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Embassy Services A-Z for U.S. Citizens
 

Adoption:   If you are considering adopting in Zambia, please note that Zambia is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect to Intercountry Adoption.  There are currently interim adoption procedures in effect pending final changes to adoption-related legislation.  As such, adoptive parents may find inconsistencies in timeframes and other aspects of the adoption process.  Please see our information on Adoptions in Zambia.  If you decide to proceed with adoption in Zambia, please contact us early-on at acslusaka@state.gov so that we can ensure you receive the latest guidance and are prepared for the immigrant visa stage of the process.

Abduction of a Child: If your child is abducted by the other parent or another family member, please contact the U.S. Embassy. While the Embassy cannot force the return of a child, we can check on the welfare of American citizen children in Zambia and provide resources.  Additionally, you should contact the U.S. Department of State Office of Children’s Issues at 1-800-407-4747 or, from overseas, 202-501-4444.

 Arrest: If you are arrested we cannot get you out of jail or represent you.  What we can do is provide you with a list of attorneys who can represent you, visit you, officially protest any mistreatment, and contact your family and friends.  While Zambian authorities should contact us upon detention of an American citizen, please call (260)-211-250-955 as soon as you are able after being arrested.

Attorneys: Visit our page on Attorney Information for a list of local attorneys.  The U.S. Embassy of Lusaka, Zambia assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the firms or persons listed.  

Birth of a Child:If you are an American citizen residing in Zambia and give birth here, we can help you obtain proof of U.S. citizenship for your child. Please read our guidance on applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad . Once you complete the forms at the above link, schedule an appointment. At the time of the interview, we will need to see the documents, the child, and at least one parent (regardless of that parent’s citizenship). You may be able to apply for a first-time passport for the child at the same time. Please see our guidance on passports for minors. Note that for minors under age 16, passport applications generally require the signature of both parents in person. You may also apply for a Social Security number for your child.

If the child acquired U.S. citizenship, the Embassy can issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. To apply for this Consular Report of Birth Abroad:

You may be able to apply for a first-time passport for the child at the same time. Please see our guidance on passports for minors. Note that for minors under age 16, passport applications generally require the signature of both parents in person. You may also apply for a Social Security number for your child.

Death of an American and Repatriation of Remains:If an American dies in Zambia, we will notify the family as soon as we become aware of the death, and make every effort to assist, including with the process of returning the deceased to the United States. Please note, however, that the Embassy cannot cover the associated costs. We recommend that all travelers have insurance that covers repatriation of remains. See our information on funeral capabilities in Zambia, including shipment of remains and associated costs.

For additional information on the role of a consul in these cases, see our information on overseas deaths. To report the death of an American citizen in Zambia, please contact the Embassy. 

Education: The American International School of Lusaka (AISL) offers the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT) periodically. To register, go to collegeboard.org or actstudent.org. AISL also offers the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) to students in grades 8-11 once a year. Parents who wish to register their child need to contact the school counselor directly before May 31st at jbaldry@aislusaka.org. 

Emergency Assistance:If you are seriously ill, injured or know an American who has died in Zambia contact the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka. We have personnel on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you. If your family back in the United States has an emergency and needs to reach you in Zambia, we can also help. They should call Overseas Citizens Services at (888) 407-4747, toll-free from the United States or Canada or (202) 501-4444 from all other countries. We will make every attempt to reach you with their emergency message. We will have better success in reaching you if you are enrolled in Smart Traveler.

Financial Assistance: Should you lose all your money and other financial resources, we can help you contact your family, bank or employer to arrange for them to send you money. In emergency circumstances, it is possible for a family member to send money to you via the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC and the U.S. Embassy.

Fingerprint Cards for Background Checks:

The Zambian government may require American citizens seeking a residency permit to provide evidence of a U.S. criminal background check. If possible, you should have this done in the United States (by getting fingerprinted a local police station) before coming to Zambia. If you need to have the fingerprints done in Zambia, make an online appointment to come to the Embassy to get the fingerprint card. While you cannot have your fingerprints taken at the Embassy, you can have them done at Zambian Police Headquarters, Fingerprinting Department (First floor, Rooms 101/104/106) on Tuesday and Thursdays, 9am-12pm and 2-4pm. Once you have the fingerprints, following the on-line instructions for getting an FBI Criminal Background check.

Green Cards (Lost or Stolen):

If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who has been in Zambia for less than one year and your Green Card is lost, stolen or has expired, you will need to apply for a boarding foil to return to the U.S.

In order to apply for a boarding foil at the U.S. Embassy, please schedule an appointment. On the day of your appointment please bring in the following documentation:  a completed Form I-90 (available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-90.pdf), a photocopy of your passport, a police report regarding the loss of the green card, evidence of your last departure from the U.S. (for example airline e-ticket or boarding pass) and a recent passport-sized photograph. There is no fee for a boarding foil.

The consular officer can only consider issuing a boarding foil upon verification of your LPR status by USCIS. Once permission is granted by USCIS, we will schedule you to come to the consular section to receive the foil. If your application for a boarding foil is approved and you fail to travel within the 30 day window, you will have to follow the same process to obtain a new boarding foil.

Additional information about Permanent Resident Cards can be found on the USCIS website.

Health: All travelers should familiarize themselves with situations in their country of destination that may affect their health, and ensure they have valid health and medical evacuation insurance.  Also see the Medical Care section below.

Immigrant Visa for Spouse or Child: If you are an American citizen who has resided in Zambia for at least six months in a status other than student or tourist, you can petition for an immigrant visa for your spouse or child through the consular section.  Please read the State Department’s Information on Family Immigration. After you have read the information, schedule an appointment by contacting us at consularlusaka@state.gov. 

Medical Care: If you get sick or hurt you can contact the consular office for a list of doctors, dentists and medical specialists.  If your condition is serious, a consul will help you find medical assistance and, at your request, will contact family and friends.  We recommend that all U.S. citizens travel with valid health and medical evacuation insurance as providers can often not provide service without proof of insurance. 

Notarial Services: If you need a document notarized (acknowledgement, authentication, or certification of a true copy), our consuls can perform notarial services typically performed by notaries public in the United States. Please note that we cannot witness a will, nor can we attest that documents are valid or that statements made are true. We can attest only to the oath taken or signature made by the person making the statements or presenting the documents.

You will need to bring identification and your own witnesses (if necessary) to a notarial appointment. Please schedule an appointment in advance. There is a fee of $50 per required signature, payable by cash (U.S. dollar, or Kwacha equivalent, but no mixing of currencies) or credit card. See our Tips for a Smooth Consular Visit page for additional pointers on notarial services.

Passport Services: For all information on passport services (including new passports and extra visa pages in a passport) visit the US Embassy passport page.

Selective Service Registration: If you are a male citizen or long-term resident of the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 25, you must register with the Selective Service.  

Smart Traveler Program/Registration with the Embassy: We encourage all U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Zambia to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s worldwide Smart Traveler program. This allows the U.S. Embassy in Zambia to send you important safety information via email, text messaging (SMS), and, in an emergency, via phone. Even if you will not have regular email/phone access, we may be able to reach you by other means (such as via a lodge) if we know where you will be staying. This system also allows us to reach you should there be an emergency with a family member back in the United States.

 Social Security and other Federal Benefits: For more information, visit our webpage on Social Security and other Federal Benefits.

Tax and IRS Information: All U.S. citizens and residents are required to report and pay taxes on their worldwide income, even if living abroad.  While we have no tax advisor at the Embassy, we can assist you in obtaining your federal income tax forms.  For more information on filing taxes abroad, please visit the IRS’s site for taxpayers living abroad and the US Embassy’s page on Tax and IRS information.

Travel Information: To assist the traveling public, the U.S. Department of State issues travel guidance, (focusing on safety) for every country in the world via www.travel.state.gov. 

Additionally, from time to time, the U.S. Embassy issues important safety information to U.S. citizens in Zambia who have enrolled in the Smart Traveler program.  See our Traveling in Zambia webpage.

Voting: You have the right to vote in federal elections. Most states also allow overseas voters to vote in state and local elections.  We can help you register to vote and can even mail your absentee ballot to the United States for you.  For more information on special elections, please see the Embassy voting page.

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