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Need help with American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy? Our Navigator will guide you to the information you need and help you ask us for help if you need it.
If you have an emergency involving the death, arrest or hospitalization of a U.S. citizen, or a missing U.S. citizen, please call 809-567-7775. When the prompts ask you to enter the extension, enter 0 and tell the operator you have an emergency. For general information you may e-mail us at SDOAmericans@state.gov. We can receive emergency calls any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Note that this number is not for visa inquiries.
Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Welfare and Whereabouts of U.S. Citizens International Parental Child Abduction Victims of Crime PassportsThe Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law, domestic and foreign law.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
Welfare and Whereabouts of U.S. Citizens
If you are concerned about the welfare or whereabouts of an U.S. Citizen in the Dominican Republic, please call the U.S. Citizens Services (ACS) Unit at 809-567-7775. For general information you may also e-mail us at SDOAmericans@state.gov.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
Emergency Financial Assistance
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary. For information on services the Department of State provides to destitute U.S. citizens in need of financial assistance, please refer to this Emergency Financial Assistance for U.S. Citizens Abroad page.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport. Link text: Be wary of International Financial Scams.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you live in Dominican Republic and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) FBU.Santo.Domingo@ssa.gov. The FBU operates on on an appointments-only system. Email to request an appointment and please include all your contact information. The Regional FBU of the American Embassy in Santo Domingo is responsible for providing services to all the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. The FBU is responsible for the administration of the benefit programs for the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is part of the U.S. Department of State, not the IRS, and therefore does not issue ITIN numbers. However, the ACS Unit can and does certify the supporting documents to be forwarded to the IRS along with the W-7 application. To certify the supporting documents, you must make an appointment for a notarial service through our online booking system.
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
Fingerprints for FBI Background check
U.S. citizens sometimes contact the Embassy requesting to have their fingerprints taken for an FBI criminal background check, as part of applying for residency in the Dominican Republic or for some other purpose. Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy is unable to take fingerprints for FBI background checks, and is unaware of any institution in the Dominican Republic able to do so.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal Assistance Medical Assistance Hurricane and Disaster Preparedness American Liaison Network and Citizen Liaison VolunteersThe Embassy cannot represent U.S. citizens in court or provide legal counsel. Instead, you may wish to consult with an attorney, who can provide advice on your options and remedies within the Dominican legal system. The U.S. Citizens Services (ACS) Unit maintains a List of Local Attorneys in the Dominican Republic, for your convenience.
Resources for U.S. citizens faced with medical emergencies while in the Dominican Republic.
Hurricane and Disaster Preparedness
Like the rest of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is a hurricane-prone country. The hurricane season runs from June, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. For information on preparation for other types of natural disasters, please see our disaster preparedness page.
American Liaison Network and Citizen Liaison Volunteers
Citizen Liaison Volunteers (CLVs) are a vital bridge between the Embassy and U.S. citizens, especially in the event of an emergency. We are looking for volunteers to serve as CLVs in various regions of the Dominican Republic.
General information on intercountry adoption can be found on the State Department Adoption Page and specific information related to adoptions in the Dominican Republic can be found here.
Births
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
U.S. Diplomatic and Consular Officers DO NOT have the legal authority to perform marriages. Marriages CANNOT be performed within the Embassy or within a U.S. Consular Office in the Dominican Republic.
U.S. Citizens who wish to obtain a Divorce in the Dominican Republic should consult with a local attorney for advice and legal representation. Before seeking a divorce in the Dominican Republic, U.S. citizens should be aware of possible legal restrictions by their U.S. state of residence on divorces obtained abroad.
The issue of child support enforcement is a high priority to the United States.
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a formal document certifying the acquisition of United States citizenship at birth for a person born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). United States non-citizen nationals are also eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, using the non-citizen option. CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. We recommend that parents apply for the CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.
Eligibility Criteria & How to Apply
You can now apply for a CRBA electronically at Embassy Santo Domingo! To apply, your child must have been born in the Dominican Republic and you must travel to Santo Domingo for the in-person interview. To be eligible to apply for a CRBA online, you MUST answer all the following criteria with YES: Was the child born in Dominican Republic? Is the child under the age of 18? Was at least one parent a U.S. citizen or U.S. non-citizen national when the child was born? Can you use an internationally accepted credit/debit card or a direct payment method from a U.S. dollar denominated bank account (also known as “ACH”) to pay online for your Consular Report of Birth Abroad application? Are you a biological parent of a child born abroad who is applying for that child?
Do you qualify to transmit citizenship?
Children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) may have a claim to U.S. citizenship. The following is a brief description of the various circumstances under which a child born abroad may acquire U.S. citizenship. For further information please select the description below that best fits your family circumstances.
Learn more about applying for a CRBA in the Dominican Republic if only one parent can attend.
Processing Times & Return of Documents
A consular officer will review your documents and interview you to determine whether your child qualifies for a Report of Birth. If you are properly prepared and your child qualifies, the officer may be able to approve the Report of Birth and passport application the same day. You will be asked to pay a fee at the Domex office on our premises for the delivery of the Report of Birth and passport. These are usually prepared and sent to you within one month of your interview. The Domex fees are as follows: U.S. $12.00 for the city of Santo Domingo & U.S. $16.00 for other places in the Dominican Republic
Please call: (809) 567-7775
Outside of Office Hours, contact: (809) 567-7775
Outside of Dominican Republic: (809) 567-7775
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