January 2011 - Newsletter American Citizen Services - Nairobi

ACS Newsletter - January 2011The U.S. Embassy – KenyaContentsJanuary 2011 - NewsletterAmerican Citizen ServicesACS Appointment System& How To Contact UsUpcoming ACSClosures22Remembering Sharonand Margaux BrownAmbassador on Twitter 3The Embassy onFacebookThe Security Situation 4Smart Traveler Program(STEP)Security Tips 5Passport Fee Changes 5Useful Links 5Consular Report of BirthAbroad TipsNew Absentee Voting Law 7Kenya's New Constitution 8Clinton Remarks to theU.N. regarding Sudan3468¤As many in the ex-patcommunity are aware,last January SharonBrown and her one-yearolddaughter, MargauxBrown were killed by anelephant in the Mt. KenyaNational Forest. Theyare survived by husbandand father Jeff Brown.Sharon and Jeff's prominencein the community,first as Peace Corpsvolunteers, and later asteachers at InternationalSchool of Kenya, “ISK”meant that the shock ofthis accident was feltwidely.Sharon was the teacheradvisor for the organization"Students for theEnvironment," and wasinstrumental in advocatingfor various greeninitiatives in Kenya.ISK's new "green building"initiative paystribute to her memory.Additionally, a memorialfund was establishedfor Sharon and Margauxthrough ISK. Donationscollected by the fund arebeing used to build a newenvironmental educationcenter on the ISKcampus.In Sharon and Margaux‟smemory, ISK isalso developing a schoolgarden and nursery, withgreenhouses to both supportthe gardenand grow nativetree seedlingsfor local reforestationprojects.Once built, thenursery andgarden will beirrigated byharvested rainwater.The areawill be a teaching spacefor all grades, and willproduce food forconsumption on campus.You can access theSharon and Margauxmemorial fund athttp://sharonmargauxmemorial.wordpress.comor by clicking here.¤Memorial Volunteers

January 2011 ACS NewsletterOur New Online Appointment SystemAnd How to Contact UsIn order to reduce waittime and to streamlineservices, the ACS unitnow requires that youmake an appointmentto receive services.You can schedule anappointment by clickingon the AmericanCitizen Services tab onour website, and thenclicking on schedulean appointmentor by clicking here.For non-emergencyenquiries, ACS can bereached by phone at(020) 363-6622 or byE-mail atKenya_ACS@state.gov.If you are an Americancitizen with an emergencyplease call:After-hours emergency:+254-(0) 20 363 6170Business hoursemergency:+254-(0) 20 363 6451For Immigrant Visa information,please clickhere, or E-mail:ImmigrationVisaNairobi@state.govFor Non-Immigrant Visainformation, please clickhere, or E-mail:VisitorVisaNairobi@state.govFor information regardingDNA testing procedures,please contact our DNAspecialists at:NairobiDNA@state.govUpcoming Holidays and ACS Office Closures:The U.S. Embassy will be closed on the following dates:Administrative DayConsular Section Closed (Training)Presidents DayAdministrative DayGood FridayEaster Monday26 January (Wednesday)27 January (Thursday)21 February (Monday)23 February (Wednesday)22 April (Friday)25 April (Monday)Page 2

January 2011 ACS NewsletterWhat Does the Ambassador Think?Get short, timely messages from U.S. Ambassadorto Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, via Twitter.Twitter is a rich source of instantly updated information.It's easy to stay updated on an incredibly wide variety oftopics. Click here to join today, or visithttp://twitter.com/signup?follow=USAMB4REFORM.tU.S. Embassy Nairobi Wants To Be Your FriendSign Up here, or visithttp://www.facebook.com/r.php?fbpage_id=146218063693&r=111&locale=en_USU.S. Embassy Nairobi is on FacebookPage 3

January 2011 ACS NewsletterThe Security SituationThis is a copy of a WardenMessage sent out inDecember 2010 regarding theICC Announcementsion can turn to violence with littleor no warning.U.S. citizens in Kenya are remindedto avoid political demonstrationsand public gatherings,and remain vigilant of their personalsecurity at all times. U.S.citizens should exercise particularcaution travelling in the Rift Valley,especially in and around Naivasha,Nakuru, and Kericho. TheU.S. Embassy encourages U.S.citizens resident in Kenya to beprepared for emergencies of allkinds by stocking up on water,food, batteries, telephone airtime,gasoline and other essentials.U.S. citizens should monitorthe local media and the U.S. EmbassyNairobi's website for infor-This is to inform U.S. citizensliving in or visiting Kenya thaton or about December 15, 2010,the International Criminal Courtplans to announce the names ofhigh-ranking Kenyan officialsbeing investigated for involvementin the post-election violenceof 2007-08. The U.S. Embassydoes not expect the ICCannouncement to provoke a violentreaction in Kenya. However,the announcement may increasepolitical tensions and tenmationon the security situationin Kenya.U.S. citizens should also regularlymonitor the U.S. Departmentof State's, Bureau of ConsularAffairs website where thecurrent Worldwide Caution,Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts,and Country Specific Informationcan be found. In addition toinformation on the internet, travelersmay obtain up-to-date informationon security conditionsby calling from outside theUnited States and Canada, on aregular toll line at1-202-501-4444.Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)U.S. citizens who live in ortravel to Kenya, please take thetime to tell us about your trip orstay by enrolling in the SmartTraveler Enrollment Program(STEP).If you enroll, we can keepyou up to date with importantsafety and security announcements.It will also help yourfriends and family get in touchwith you in an emergency.You should remember to keepall of your information in STEPup to date. It is important duringenrollment or updating ofinformation to include your currentphone number and currentemail address where you can bereached in case of anemergency.Please remember to update yourstatus in the SMART TRAVEL-LER ENROLLMENT PRO-GRAM under the Citizen Servicestab on our website:Nairobi.usembassy.govor by clicking herePage 4

January 2011 ACS NewsletterSecurity TipsEnsure that your car is in proper working condition at all times.Have an emergency plan and make sure that all family members know the plan.Stay alert at all times.Get to know what looks „normal‟ both within your neighborhood and around the greater community.If something feels “wrong,” it probably is.Let a relative, trusted friend, or colleague know about your travel plans and stick to the plan.Don‟t try to be a hero: comply with would-be-attackers for a better chance at staying safe.Plan for the unexpected and practice “what-if” scenarios with your family.Passport Fee ChangesNew passport fees were publishedin the Federal Register onFebruary 9, 2010. For more information,click here. The newfees went into effect July 13,2010.The total charge for a firsttimepassport book for an adult,including the application fee,security surcharge, and executionfee, has increased from$100 to $135.The total charge for an adultpassport book renewal, includingthe application fee and securitysurcharge, has increased from$75 to $110.The total charge for a minor‟s(aged 16 and under) passportbook, including the applicationfee, security surcharge, andexecution fee has increased from$85 to $105.U.S. Embassy Nairobi http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/index.htmlUseful LinksEmbassy Holiday List http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/about-us/2010-holiday-schedule.htmlACS appointment https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=NRB&appcode=1Warden Enrollment https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/Tax Information Citizens and Residents Abroadhttp://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=97324,00.htmlRegister to vote absentee http://www.fvap.govPage 5Page 5

January 2011 ACS NewsletterConsular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)¤U.S. citizens living in Kenyashould report their child‟s birthabroad to the Embassy as soonas possible in order to establishan official record of the child‟sclaim to U.S. citizenship. Theofficial record will be theConsular Report of Birth of aCitizen of the United States ofAmerica - form FS-240(CRBA‟s are often pronouncedCribba’s)The CRBA is a basic UnitedStates citizenship document.A Consular Report of BirthAbroad can only be preparedat a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.It cannot be prepared ifthe child has been broughtback into the United States, or,if the person is 18 years of ageor older at the time the applicationis completed.Birth Certificate Required:After the child is born, youwill need to obtain the child‟sBirth Certificate. A CRBA willnot be issued without thisdocument.CRBA Forms can beaccessed on our web site orclick here.To schedule a CRBAAppointment also visit ourweb sit or click here.Required Documents for aCRBA Appointment: NOTE:All forms MUST be fullycompleted prior to yourCRBA appointment. Child‟s Birth Certificate; Mother/Father‟s Passports; Completed DS-2029; Completed DS-5507; Completed DS-11; SS - 5 Application for SocialSecurity Card; Certificate of Naturalization ifapplicable; Marriage Certificate ifapplicable; Divorce Decree if applicable; 2 x Passport sized photographsof the child.NOTE: The child needs to cometo the Embassy with his primarycare-givers (i.e.: both parents,mother and step-father, etc) theday that the CRBA application issubmitted.If one parent resides outside ofKenya there is no need forthem to fly to Kenya just tosubmit the forms That parentmay go to our web site or clickhere, to fill in the forms andhave them notarized in the U.S.or any other U.S. Embassy orConsulate. When the formsare notarized, that parentmust also present their ID tobe copied and notarized. Alloriginal notarized forms, andan original notarized copy ofthe parents ID must bemailed to the parent residingin Kenya to present to theEmbassy.Please note that eachCRBA application is adjudicatedon a case-by-casebasis. The officer mayrequire additional informationas needed to transmitcitizenship to your child.¤From the end of January2011, CRBA‟s will nolonger be printed at posts,but a more secure documentwill be printed in the U.S.and sent to posts, just aspassports are now. We hopeyou bear with us while wetransition to this new system.Please check our web siteperiodically for news ofwhen the new CRBA productionwill start.¤Page 6

January 2011 ACS NewsletterNew Law makes Absentee Voting Easierfor Overseas AmericansCongress recently enacted the Militaryand Overseas Voter Empowerment(MOVE) Act. This legislation amendsexisting laws regarding overseas votingin federal elections, and should makevoting easier for Americans overseas.New Procedures in Effect: Beginningwith the various state and congressionalelections in November 2010 andfor all ensuing general, special, andprimary elections, states will berequired to mail ballots to out-ofcountryAmericans at least 45 daysprior to an election day for a federaloffice. This requirement may causesome states to select earlier primarydates, or to request waivers due to specialcircumstances. In addition to mailingballots to overseas voters, the stateswill be required, at the voter‟s request,to provide registration forms, absenteeballot request forms, and blank ballotsvia fax or E-mail. However, each state‟slaws determine whether ballot requestsor voted ballots can be returned via faxor E-mail. The new law prohibits statesfrom rejecting marked ballots based onnotarization, paper size, or paper weightrequirements The witnessing requirementsof individual states remain inplace.Overseas Absentee Ballot Requests:Effective immediately, states will nolonger be required by federal law tocontinue to mail election materials tooverseas addresses for two completegeneral election cycles on the basis of asingle ballot request. It will now be upto each state to determine how longto continue to send out electionmaterials before requiring overseasvoters to submit new ballot requests.This change, sought by local electionofficials, should greatlydecrease the volume of voting materialssent abroad to addresses whereAmericans may once have, but nolonger reside.State Department Recommendations:In light of these changes, theDepartment of State recommendsthat all U.S. voters residing abroadrequest absentee ballots from theirlocal election officials at the start ofeach calendar year and wheneverthere is a change of address, changeof E-mail address, or change ofname, by completing and sending ina Federal Post Card Application(FPCA). To locate information onyour specific state‟s requirementsand to obtain an on-line version oft h e F P C A , p l e a s e v i s i twww.fvap.gov. Voters may alsopick up a hard copy of the FPCAfrom any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.FPCAs may be mailed to yourlocal voting officials in the UnitedStates via international mail or fromany U.S. Embassy or Consulate.Many states allow U.S. citizensoverseas to submit the FPCA byE-mail or fax. The Department ofState strongly encourages all U.S.overseas voters to provide E-mailaddresses or fax numbers on theirFPCAs to enable local election officialsto transmit election materialsin the fastest manner possible,which should then allow sufficienttime for the return of completedballots. For informationregarding your state, please visitwww.fvap.govEmergency Ballots: The FederalWrite-in Absentee Ballot(FWAB) serves as an emergencyballot for the November generalelections for federal offices,although some states also permitits use for elections for state andlocal officers. Beginning in January2011, the new law allows useof the FWAB for primary, special,and runoff elections for federaloffices. Voters who requestan absentee ballot in advance oftheir state‟s ballot request deadline,but who fail to receive anofficial ballot from local electionofficials in time to vote, shouldcomplete the Federal Write-inAbsentee Ballot and send it backto local election officials in timefor it to be counted. Access anon-line version of the FWAB atwww.fvap.gov, or by clickinghere.Page 7

January 2011 ACS NewsletterReflections on Implementation of the New ConstitutionRemarks by U.S. AmbassadorMichael RannebergerThe passage of the new constitutionmarked a turning point inKenya‟s history – the most importantachievement since independenceitself. Now the country isintensively focused on fully implementingthe constitution.Implementing the constitutionaccording to its letter and spiritwill be a major step forward incountering the culture of impunity,negative ethnicity, and pervasivepoverty. Truly limiting executivepower, expanding the oversightrole of Parliament, and putting inplace an independent judiciarywill deter corruption and makeelected and appointed officialsmore responsive to the people.The opening up of the politicalsystem through expansion ofParliament and the establishmentof devolved county authorities willmitigate against negative ethnicity.Finally, credible implementationof the constitution in a way whichaddresses these issues will greatlyenhance Kenya‟s democratic stability,and this will in turn encouragemore American and other foreigninvestment. The end resultwill be a more prosperous anddemocratic country which willadvance the well-being of allKenyans. Click here to read more.Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at U.N. Security Council Meeting on SudanYesterday marked a milestone inthe history of Sudan. Votersfrom Southern Sudan beganlining up to register for the referendumby which they willdecide their own future. Holdingthis referendum, resolving thestatus of Abyei, and all of the conditionsof the CPA represent thepromise of self-determinationmade to the Sudanese peopleunder the Comprehensive PeaceAgreement of 2005. The UnitedStates believes that these arepromises that must be kept. It iscritical to peace and stability, notonly for Sudan but also for theneighbors, some of whom are heretoday, and the rest of Africa representedby others, that the referendumfor Southern Sudan be heldpeacefully and on time on January9th. And regardless of the outcome,the will of the people mustbe respected by all parties inSudan and around the world.Click here to read more.This is a quarterly publicationfrom the American CitizenServices Section in the U.S.Embassy, Nairobi.Please contactKenya_ACS@state.gov withany comments or suggestions.Page 8