AMERICAN CITIZENS LIVING IN COSTA RICA - U.S. EMBASSY SERVICES NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2014

Embassy of the United States of America

AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES NEWSLETTER WINTER 2014

Election Meeting/Registering

The Embassy welcomed a colleague from the Department of Defense who trained local volunteers from the Republican and Democratic parties and other civic groups how to register American voters to participate in elections.  Americans can reach out to local parties to learn more or they can register to vote absentee on their own. 

How to Transmit U.S. Citizenship

Have you registered your child as an American citizen?  Although your child may not have been born in the United States, he or she still may have acquired U.S. citizenship by birth abroad to U.S. citizen parents.  American Citizen Services in San Jose has created a video to help explain the process to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and a U.S. passport.  We recommend setting up an appointment to register your child as soon after birth as convenient. 

 

IRS Now Offers Download of Prior Year Tax Filing

The IRS now allows U.S. citizens to download their “tax transcripts,” which basically means all of their prior years’ tax filings. This could be useful for applicants for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad to assist them in proving physical presence in the United States and gleaning other information.  This might help speed things up a bit for applicants who may not be the best record keepers!

 

Travel.state.gov Relaunch

The State Department has relaunched its website, www.travel.state.gov, for Americans living and traveling abroad.  Interested travelers can learn about travel warnings, conditions in countries of destination, applying for or renewing passports, and other important information for potential travelers. 

 

ACS In The Field: Let us speak to your student groups

Consular Officers at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica look forward to opportunities to speak to U.S. citizen students who are studying in Costa Rica.  Presenters provide tips to help students avoid becoming victims of crime, outline potential dangers, and provide information on services provided by the U.S. embassy.  If you are expecting a group of students and you would like them to receive a security briefing, please email ACSSanJose@state.gov.

 

It Is You, Our Citizens, Who Make the State of Our Union Strong

On January 28, President Barack Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address.  Many did not have the opportunity to watch the address, but interested Americans can read the full text online.  Costa Rican Carlos Arredondo was a personal guest of First Lady Michelle Obama for his role in helping victims of the Boston Bombings. 

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