American Citizen Newsletters
November 2006
Dear Fellow Americans,
Many of you will not have seen the Embassy’s consular newsletter before. Every month, the American Embassy in London’s Consular Section sends out a newsletter to inform the American community of US government procedural and policy changes, as well as other things that may be of interest to Americans living in the UK. To receive this newsletter every month, you simply need to send an email asking to subscribe to
London-Warden@state.gov. Back issues of this newsletter are available on our website at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs_newsletters/index.html.
This month, we are testing our emergency contact system by sending the newsletter not just to those who have subscribed, but to all Americans who have registered with us and provided an email address. (Our apologies to those of you who have both registered and subscribed, since you’ll get this email twice.)
We also would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Our topics this month include information on Thanksgiving events and offers, the date of a online discussion with Americans in the UK, tips on being prepared for pandemic flu, the launch of a new online system for paying back taxes, a caution about a Social Security benefits scam, enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves, an update on UK airport security requirements, the posting of a proposed rule on passport cards, Embassy closures over the next month, and LondonSCS (updated December 11, 2006: now SCSLondon) email problems.
André Goodfriend
Chief, American Citizen Services
(register with the U.S. Embassy on-line at: https://travelregistration.state.gov)
Thanksgiving Events in the UK
Thanksgiving is next Thursday, so we’re again including a list of events along with restaurants that have announced special Thanksgiving menus.
Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral
The Thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s has become a tradition among American visitors, expatriates, and their British friends. St. Paul’s Cathedral will host its Thanksgiving Day service this year at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 23. The service will include a Thanksgiving message, hymns, presentation of the colors, and a reading of President Bush’s Thanksgiving proclamation. All are welcome, and no ticket will be required, though each person attending will be required to pass through a metal detector and all bags will be searched. The doors open at 9:45 a.m., and to avoid delays in getting in, you should plan to arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. Visit
http://www.stpauls.co.uk for further information.
Thanksgiving Festival in Plymouth, England
Celebrating the fact that the Pilgrims set sail for America from Plymouth, England, in 1620, the city of Plymouth will hold its annual American Thanksgiving Festival from Wednesday, November 22 to Sunday, November 26, 2006. There is a "Raising of the Stars and Stripes" ceremony, a Thanksgiving souvenir exchange, a dinner dance, an American Thanksgiving family service, and a brunch held throughout the weekend. In addition, there is much to see and do in this historic area. Call 01752 220471 or visit online at http://www.thanksgivingplymouth.info for more info.
Thanksgiving Day Dinner in London
For those of you in London, several restaurants in central London have announced that they are offering special Thanksgiving Day menus, with turkey, yams, cranberry sauce and other American Thanksgiving foods. These include:
Cactus Blue (http://www.cactusblue.co.uk), 85 Fulham Road, London SW3 6HR, Tel: 020-7395-5801
Christopher's Covent Garden, (http://www.christophersgrill.com/thanksgiving_menu.html)
Chesterfield Mayfair (http://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/whats_on_mayfair)
The Conservatory, Lanesborough Hotel, Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TK, Tel: 020-7259-5599
Hard Rock Café (http://www.hardrock.com), 180 Park Lane, London W1K 1QZ, Tel: 020-7514-1700
Maxwell’s Bar and Grill, James Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E, Tel: 020-7836-0303
Missouri American Grill & Restaurant. 76 Aldgate High Street London, EC3N 1BD, Tel: 020-7481-4010
PJ’s Bar and Grill, 52 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6HH
Planet Hollywood (http://www.planethollywoodlondon.com), 13 Coventry Street, London W1V 7FE, Tel: 020-7478-1558
Sticky Fingers (http://www.stickyfingers.co.uk)
The Texas Embassy (http://www.texasembassy.com/texasmain.htm)
The Tenth Restaurant at the Royal Garden Hotel (http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/default.asp?section=219&subpage=1451)
The Terrace – The Churchill Hyatt Regency Hotel, 30 Portman Square, London W1A 4ZX, Tel: 020-7299-2037
Truc Vert (http://www.trucvert.co.uk), 42 North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZR, Tel: 020-7491-9988
Villandry (http://www.villandry.com/restaurant), 170 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QB, Tel: 020-7631-3131
140 Park Lane Restaurant & Bar (http://www.140parklane.co.uk/), and
Anderson Tours (http://www.andersontours.co.uk/tourdetails.asp?id=100&sid=567)
Some private clubs and organizations may also be hosting Thanksgiving Day meals. The American Society in London is one such organization hosting a Thanksgiving Gala Dinner. For further information, contact the American Society in London directly on 020 7539 3400.
The Museum in Docklands
The Museum in Docklands next to Canary Wharf is inaugurating a new exhibition on Thanksgiving Day, entitled “Journey to the New World: London 1606 to Virginia 1607.” The exhibition, to run until May 13, 2007, marks the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in America at Jamestown, Virginia. In addition to artifacts from the period following the establishment of the colony and informational displays, including a section on the culture clash between the first English settlers and the native Powhatan people, a replica of the Discovery, the smallest vessel to carry settlers from London to Virginia will be moored in the West India Quay outside the Museum. Admission to the exhibition is free; admission to the museum is five pounds for adults, three pounds for concession holders. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk
Thanksgiving Day outside London
For those looking to do something special for Thanksgiving outside London, in addition to the major festival in Plymouth, mentioned above,
Foxhills (Ottershaw, Surrey) (http://www.foxhills.co.uk), and
Chewton Glen Hotel (New Milton, Hampshire) (http://www.chewtonglen.com/pdf/newsletter_47.pdf (PDF))
have put together special Thanksgiving packages.
Online Discussion with the Embassy’s American Citizen Services Chief
Have you ever wanted to discuss the things that your Embassy can do for you as a private American citizen living in the UK? Do you have questions about renewing your U.S. passport, registering your child as a U.S. citizen, or what the ramifications are of holding multiple citizenships? Have you ever wondered whether you can register to vote (yes) or renew your U.S. driver’s license (no) at the Embassy? There are many questions we try to answer on our website (http://london.usembassy.gov); and we also have our consuls visit American community groups throughout the country, but there are always questions we’ve not thought of and groups we’ve not been able to visit. So, we’re pleased to announce the first “Talk to the Consul – London” webchat, scheduled for Tuesday, December 5, 2006 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. As Chief of London’s American Citizen Services Section, I’m looking forward to discussing what your Embassy does for you in this forum. To sign up, and to register to get notices of future webchats, visit
http://webchat.state.gov or
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Products/Webchats.html. If you’re schedule doesn’t permit you to participate, the transcript of the chat will be available after on the second website, and on the Embassy’s site, http://london.usembassy.gov.
Avian Influenza: How to Prepare for “Sheltering-In-Place”
Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus among animals in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe has the potential to significantly threaten human health. If a virus such as H5N1 mutates and spreads easily from one person to another, avian influenza may break out globally. While there are no reports of sustained human-to-human transmission of avian influenza, the U.S. government and international health agencies are preparing for a possible pandemic.
Depending on the severity of a pandemic, commercial airlines might drastically curtail or even cease operations. Travel restrictions could also impede people from returning to the United States or fleeing to other countries. For these reasons, it may make more sense to “shelter-in-place” (i.e., stay home and practice “social distancing” to avoid contagion) for an appropriate period of time.
United States Residents: The Department of Health and Human Services suggests that US residents prepare two weeks of emergency supplies (food, water, medicines, etc.) in order to shelter-in-place during an influenza pandemic.
American Citizens Abroad: Due to varying conditions overseas, Americans abroad should evaluate their situation and prepare emergency supplies accordingly (non-perishable food, potable water, medicines, etc.) for the possibility of sheltering-in-place for at least two and up to twelve weeks. Water purification techniques such as boiling, filtering and/or adding chlorine to locally available rainwater, swimming pools, lakes, rivers and wells may replace the need to store large quantities of water.
What can you do on a daily basis? Cover your cough. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to eradicate viruses and bacteria or apply a hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content when soap and water are not available. Stay home if you are sick. Vaccinate yourself against seasonal flu.
Travel: American citizens living in or traveling to countries with human or animal cases of H5N1 virus should consider the potential risks. Keep informed of the latest medical guidance and practical information and plan accordingly. Consult www.travel.state.gov for the latest tips on international travel.
On-Line Resources: Detailed information about suggested preparations, as well as planning checklists, are available on the U.S. government’s one-stop web site on pandemic influenza (www.pandemicflu.gov), also the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) and the Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov) websites.
IRS Announces Online Payment Agreement Application
On October 16, the IRS announced the establishment of its Online Payment Agreement (OPA) application, accessible via http://www.irs.gov. OPA allows most individuals with delinquent federal tax liabilities to apply for and set up installment agreements online and receive immediate notification of approval. This new tool will streamline the process for taxpayers and their representatives, reduce paperwork for the IRS, and encourage people to resolve their tax debts voluntarily before they become bigger problems.
It is projected that over 90 percent of taxpayers who qualify for a payment agreement will be able to initiate the agreement and secure approval via the Internet. In addition, OPA is designed to educate users, encourage electronic payments, and reduce taxpayer burden.
For further information, see:
• Press Release
• OPA Application
(The above are on http://www.irs.gov
Social Security COLA Scam
A fraudulent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) press release being circulated as an email cites the COLA information and then advises that you need to update your personal information. The reader is then directed to a website designed to look like Social Security's Internet website. Once directed to the fraudulent website, the individual is asked to register for a password and to confirm their identity by providing personal information such as a Social Security number, bank account information and credit card information. This is a scam and individuals should not provide this information.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve in Europe
American citizens resident in Europe, with or without previous military experience, are eligible to enlist in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR). The 7th Army Reserve Command, headquartered in Schwetzingen, Germany, is comprised of 23 units in Germany and Vicenza, Italy. For information on the time commitment involved, the training and salaries offered, and locations of the various units, visit http://www.7arcom.army.mil/join_reserves.htm.
Update on Security Procedures at UK Airports
On November 6, 2006, the Department for Transport announced an update to the UK's aviation security measures for flights departing from UK airports.
Some liquids are now allowed through airport security checkpoints, though there are still restrictions on the quantity allowed. Passengers may carry small quantities of liquids, but only within separate containers each of which with a capacity not greater than 100ml. These containers must be brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cms x 20cms). The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag sealed. Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids. The bag must be presented for examination at the airport security point.
Liquids that can not be placed inside the re-sealable bag must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in. Liquids of any amount can still be carried in luggage checked into the aircraft hold. Remember that ’Liquids’ includes:
• All drinks, including water, soup, syrups;
• Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara, etc.;
• Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants;
• Pastes, including toothpastes;
• Gels, including hair and shower gel;
• Any other solutions and items of similar consistency.
Essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to authentication.
For further information, visit http://www.dft.gov.uk .
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Passport Card Rule Open for Public Comment
On October 17, the Department of State published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in the Federal Register to solicit public comment on the Passport Card, an alternative format travel document developed for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The card was designed in response to comments from border communities for a more accessible, portable and less expensive alternative to the traditional passport book.
Use of the passport card will be limited to land and sea ports of entry. Applications for the passport card will be adjudicated based on the same standards as for the passport book, and the card will have the same validity as the passport book. The proposed cost of the card is $20.00 for adults, $10.00 for children. To comment on the proposed rule, visit http://www.regulations.gov. Comments must be registered by December 18, 2006.
Embassy closures
The Embassy will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 23 in honor of Thanksgiving Day, and December 25 and 26 for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Problems with the LondonSCS Email Box
We recently discovered that email sent to LondonSCS@state.gov, the address for communicating with the Special Consular Services Unit (and for subscribing to this newsletter!), is being rejected. Our systems staff is working on the problem, but we don’t know when the mailbox will be functional again. If you or someone you know has attempted unsuccessfully to send an email LondonSCS recently, please send or have them send their message to London-Warden@state.gov. We will update the American community via the Embassy website and this newsletter when the problem has been resolved. We apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused.
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