrity of the U.S. passport as proof of U.S. citizenship at home and around the world.
Passport Services consists of:
27
passport agencies and centers
open to the public
1 Special Issuance Agency
2 passport printing centers
The
National Passport Information Center
A network of thousands of
public offices
across the United States designated to accept passport applications
Headquarters offices in Washington, DC
We also issue passports for U.S. citizens that apply at our
embassies and consulates
abroad.
Passport Statistics
If you are interested in passport statistics, please visit our
Passport Statistics
page for information on:
Passports issued each year,
Valid passports in circulation, and
Passports issued by state and territory.
Passport Services Mission Statement
The Department of State will issue secure travel documents to U.S. citizens while providing the highest level of customer service, professionalism, and integrity.
Service Standards
Provide service in a courteous, professional manner
Strive to meet your urgent travel needs
The right to speak with management if you are not satisfied with the service you have received
Visa
The Office of Visa Services, in the Consular Affairs Bureau, Department of State provides various functions:
We serve as liaisons with the Department of Homeland Security
We serve as liaisons between the Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad on visa matters
We interpret visa laws and regulations, and act as a point of contact for the public.
When to Contact Us vs. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Defining the different roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State can be confusing. We hope this information will assist you:
Contact the Department of State -
A U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad will be your resource for questions about U.S. visas, including the application process, the status of visa processing, and for inquiries relating to visa denial.
Visa Services,
Public Inquiries
can usually explain what aspects of immigration law and regulation are applicable in certain cases, and can also check the current status of a particular case, if processing has been delayed.
Contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- The
Department of Homeland Security
is responsible for the approval of all immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions, the authorization of permission to work in the United States, the issuance of extensions of stay, and change or adjustment of status while you are in the United States. Questions about these matters should be referred to DHS,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
.
International Travel
About Us
The protection of U.S. citizens overseas is one of the Department of State’s highest priorities. We provide information designed to help U.S. citizens stay safe abroad, and U.S. Embassies and Consulates also provide emergency and non-emergency services to overseas U.S. citizens around the world.
We help U.S. citizens in the event of arrest, death, destitution, crisis, or medical emergency overseas. We respond to welfare and whereabouts inquiries, and deal with nationality and citizenship matters.
See also:
International Travel
Intercountry Adoption
The Office of Children's Issues (CI), part of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. In our work, we are dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad.
We carry out the Department of State's responsibilities as the U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Adoption Convention. The Office of Children's Issues is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and implementation of the Hague Adoption Convention in the United States.
Our Role
The Office of Children's Issues (CI), part of the
Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State
, plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. In our work, we are dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad.
We serve as the U.S.
Central Authority
for the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Also known as the
Hague Adoption Convention
, this is an international treaty among over 90 nations around the world, including the United States. The Office of Children's Issues is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and implementation of the Convention in the United States.
Some of our primary functions include:
Producing and maintaining country specific information about intercountry adoption;
Issuing Adoption Notices and Adoption Alerts to inform prospective adoptive parents about developments in a country;
Providing information about the adoption process to prospective adoptive parents, adoption service providers, and members of Congress;
Working with U.S. embassies and consulates on diplomatic efforts with host governments about adoption laws and procedures; and
Monitoring complaints against Hague accredited adoption service providers, and overseeing the work of designated accrediting entities.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State has no higher priority than to safeguard the welfare of U.S. citizens abroad, the most vulnerable of whom are children. We believe that a court in the country of a child’s habitual residence is, in most cases, best placed to make decisions on matters of custody and access.
Our Role
The Office of Children’s Issues serves as the U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Abduction Convention (Convention), an international treaty that offers a civil remedy to resolve international parental child abduction cases. In that capacity, the Office of Children’s Issues leads U.S. government efforts within the Department of State and with other U.S. government agencies to
prevent international parental child abduction, assist children and families involved in these abduction cases, and promote the principles of the Convention.
If You Believe an Abduction is in Progress:
If you believe your child is
being abducted internationally
by another family member and has not yet left the United States, you can call the Office of Children’s Issues at any time at 888-407-4747.
If Your Child Has Been Abducted Overseas, We Can:
Give you information about various resources that may assist you in pursuing the return of, or access to, your child,
Provide you with a list of attorneys in the country where your child is located,
Answer questions from local and federal law enforcement about the Department’s role in international parental child abduction cases, and
If your child has been abducted to or retained in a country that is a Convention partner country, regardless of you or your child’s citizenship or legal status, forward a completed Convention application, and monitor the case throughout the foreign administrative and legal processes.
If Your Child Has Been Abducted Overseas, We Cannot:
Provide you with legal advice, recommend a specific course of action, or represent you in court,
Guarantee the return of, or access to, your child,
Take custody of your child,
Break any laws in the United States or in a foreign country,
Pay legal fees, court costs, or any other fees associated with court cases, or
Provide you with lodging.
External Link
You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.
Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.
You are about to visit:
GO
Travel.State.Gov
Travel.State.Gov
Congressional Liaison
Special Issuance Agency
U.S. Passports
International Travel
U.S. Visas
Intercountry Adoption
International Parental Child Abduction
Records and Authentications
Popular Links
Home
Travel Advisories
Newsroom
About Us
Contact Us
Careers
MyTravelGov
Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates
Stay Connected
Legal Resources
Legal Information
Info for U.S. Law Enforcement
Privacy
|
Accessibility
|
Copyright & Disclaimer
|
FOIA
|
GSA
|
No FEAR Act Data
|
Office of the Inspector General
|
USA.gov
|
USA.gov/espanol
|
This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites and listings of private entities on this page are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as the U.S. Department of State or U.S. government endorsement of the entity, its views, the products or services it provides, or the accuracy of information contained therein. The order in which names appear has no significance, and the listings or links may be removed at any time at the discretion of the Department.
Worldwide Caution:
The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution.
Americans in the Middle East:
Americans in the Middle East should follow the latest guidance from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and can contact the U.S. Department of State to receive information or assistance.
Skip to main content
Home
|
Travel Advisories
|
Newsroom
|
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Careers
|
MyTravelGov
|
Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates
Travel.State.Gov
Travel.State.Gov
Congressional Liaison
Special Issuance Agency
U.S. Passports
International Travel
U.S. Visas
Intercountry Adoption
International Parental Child Abduction
Records and Authentications
Popular Links
Home
Travel Advisories
Newsroom
About Us
Contact Us
Careers
MyTravelGov
Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates
Stay Connected
Legal Resources
Legal Information
Info for U.S. Law Enforcement
Travel.State.Gov
>
Congressional Liaison
Special Issuance Agency
Legal Resources
U.S. Passports
International Travel
U.S. Visas
Intercountry Adoption
International Parental Child Abduction
Replace or Certify Documents
About Us
About Us
English
MyTravelGov
Reports and Statistics
Travel.State.Gov
>
About Us
Mission
The highest priority of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is to protect the lives and serve the interests of American citizens. Across the globe, we serve our fellow citizens during some of their most important moments and trying times – births, adoptions, medical emergencies, deaths, arrests, and disasters. We also help Americans connect with the world by issuing millions of U.S. passports each year.
We keep our country safe by issuing visas to qualified visitors, workers, and immigrants. Led by the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, our team is proud to be the public face of the Department of State, representing the best of U.S. values to millions of people around the world. We are here to serve our country and its people.
ALL
/
ALL
/
U.S. Passports
A U.S. passport is your ticket to international travel. The U.S. passport is a request to foreign governments to permit you to travel or temporarily reside in their territories and have access to lawful local aid and protection. The passport allows you access to U.S. consular services and assistance while abroad. Most importantly, it allows you to re-enter the United States upon your return home.
The Department of State issues U.S. passports to traveling U.S. citizens. We protect the integrity of the U.S. passport as proof of U.S. citizenship at home and around the world.
Passport Services consists of:
27
passport agencies and centers
open to the public
1 Special Issuance Agency
2 passport printing centers
The
National Passport Information Center
A network of thousands of
public offices
across the United States designated to accept passport applications
Headquarters offices in Washington, DC
We also issue passports for U.S. citizens that apply at our
embassies and consulates
abroad.
Passport Statistics
If you are interested in passport statistics, please visit our
Passport Statistics
page for information on:
Passports issued each year,
Valid passports in circulation, and
Passports issued by state and territory.
Passport Services Mission Statement
The Department of State will issue secure travel documents to U.S. citizens while providing the highest level of customer service, professionalism, and integrity.
Service Standards
Provide service in a courteous, professional manner
Strive to meet your urgent travel needs
The right to speak with management if you are not satisfied with the service you have received
Visa
The Office of Visa Services, in the Consular Affairs Bureau, Department of State provides various functions:
We serve as liaisons with the Department of Homeland Security
We serve as liaisons between the Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad on visa matters
We interpret visa laws and regulations, and act as a point of contact for the public.
When to Contact Us vs. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Defining the different roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State can be confusing. We hope this information will assist you:
Contact the Department of State -
A U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad will be your resource for questions about U.S. visas, including the application process, the status of visa processing, and for inquiries relating to visa denial.
Visa Services,
Public Inquiries
can usually explain what aspects of immigration law and regulation are applicable in certain cases, and can also check the current status of a particular case, if processing has been delayed.
Contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- The
Department of Homeland Security
is responsible for the approval of all immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions, the authorization of permission to work in the United States, the issuance of extensions of stay, and change or adjustment of status while you are in the United States. Questions about these matters should be referred to DHS,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
.
International Travel
About Us
The protection of U.S. citizens overseas is one of the Department of State’s highest priorities. We provide information designed to help U.S. citizens stay safe abroad, and U.S. Embassies and Consulates also provide emergency and non-emergency services to overseas U.S. citizens around the world.
We help U.S. citizens in the event of arrest, death, destitution, crisis, or medical emergency overseas. We respond to welfare and whereabouts inquiries, and deal with nationality and citizenship matters.
See also:
International Travel
Intercountry Adoption
The Office of Children's Issues (CI), part of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. In our work, we are dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad.
We carry out the Department of State's responsibilities as the U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Adoption Convention. The Office of Children's Issues is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and implementation of the Hague Adoption Convention in the United States.
Our Role
The Office of Children's Issues (CI), part of the
Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State
, plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. In our work, we are dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad.
We serve as the U.S.
Central Authority
for the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Also known as the
Hague Adoption Convention
, this is an international treaty among over 90 nations around the world, including the United States. The Office of Children's Issues is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and implementation of the Convention in the United States.
Some of our primary functions include:
Producing and maintaining country specific information about intercountry adoption;
Issuing Adoption Notices and Adoption Alerts to inform prospective adoptive parents about developments in a country;
Providing information about the adoption process to prospective adoptive parents, adoption service providers, and members of Congress;
Working with U.S. embassies and consulates on diplomatic efforts with host governments about adoption laws and procedures; and
Monitoring complaints against Hague accredited adoption service providers, and overseeing the work of designated accrediting entities.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State has no higher priority than to safeguard the welfare of U.S. citizens abroad, the most vulnerable of whom are children. We believe that a court in the country of a child’s habitual residence is, in most cases, best placed to make decisions on matters of custody and access.
Our Role
The Office of Children’s Issues serves as the U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Abduction Convention (Convention), an international treaty that offers a civil remedy to resolve international parental child abduction cases. In that capacity, the Office of Children’s Issues leads U.S. government efforts within the Department of State and with other U.S. government agencies to
prevent international parental child abduction, assist children and families involved in these abduction cases, and promote the principles of the Convention.
If You Believe an Abduction is in Progress:
If you believe your child is
being abducted internationally
by another family member and has not yet left the United States, you can call the Office of Children’s Issues at any time at 888-407-4747.
If Your Child Has Been Abducted Overseas, We Can:
Give you information about various resources that may assist you in pursuing the return of, or access to, your child,
Provide you with a list of attorneys in the country where your child is located,
Answer questions from local and federal law enforcement about the Department’s role in international parental child abduction cases, and
If your child has been abducted to or retained in a country that is a Convention partner country, regardless of you or your child’s citizenship or legal status, forward a completed Convention application, and monitor the case throughout the foreign administrative and legal processes.
If Your Child Has Been Abducted Overseas, We Cannot:
Provide you with legal advice, recommend a specific course of action, or represent you in court,
Guarantee the return of, or access to, your child,
Take custody of your child,
Break any laws in the United States or in a foreign country,
Pay legal fees, court costs, or any other fees associated with court cases, or
Provide you with lodging.
External Link
You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.
Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.
You are about to visit:
GO
Travel.State.Gov
Travel.State.Gov
Congressional Liaison
Special Issuance Agency
U.S. Passports
International Travel
U.S. Visas
Intercountry Adoption
International Parental Child Abduction
Records and Authentications
Popular Links
Home
Travel Advisories
Newsroom
About Us
Contact Us
Careers
MyTravelGov
Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates
Stay Connected
Legal Resources
Legal Information
Info for U.S. Law Enforcement
Privacy
|
Accessibility
|
Copyright & Disclaimer
|
FOIA
|
GSA
|
No FEAR Act Data
|
Office of the Inspector General
|
USA.gov
|
USA.gov/espanol
|
This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites and listings of private entities on this page are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as the U.S. Department of State or U.S. government endorsement of the entity, its views, the products or services it provides, or the accuracy of information contained therein. The order in which names appear has no significance, and the listings or links may be removed at any time at the discretion of the Department.