KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:

287(g) Agreement:

A Memorandum of Understanding between a local government and the Department of Homeland Security under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under this agreement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officersbriefly train local law enforcement agents, who are then granted limited immigration enforcement authority, which permits them to investigate, apprehend and/or detain deportable non-immigrated residents. The scope of authority that a 287(g) agreement gives to local governments depends upon the specific agreement and does not override Constitutional and due process protections.

Detention:

Detention means jail by another name. Don’t be fooled. You can be detained at any step of the immigration process. Detention may occur while you are waiting adjudication of an asylum application, or adjustment of status, or while immigration proceedings are pending. Detention may occur when you are picked up by law enforcement officials and jailed without charges, or after you have been ordered deported, while ICE officers are actively trying to remove you.

Deportation Officer (ICE):

If you are in immigration detention, or removal proceedings you will be assigned to a deportation officer, or “DO.” The DO is a good source of information about your case. This officer knows whether you will be detained, transferred or deported and when such actions may occur. The DO may also be involved in your custody determination. Deportation Officers can also be called upon to assist with your detention conditions, such as medical and mental health issues.

Office of Refugee and Resettlement (Dept. of Health & Human Services):

If you are in need, the Office of Refugee Resettlement can provide you with critical resources to help you integrate into American society. This help includes unaccompanied children, refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, Cuban/Haitian entrants and Amerasians.

 

HOW TO PROTECT LOVED ONES ANDYOUR ASSETS

Because deportation is a constant possibility, it is important to prepare a Power of Attorney (POA) to protect your children, money and property in the event of an immigration emergency. When you create a POA you are stating, in advance, exactly what you want someone to be able to do for your loved ones and assetsif you, or they, are detained or deported.

Power of Attorney:

A POA is a written document which provides an individual (called an agent) with the legal authority to conduct certain business on your behalf. There are two types of POA’s that are relevant to a person facing removal from this country:

• A general POA: gives one person (the agent) full legal authority to act on your behalf
• A specific (limited) POA: gives your agent authority to perform a specific act or acts on your behalf. It can be used for a wide range of activities; it can arrange access to your bank account, the sale of your home or car, the shipment of your personal effects to your home country in the case of a deportation and the care of your minor children.

 

Choosing an Agent:

Actions taken by your Agent are legally binding on you. POAs can be abused, so it is important that you think carefully before choosing your Agent. Select someone who can be trusted and act wisely and in accordance with your stated wishes. It is helpful to choose an Agent who resides in the same state as you.

NOTE: Because different states have different requirements for executing a valid POA, seek legal advice when preparing this important document.

 

Protecting Children:

If you have children who are US citizens they may return to your home country with you, or they may remain here with an appropriate caregiver selected by you (POA). If your children are to join you following deportation, then you should create a notarized letter of permission for the child to travel outside of the United States with a named adult person. This may help ensure that your children are not placed into “child protective services” and that they can travel with you if you are deported. Write down the intended plan for your children who may be left behind.

NOTE: It is important to plan ahead by including the POA with your immigration papers. Make sure that birth certificates, social security cards and passports are provided for all your children. If a birth certificate is needed for one of your children, contact the Office of Vital Statistics in your state. To download an application for U.S. passport for a minor child, go to: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

 

Possessions or property:

You can assign a POA to a friend or relative. This will give them power over your possessions or properties. This is a procedure that can be completed at any point, though it becomes more complicated once you detained or incarcerated.

 

If you own a home:

Create a POA authorizing your Agent to transfer your specific interest in your home in accordance with state law and regulations of a mortgage provider, if applicable. This POA can include the ability to sell the home.

 

JOINTLY OWNED PROPERTY:

• If property is jointly-owned and only one spouse faces deportation, a POA may authorize the Agent to transfer the interest in the property to the remaining spouse.
• If both spouses face deportation, a POA may authorize an Agent to sell the property, either individually or through a real estate agent or as an individual.

 

DISTRESSED PROPERTY:

What happens if you are deported and no one cares for your home, or property?

• If you have a house mortgage and you are deported and no arrangement was made your property would likely be foreclosed.
• If the property is paid in full but nobody continues paying the taxes on it, the jurisdiction where the property lies has power over the property.

 

RENTAL PROPERTY:

If a rental agreement is in your name, but you are being deported and your family members want to remain on the premises after your deportation, they may have the following options:

• If the landlord allows, they can continue to occupy the premises under the original lease.
• They can terminate the original lease and enter into a new lease with the landlord.
• Your family may succeed to the lease through an assignment or sublease from the original immigrant-tenant.

NOTE: In order to avoid complications, married immigrants should consider having the lease in both of their names so that the spouse may remain in the property.

 

AUTOMOBILE OWNERSHIP:

If you own a car it is possible for you to transfer title of the vehicle to a family member or friend after the individual has left the country. The owner does not have to be present in the state if they have signed the title over to the person receiving the vehicle. If there is a lien on the vehicle, the owner should provide documentation that the lien has been satisfied or released, or that the recipient is assuming responsibility for the lien.

Each state has a department or agency that regulates the titling and registering of motor vehicles. In most states this department or agency also provides guidance for buying and selling a veh         icle in the state.

Alabama – www.ador.state.al.us/motorvehicle/index.html or 1-334-242-9000

Florida – www.hsmv.state.fl.us or 1-850-617-2000

Georgia – www.dds.ga.gov or 1-866-754-3687

South Carolina – www.scdmvonline.com or 1-800-442-1368

 

BANK ACCOUNTS:

• To open a bank account, you must have an ITIN number. If you do not have one, you need to fill out IRS Form W-7. This is a Tax ID number that the IRS grants to foreigners who are unable to obtain a social security number.
• To obtain the ITIN, individuals need to submit proof of citizenship from their country of origin in the form of a passport or birth certificate. Some banks accept the ITIN number (in lieu of a social security number) in addition to a photo ID in order to open a bank account.
• Once you have opened a bank account in the United States, you or your spouse should complete the IRS Form W8-BEN. The form can be downloaded, and most banks also carry the form and will provide it upon request. Remember, an ITIN is needed to complete this form.
• IRS Form W8-BEN converts a U.S. bank account to a bank account for foreigners. Once this change has been made, the account can be managed from anywhere in the world. You can decide to leave your money in the U.S. or transfer it to a bank in your home country.
• If you have placed a bank account in the name of a minor child and you have retained signing authority for the account, you should specify in your POA that the agent may access the account that is held in the child’s name.

NOTE: It is important that you not wait until you are in an ICE processing center to complete these important documents. To protect your assets and family, you should open a bank account and convert it into an account for foreigners immediately.

 

AVOID ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS:

• Never use false or forged documents or identification cards
• It is important to plan ahead and to include your POA with your immigration papers
• Always consult an immigration attorney before signing or filing anything. Immigration, citizenship, and Visas are complex legal issues and are constantly changing.

DETENTION AND DEPORTATION

WHO CAN BE DEPORTED:

Non-immigrated residents with past convictions, or those with certain types of criminal convictions may be deportable, or banned from an adjustment of status, or prohibited from reentering the US after a trip abroad. This includes:

• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs, or green card holders)
• Asylees and refugees
• People who have been granted withholding of removal or temporary protected status
• People who are in the process of adjusting status
• People on student, business and other visas

Non-immigrated resident: Persons residing in the US in violation of immigration law are always deportable. Any type of arrest or conviction will make it more likely that your illegal status will be discovered by ICE and it may also negatively affect your ability to adjust your status.

Naturalized Citizen: If an immigrant’s naturalization was gained through fraud and this fact can be proved, the government will attempt to take away your citizenship. For example, if a person did not disclose an arrest or conviction on the naturalization application.

 

ARREST BY LOCAL POLICE OR AN ICE OFFICER

Routine traffic stops are the most common way law enforcement officials discover you are residing here illegally. Green card holders with a past conviction and non-immigrated residents with no convictions may be turned over to ICE even if the stop does not result in civil or criminal charges, the charges are dropped, or the person is acquitted. While in a local jail, a DHS agent will likely interview you about your immigration status. This interview is an attempt to determine whether you are a deportable. You can follow four simple rules to protect yourself:

• Don’t say anything: Do not answer any questions – not even a name, country of origin, or immigration status. Ask to speak to an attorney.
• Don’t sign anything: Do not sign anything, even of the ICE agent, or law enforcement officer says it’s ok.
• Don’t lie: A person can be criminally prosecuted for lying to law enforcement officers (e.g. about your birthplace, name, place of residence, etc.).
• Keep all arrest documents: Ask for a copies of all documents pertaining to your detention and show them to an immigration expert or an attorney as soon as possible.

NOTE: You have the right to remain silent and request that an attorney be present before you answer any questions. Do not sign anything before speaking with an attorney.

After an arrest, you may be processed and placed in a holding cell. At this point, the ICE, Detention and Removal Office can place an immigration hold on you. Once a deportation officer is assigned to you, it is very important for you to write down the name and phone number of the officer. At this time a Notice to Appear (NTA) will be issued to you. The NTA is a document issued by the Federal Government that explains why the government believes you should be removed.

NOTE: The Notice to Appear will help an advocate or a lawyer understand the immigrant’s case. The NTA should be given within 72 hours of the initial arrest.

After you have been processed you may be moved to an immigration detention facility, local jail, or a military base. While your immigration case is pending, you may also be transferred to an out-of-state facility. Transfers can occur at any hour, so it is important for you to keep a copy of all legal documents in your possession at all times. If your legal documents are being held by the detention facility, or jail personnel, then you must ask the officers to return these legal documents to you immediately.

TELEPHONE CALL:

You have the right to make a telephone call after being detained. It is important for you to have memorized the telephone number of an attorney, family member, friend or union spokesperson so that you may contact that personas soon as practical.

IMMIGRATION DETAINER:

ICE may issue a document commonly referred to as an “immigration detainer” to a local jail or correctional facility when they want you held in custody, in that facility, so they may start removal proceedings. An immigration detainer is a request to a local law enforcement agency to detain you to 48 hours after you would otherwise be released (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), in order to provide ICE an opportunity to assume custody of you. The 48-hour period begins to run when you are no longer subject to detention by the local law enforcement agency (after you have completed a jail or prison sentence).

NOTE: If ICE fails to assume custody of you during the 48-hour period, you should be immediately released. Once the 48 hour holding period has expired the local jail or correctional facility no longer has the authority to detain you (8 C.F.R. 287.7).

 

IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF A CRIME

If you are a victim of a crime, or you cooperate with a police investigation, you may qualify for a special visa which grants temporary immigration status with a possible future opportunity to apply for LPR status.

• S-Visa – is granted to individuals who have agreed to assist the Government in various investigative procedures leading to the arrest of individuals in connection with illegal or terrorist activities.
• T-Visa – gives temporary non-immigrant status to victims of severe forms of human trafficking on the condition that they help law enforcement officials investigate and prosecute crimes related to human trafficking
• U-Visas – give victims of certain crimes temporary legal status and work eligibility in the United States for up to 4 years.

NOTE: An Immigration Attorney should be consulted before filing for any of these visas.

 

WHY YOU NEED AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY

A LAWYER CAN:

• Analyze the facts of your case thoroughly.
• Explain all the benefits for which you may be eligible.
• Recommend the best ways for you to obtain legal status.
• Complete and submit your applications properly.
• Stay current on the new laws that affect you.
• Avoid delays and problems with your case whenever possible.
• Discuss the status of your case with you.
• Speak for you in discussions with the Department of Homeland Security, or represent you in court.
• File necessary appeals and waivers.
• Utilize the system to your advantage because he or she has the experience necessary to do so.

 

BEWARE WHEN LOOKING FOR AN ATTORNEY

• Notaries, consultants, service bureaus, travel agents, or others who promise quick, easy solutions to immigration problems.
• Anyone who guarantees they can get you a visa for a certain fee.
• Lawyers from other countries who do not know US laws and are not licensed to practice in the US
• People who say the “know someone” who has an “inside track” or anyone who wants money to influence or bribe.
• Be wary of unlicensed operators. They are known for taking people’s money and doing nothing. Or worse, they may lie to the government in your name for a quick, simple solution that in the end may result in your deportation or permanent exclusion from the US.

NOTE: Always consult an immigration attorney before signing or filing anything. Immigration, citizenship, and visas are complex legal issues, which are amplified by the fact that they are country specific, and are constantly changing.

 

IMMIGRATION BOND & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IMMIGRATION BONDS:

Immigration bonds are designed to guarantee your appearance at all hearings before the Immigration Court. If you are detained but eligible for bond, the government will set an initial bond amount. If bond is posted, you will be released. Immigration bonds are immediately forfeited if you do not appear for a required hearing. If the bond is unaffordable, or the deportation officer has not set a bond, you can ask an immigration judge to lower the bond amount or to set a bond.

OWN RECOGNIZANCE RELEASE:

This means the judge can order that you be released from custody without posting bond. You must comply with the terms of release, otherwise you risk being re-detained.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1)    How does the Immigration Judge determine the bond amount? The Judge looks at the following things:

• Family ties in the United States;
• Criminal history;
• Employment;
• Financial ability to pay a bond;
• Membership in community organizations;
• How an individual came to, and how long they have been in, the United States;
• Whether the individual has committed any immoral acts or participated in subversive activities; and eligibility for relief from removal

2)    Is everyone detained by Immigration eligible for a bond? No. If someone has already been ordered deported but never left the United States, he or she will not get a bond because that person already has a final order of deportation. If a person has certain criminal convictions, he or she also will usually not be eligible for a bond. If a person missed court hearings in the past, he or she also may also be ineligible for a bond

3)    Automatic Stay: An immigration judge may grant a bond but the government attorney may file an “automatic stay.” Sometimes, a judge grants bond and the government attorney opposes the bond decision. In this situation, the government attorney may file an “automatic stay.” This stops the judge from releasing the individual on bond. If this happens the individual may want to challenge this decision in federal court.

4)    What is the minimum bond amount? The Immigration Judge is not allowed to set a bond below $1,500.00. This means that if a bond amount is set, it will be at least $1,500.00. After the Immigration Judge sets bond (or decides that an individual is not eligible for bond), an individual may appeal the Immigration Judge’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

5)    Who can pay the bond? Anyone with legal status can pay the full amount of the bond at the offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. To pay the bond use a certified or cashiers’ check from a bank, or a US Postal money order payable to the Department of Homeland Security. To post bond for a detained individual, you will need to know the detainee’s full name, A-number, home address, date of birth, and country of birth.

6)    Length of Detention: If an individual is ordered deported (and does not appeal), ICE can detain him/her for 90 days to comply with the deportation order. Depending on the difficulty of obtaining travel documents or whether the detainee’s government will accept him or her, it may take several days to several months to deport the individual.

 

HOW TO HELP DETAINED INDIVIDUALS

Contact The Deportation Office:

Deportation officers have the best information about when a person may be deported (even if they refuse to tell you). An attorney who has filed a G-28 for a detainee can more easily talk to a deportation officer than a friend or family member.

Contact The Individual’s Consular Office:

Detainees typically need travel documents issued by consulates from their home countries before they are deported. Consulates can often tell whether travel documents have been issued for one of their citizens, if a flight is scheduled for them, or their location in the system. Consulates can also tell you where the person may go after being deported (e.g. the local police station). Call the consulate of the detainee and ask for the caseworker that handles deportation. Provide copies of pending appeals or other legal claims to the consulate, to show that deportation would be premature because the individual is awaiting a court ruling.

 

HOW CAN FAMILIES OR FRIENDS HELP

• Immediately capture the immigration documents of the person in detention (specifically, the detainee’s A number and obtain a copy of the Notice to Appear).
• Call the telephone company to remove any blocks on the family’s phones so the detainee can call home from the jail, or the detention facility.
• Non-immigrated residents should be advised not to visit the jail or detention facility.
• Call the facility and ask about visitation restrictions and hours.
• Verify that the detainee has created a Power of Attorney to protect children and assets.
• If the individual wants to hire a lawyer, provide him or her with referrals of lawyers experienced in deportation defense.

 

LOCATING A DETAINEE

1)    There are some simple steps a person can take to locate a detainee. When calling be persistent and call frequently. Necessary information when calling includes:

• The person’s full name (including all aliases);
• The person’s date of birth; and
• The person’s “A” number (“Alien Registration Number.”) The A number is located on most immigration papers, including work permits, green cards, or any other document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (example, A99 999 999)

 

2)    Contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office Deportation and Removal Operations (ICE-DRO).

• Ask to speak with a supervisory deportation officer or the field office director (head of ICE-DRO).
• Contact the individual’s Consulate.
• Contact the county detention facilities or wait for the detainee to call.
• Local nonprofit immigration service providers (preferably working in detention).

 

 

DETERMINING AN INDIVIDUAL’S IMMIGRATION STATUS

Sometimes a person’s status is unclear or the individual may be unsure of his or her status. When giving aid to an individual, it is important that you know the person’s status and if he or she has an old order of deportation. A person may have an old order of deportation if he or she lost an asylum case, missed an immigration interview or failed to appear for an immigration hearing. To learn if an individual has an old order of deportation, follow these steps:

• Find the individual’s Alien Registration Number (A Number). The A Number is on the I-94 card on the individual’s passport, green card, work permit or any other document from immigration. The A number takes the following form: A99 999 999.
• Call 1-800-898-7180. This is the hotline for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
• Enter the individual’s A-number and listen for instructions. If the A Number is in the system, the individual has previously had a deportation case.
• Press “3” to learn whether an immigration judge ordered deportation (removal) against the individual.
• If you learn that the individual has a deportation or removal order, advise the individual to consult a lawyer specializing in immigration deportation before he or she visits an immigration office, leaves the country, or tries to adjust his or her status.

 

GATHERING IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS

It is important for you, or your family members to collect the following information about a person facing deportation. The Person’s:

• Full name and all aliases
• Alien Registration Number, or “A” Number, if applicable. This number can be found on most immigration papers, including the I-94 card stapled into the passport, green card, or any other document that CIS or ICE has provided the individual. The “A” Number takes the following form: A99 999 999. If you do not know the individual’s “A” Number you should attempt to contact his/her consulate to determine if the consulate has a record of detention that contains their “A” Number
• First, or next, immigration court date. If you are not able to determine the date, call the Immigration Court hotline at (800) 898-7180 and enter the person’s “A” Number
• US entry date, as well as how (i.e., visa, cross border, green card through marriage, etc.)
• Criminal record. You must have a precise list of all the person’s criminal convictions. The list must include dates of arrest, the place of arrest (City and State), date of conviction, and the sentence. You should obtain a Certificate of Disposition from the clerk’s office in the courthouse where each criminal case was heard.
• Copies of any Notice to Appear (NTA) and all other immigration paperwork. If the person has any old orders of deportation you should gather the documents related to the old immigration case;
• To assist this person, you should collect documents showing that the person facing deportation has family, community ties and is a “good character”
• Where is the individual located (jail, federal detention center, etc.)
• Information about the person’s family members, including children and elderly parents and important finances.

 

CONTACTING OR VISITING A PERSON IN DETENTION

Contacting a person in detention:

• If it is urgent to contact a detainee, you should call the jail and ask to speak with the officer in charge of immigration detainees, or ask for the officer in charge of the “pod” or “unit” for immigration detainees. For an ICE detention center, you should speak to an ICE officer.
• After a person is transferred, tell the officer that you need to discuss urgent personal matters, or matters relating to that person’s case. Don’t lie.
• If the officer refuses to allow you to contact the detainee, request that the officer to ask the detainee to contact you immediately. Don’t forget to provide your contact information.
•  To obtain a detainee’s signature on important documents, call the jail or officer in charge to inquire as to how to get documents signed.

Call the facility and ask about visitation rules. (Lawyers should be able to meet with their clients at their convenience. Lawyers should bring their state bar identification card or attorney registration information to the facility.) Be sure to ask:

• What are visiting hours?
• Who can visit the person and for how long?
• Are there any special requirements?
• Are you allowed to give anything to the detainee? (Most jails forbid any gift giving but you may be able to put money into an account for the individual)
• If you follow the rules, but still have problems entering the jail or the jail flatly denies access for lawyers, call the field director for ICE and ask him or her to help you access the jail. If the field director refuses, contact Public Affairs at ICE Headquarters in Washington DC by calling (202) 514-2648. Consider media and legislative advocacy strategies.

Abuses may occur in immigration detention, during raids and when people are processed. It is important to obtain very specific information about any abuse or neglect, such as failure to provide required medications.

• Learn the specific details surrounding the arrest and raid (time, place, chronology of the abuse, treatment of person during arrest, and the names of involved officers).
• Obtain specific information about denials or obstacles in obtaining medical care, lack of functioning telephones, access to attorneys or legal materials or visitation with family members.
• Bring a screening questionnaire so that an immigration advocate can determine whether the person has arguable defense in his or her immigration case.
• Ask your local detention service provider or local immigration advocates who experienced in deportation defense to provide you with a screening questionnaire.
• Try to obtain specific information about prior deportation orders or any criminal history or arrests. (What offense, where was the individual arrested/convicted, when did it occur?)

Ask the person if he or she has designated individuals to take care of his or her children or make decisions about any personal property. If not, ask the individual for the names, address and dates of birth for individuals who that the detainee trusts to complete those tasks. Ask the detainee to include individuals with lawful immigration status. The detained person can give legal power to someone who he or she trusts to make important decisions on his or her behalf while he or she is detained. This is called a “power of attorney” and the law relating to the power of attorney varies from state to state. See page 4 for more information.

 

HOW TO DEAL WITH ICE

If you, or your organization wants to advocate on behalf of members from your community in detention, inform the ICE Field Director of your, or your organization’s involvement with persons in detention. The Field Director manages the local ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations (ICE-DRO).

Suggested plan of action for you:

• Meet with the ICE Field Director and ICE-DRO Staff to obtain details of the arrest or raid, which netted your loved one(s)
• Request that ICE not transfer your loved one(s) to another facility. If you believe that ICE plans a transfer, consider contacting attorneys and civil rights groups to file a lawsuit to stop the transfer
• Raise specific medical and humanitarian concerns, as well as any concerns regarding the possible abuse of detained persons with the ICE Field Director and the officer-in-charge (deportation officer in jail), if such a person is involved. Specifically mention:
• Those detainees who require regular or prompt medication or who have specific medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart condition or pregnancy;
• Individuals who present good cases for release, such as individuals with young children, elderly parents or disabled family members; and
• Inform them if you know or believe that civil rights violations were committed during the arrest including any concerns that the arrest was based purely on racial profiling.
• If you feel some cases are particularly compelling, ask the field director to use prosecutorial discretion and cancel removal proceedings. Prosecutorial discretion is a way of asking immigration to not enforce the immigration laws against an individual. To obtain prosecutorial discretion, you will likely need to involve local elected officials and other community members. This is a long-term campaign. To develop a prosecutorial discretion campaign, consult the Families for Freedom “ARM” toolkit, which can be found at http://www.familiesforfreedom.org/downloads/CaseCampaign.pdf

Every person has a specific deportation officer in charge of his or her case. Cases are assigned by nationality or by last name. Obtain the name of the officer as well as the officer’s direct telephone line! Ask the officer what his or her office hours are, as well as the best times call.

The detention facility’s staff may attempt to bar a detainee’s access to lawyers or legal advocates. If the facility is not run by ICE, ask the field director or deportation officer help facilitate access. Be persistent.

• Ask the ICE officer-in-charge (OIC) of the facility to call the jail if the staff does not allow you access to the detainee.
• If the ICE field director does not assist you in obtaining access to the detainee, consider calling Public Affairs at ICE Headquarters at (202) 514-2648 for help to enter a facility.

 

DEPORTATION OFFICE CONTACT NUMBERS

If you, or a loved one, are arrested in any of the below listed states—Call the responsible ICE office for information:

Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina Atlanta ICE-DRO (404) 331-2765

Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee New Orleans ICE-DRO (504) 599-7947

Kentucky or Missouri Chicago ICE-DRO (312) 347-2400

Florida Miami ICE-DRO (305) 762-3622

 

CONSULATE CONTACT NUMBERS FOR THE SOUTHEAST

Atlanta is host to consular offices and trade and investment agencies for 54 governments from throughout the world. If the country you are looking for is not listed below, please visit www.usembassy.gov for a complete listing.

Argentina       (404) 880-0805

Bolivia              (404) 522-0777

Chile                  (404) 355-7923

Colombia       (770) 668-0552

Costa Rica      (770) 951-7025

Ecuador           (404) 252-2211

Germany        (404) 659-4760

Guatemala    (404) 255-7019

Honduras      (770) 645-8881

Korea                (404) 522-1611

Mexico            (404) 266-2233

Nicaragua     (770) 319-1