American Citizen Newsletters

16 July 2008

Dear Fellow Americans,

With many of our current readers traveling on vacation now, and with new readers arriving to settle in or visit the U.K., we’re focusing this month on travel. In addition to information about visas to the U.K. (necessary for anything other than a short tourist or business visit), we highlight the online resources we have on our website for people visiting or residing in the U.K. Also, for those traveling to the US with non-American friends, associates, family or employees, the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be available in August. We encourage non-Americans eligible for the Visa Waiver Program to try it out and provide feedback on how well it works. Americans traveling to the U.S. with domestic employees (e.g. childcare, driver, etc.) should look at the information about traveling with household help.

On non-travel related issues, many people needing a document notarized for use in the U.S. schedule appointments for notary services with the Embassy. However, there is also a way to have this done using a U.K. notary and legalization via the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This U.K. process will change slightly on August 8 and we provide information about the change. For many, particularly those living outside central London, it may be more convenient. The Embassy has also been a partner in a series of webcasts on the upcoming U.S. elections. The next webcast will be July 16th (tonight) at 6:30pm. The 2008 U.S. election are less than four months away. Don’t forget to register and to vote.

This is also a period of transition within London’s Consular Section. Our Consul General, John Caulfield, left London this month. I will be leaving London at the beginning of August. Others in our Visa Section are also moving on. Our new Consul General, Derwood “Woody” Staeben, and American Citizen Services Chief, Paul Boyd, will be arriving at the beginning of September. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve the American community in the U.K. these past four years.

André Goodfriend
Chief, American Citizen Services
(register with the U.S. Embassy on-line at: https://travelregistration.state.gov)