Emergency Services

Financial Assistance

The Consular Section assists Americans overseas in financial trouble. When a destitute U.S. citizen turns to the Consular Section for help, the Section first attempts to locate private sources of funds, usually from family, friends, or business associates. After these private funds are identified, the Section can help in transmitting the funds to the individual through State Department facilities. If all efforts to identify private funding prove fruitless, normally the consular officer will request, and the Department of State will approve, a repatriation loan to pay for the individual’s direct return to the nearest port of entry in the U.S. As a result of a program approved by the U.S. Congress, the Department of State is able to provide further assistance to those Americans who find themselves temporarily destitute because of loss, robbery, failure of expected funds to arrive, or other similar circumstances. In these cases, the consular officer will work with the Department of State to arrange for the prompt transfer of private funds from home, but, as a last resort, may also provide the individual or family with a small government loan to tide them over until private funds arrive. A promissory note is required.