The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) advises the President, Secretary of State, other bureaus in the Department of State, and other departments and agencies within the U.S. Government on the development of policies and programs to combat international narcotics and crime.

The Bureau of Arms Control is responsible for international agreements on conventional, chemical/biological, and strategic forces, treaty verification and compliance, and supporting ongoing negotiations, policy-making, and interagency implementation efforts.

The Mission of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is to administer laws, formulate regulations and implement policies relating to the broad range of consularservices provided to American citizens abroad.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training programs. The bureau does so by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences.

One of the highest foreign policy and national security priorities of the United States is preventing the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The Bureau of Nonproliferation gives a new emphasis to a broad range of efforts to curb proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and advanced conventional weapons.

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) is the Department of State's focal point for foreign policy formulation and implementation in global environment, science, and technology issues. OES is headed by Assistant Secretary of State David B. Sandalow. The Bureau works closely with the White House, U.S. Government agencies, Congress, U.S. universities, nongovernmental organizations, private citizens, and other bureaus in the Department of State to formulate U.S. foreign policy on these issues.

The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs provides policy direction in the areas of international security, military coordination and peace operations, and arms trade. Its responsibilities include regional security policy, security assistance, arms transfers (both government-to-government and commercial), humanitarian demining programs, critical infrastructure protection, burdensharing, complex contingency operations and contingency planning.

Reflecting the best humanitarian traditions of the American people, the U.S. Government funds protection and life-sustaining relief for millions of refugees and victims of conflict around the globe. The United States also admits tens of thousands of refugees annually for permanent resettlement.

The Bureau of Public Affairs carries out the Secretary's mandate to help Americans understand the importance of foreign affairs.

The Bureau of Verification and Compliance is responsible within the Department for the overall supervision (including oversight of both policy and resources) of all matters relating to verification and compliance with international arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments.

The Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs (DRL) is one of the four bureaus that comprise the Office of the Under Secretary for Global Affairs. DRL's wide range of responsibilities include promoting democracy worldwide, formulating U.S. human rights policies, and coordinating policy in human rights-related labor issues.

The Office of Allowances in the Bureau of Administration, develops and coordinates policies, regulations, standards, and procedures to administer the government-wide allowances and benefits program abroad under the Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas).

The Office of Counterterrorism is headed by Ambassador at Large Michael A. Sheehan, who coordinates all U.S. Government efforts to improve counterterrorism cooperation with foreign governments.

The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has prepared this publication to assist you in applying for your U.S. passport. This guide provides information on how, when and where to apply for your passport.
Tel : 1-900-225-5674

The Rewards for Justice Program was established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, Public Law 98-533. Under the Rewards Program, cooperating individuals and their immediate family members may be eligible for relocation to the United States or elsewhere, and they are assured complete confidentiality. Rewards, totaling millions of dollars, have been paid in dozens of cases. Innocent lives have been saved and terrorists put behind bars.

This publication contains a complete and official listing of the foreign consular offices inthe United States, and recognized consular officers. Compiled by the U.S. Departmentof State, with the full cooperation of the foreign missions in Washington, it is offered as aconvenience to organizations and persons who must deal with consular representativesof foreign governments.

The U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program (U.S. MAB) is an interagency effort which funds policy-relevant research on ecosystem sustainability, global change, and biodiversity. U.S. MAB coordinates the development of a national network of biosphere reserves, and facilities U.S. involvement in parallel international networks.

To support its relations with other countries and international organizations, the United States maintains diplomatic and consular posts around the world. In most countries with which it has diplomatic relations, the U.S. maintains an embassy, which usually is located in the host country capital. The U.S. also may have consulates or consulates general in other large commercial centers or in dependencies of the country.

This site contains the most comprehensive collection of translations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948. Over 285 different language versions are available in HTML, PDF and graphical forms.