Message for US Citizens

To:  All American Citizens

From:  Consular Section

Subject: Message for US Citizens - August 27, 2011

The U.S. Embassy would like to inform all American citizens that, effective September 01, 2011, we will no longer be able to offer walk-in services for American citizens who require a service related to passports, birth registrations, and notary services.  In order to provide more effective customer service, we ask our clients to please make an online appointment via the U.S. Embassy Beirut website (http://lebanon.usembassy.gov). Our appointment system allows our clients to plan their visit in advance, ensures shorter wait times, and allows more efficient handling of individual cases. 

Appointments for passport applications, additional passport pages, notarials and authentications will be available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 to 11:00 AM, except on Lebanese and U.S. holidays.  Appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad will be available on Wednesdays from 8:00 to 11:00 AM.

Applicants who are late for their appointment will be asked to reschedule for another day.  There is no charge for making or canceling an appointment.

No appointment is necessary for emergencies—situations involving death, kidnapping, child custody issues, serious illness, or arrest of a U.S. citizen.  Customers requiring immediate attention or emergency service should contact the Embassy via (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209, or via email at BeirutACS@state.gov.

Please note that the federal benefits services, such as routine inquiries, case follow-ups, and assistance with applying for Federal Benefits and Social Security numbers, will remain the same - by appointment.  Appointments can be made by phone Monday thru Friday 2:00 – 4:00 or via email at BeirutACS@state.gov.  For pick-up of Social Security, Veterans, Civil Service and Tax Refunds checks, the section is open for these services on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Lebanon are encouraged to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Lebanon.  U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
You can also get global updates at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information for Lebanon.  If you don't have internet access, we have a call center for updates--1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Lebanon.  Public access hours for U.S. citizens are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. U.S. citizens may e-mail BeirutACS@state.gov if they have questions about services provided by the section; they may also call 04 543 600 and ask for the American Citizens Services Section Mondays through Fridays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.  Any U.S. citizen in need of emergency services outside these hours may contact the Embassy by telephone at any time.  The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209. Information is available on the Embassy’s website at http://lebanon.usembassy.gov.  The Arabic language website is http://arabic.lebanon.usembassy.gov/.