December Newsletter- American Citizen Services Beijing

[Kyle]

Newsletter for December 2009

 

Do you have a concern or inquiry regarding American Citizen Services? Please check our website at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html and if your question is not addressed in the website please contact ACS at amcitbeijing@state.gov.

The following topics are addressed:

 

1. ACS Closure Notice

2. Know the Law

3. In Case of Emergency

4. H1N1 Vaccination Update and Links

5. Notary Services Available at the Embassy

6. Passport Renewal

7. Registration

8. Tax Time Will be Upon Us Soon

9. Embassy Contact Information

 

ACS CLOSURE NOTICE

 

Please note that American Citizen Services will be closed for services December 24th, 25th as well as December 31st and January 1st. Please be advised that the days just before and after a holiday are usually exceptionally busy in the American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy. Please be sure to schedule appointments on-line at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html. For planning purposes, please don¡¯t forget we are closed January 18th for Martin Luther King Day.

 

A complete list of all of our holiday closings for 2010 is available at: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/holidays.html .

 

KNOW THE LAW

 

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than those in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Chinese laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

 

Dual national Americans, particularly those with dual Chinese and American nationality, should realize that entering China using their non-U.S. passport could mean that the Chinese Government may not afford them the consular protections to which they are entitled. China does not recognize dual citizenship. U.S. Embassy and Consulate officials are often denied access to arrested or detained Americans who do not enter China using their U.S. passport.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY please call the Embassy's emergency number at 86-10-8531-4000 from the United States or 010-8531-4000 within China.

 

Good to know: China also has a system similar to "911" in the United States which the Chinese can use to contact police or other emergency services. Americans can call 110 while in China to reach this service; however, there are few to no English speakers working for this hotline. Please note, ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment. Injured or seriously ill Americans may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive.

 

H1N1 VACINATION UPDATE AND LINKS

 

Travelers are advised that 2009-H1N1 vaccines approved by foreign regulatory bodies might soon be commercially available in China. However, the U.S. Government has evaluated only those vaccines that are licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration <http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm181950.htm> .

 

All foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens, are obliged to follow local procedures regarding quarantines and any other public health-related measures. The U.S. officials are unable to influence the duration of stay in quarantine for affected travelers. The Chinese government will not compensate people for lost travel expenses. Travelers to China are urged to consider purchasing travel insurance to protect against losses in the event they are quarantined.

 

For more information on U.S. Government policy during a pandemic, and for travel safety information, please see the State Department¡¯s ¡°Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet <http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html> ,¡± and ¡°Options During a Pandemic <http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_3096.html> ¡± flyers. Further information about 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay healthy, can be found at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website <http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/> the U.S. Government¡¯s federal influenza website <http://www.flu.gov/> , and the World Health Organization website <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html> . Additionally, American Citizen Services will be posting a fact sheet on the main webpage answering commonly asked questions regarding H1N1 in China . Look for this new information in the near future at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html.

 

 

NOTARY SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE EMBASSY

 

- Consular officers perform most notary services customarily provided by Notaries Public in the United States. Each notary service will be reviewed for its merit for notarization on a case by case basis.

 

- Please note: Although the US Embassy may notarize copies of US passports and Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). We cannot notarize (with the exception for Chinese visa renewal) already certified documents such as Diplomas, Marriage and Birth Certificates or any public documents which has already been certified and may be obtained in the United States.

 

- Persons requiring such services should make an appointment to visit the consular section in person during regular office hours.

Do you need an emergency notary service but can¡¯t wait for an appointment?

 

Prior to opening at 0830 and again at 1400, ACS provides standby cards to no more than five customers without appointments. The passes are issued on a first-come first-served basis to the first five requestors who do not have appointments.

 

You are welcome to present your US passport to the guard at the US Embassy entrance prior to ACS morning and/or afternoon sessions to request a standby card.

Required items at time of notarization

 

* The documents to be notarized (and any supporting documentation if necessary)

 

* Identification such as passport, driver¡¯s license, school ID, etc

 

* Witnesses, if required

 

* Fee

 

Make an appointment for a notary at the following link: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html

 

PASSPORT RENEWAL

 

Passports must be valid for at least six months for a single or double entry visa and at least nine months for a multiple entry visa in China. You are required by the PSB to obtain a new visa upon receipt of your renewed passport. Please be sure to allow ample time for renewal of your Chinese visa. Foreigners can be fined up to RMB 500 per day for failure to renew their visa in a timely fashion.

 

REGISTRATION

 

What is Registration?: Registration allows you to record information about your stay in China that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency and allows you to receive important information pertaining to Americans living in China. We invite you to register yourself and your family and update your information whenever you have changes to your email, and other contact information. The data you provide is secured behind Department of State <http://www.state.gov/> firewalls, accessed only by cleared personnel in Embassies, Consulates, and the Department of State, and releasable only under the provisions of the Privacy Act <http://www.state.gov/misc/87529.htm> . Recently, the Embassy has updated many outdated registrations, thank you for your cooperation. Please keep your information current using either of the internet links for registration listed below.

 

Have you Registered with the US Embassy?

 

Please register with the Embassy at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html. Along the right side of the page is a link for U.S. Citizen Registration. You may also use the Department of State website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

 

TAX TIME WILL SOON BE UPON US

 

The IRS has created a new comprehensive tax page on http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...d=97324,00.html which is directed to U.S. citizens who reside abroad. This page contains basic tax information that Americans overseas need to know and also includes links to more detailed topics such as the foreign earned income exclusion, foreign tax credit, reporting foreign bank accounts, Fulbright grants, state taxes, and a myriad of others. Rather than navigating through www.irs.gov <http://www.irs.gov/> , this page will provide "one stop shopping" for U.S. citizens abroad. The intent is to provide answers to most of their tax questions in one place. The site also provides information on how to contact the IRS to get additional assistance.

 

Federal Tax Information for U.S. Taxpayers Living Abroad flyers is available in ACS now! It is also downloadable from IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4732.pdf. Tax forms will be available after January 1, 2010, for pick up in the ACS waiting room.

A representative from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be providing limited tax assistance to U.S. citizens. Individuals who wish to use this free service should contact ACS via telephone (8531-4000) or email (amcitbeijing@state.gov) to request an appointment. Appointment times are available on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Appointment times are limited and will be given on a first come-first served basis.

 

Please Note: We will not be able to provide IRS Representative appointments between December 21st - January 12th.

Taxpayers with routine return preparation questions may call International Taxpayer Helpline in Philadelphia (Tel: 215-516-2000, open 7 PM ¨C 12 noon Beijing time) or send your tax question to irs.beijing@irs.gov.

 

EMBASSY CONTACT INFORMATION

 

American Citizen Services

U.S. Embassy, Beijing

No. 55 An Jia Lou Road ( °²¼Ò¥· )

Beijing 100600

Telephone: (86-10) 8531-4000

FAX: (86-10) 8531-3300

Email: amcitbeijing@state.gov

American Citizens should enter the Consular Section at the Embassy's east gate. The east gate is located at the Tian Ze Road Intersection of An Jia Lou Road, close to Ladies¡¯ Street (N¨¹ren Jie) and Laitai Flower Market, opposite the Kempinski Hotel and Lufthansa Shopping Center. The nearest subway location is the Liangmaqiao stop on line

#10.

 

Address in Chinese:

 

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±±¾©Êг¯ÑôÇø°²¼Ò¥·55ºÅ

ÓÊÕþ±àÂ룺100600

 

For the most current information regarding services, scheduling appointments and operating hours, please visit the American Citizens Services (ACS) page on the U.S. Embassy website http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html

On behalf of the United States Embassy in Beijing, we wish you a

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!