U.S. Embassy Moves to Appointment System for Routine Citizen Services

The American Embassy in Lebanon announced Thursday a change in its policy regarding visas for American citizens.

Citizens are asked to make online appointments before coming to the Embassy in order to provide efficient effective service.

During a round table meeting, Public affairs officer Amanda Johnson and Chief of the Consular Section Adrienne Harchik explained the benefits of online appointments, where applicants can plan their visit in advance, ensure shorter wait times, and allows more efficient handling of individual cases. The system will go into effect on September 1.

Appointments for passport applications, additional passport pages, notary services 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., except for Lebanese and U.S. holidays. Applicants who are late for their appointment will be asked to reschedule for another day.

The American Citizen Services Section will continue to receive calls from the public Monday through Friday between 2:00 and 4:00 pm.

No appointment is necessary for emergency cases involving death, kidnapping, child custody issues, serious illness, or arrest of a U.S. citizen. American citizens may phone the Embassy at any time at 961-4-543600 and ask to speak to the American Citizen Services Section (during business hours) or the duty officer (after hours or weekends).

Harchik also discussed the Green Card lottery scams that have been increasing lately, and assured that the State Department will never ask people for money, adding that any email sent from the embassy will end with “.gov”.