Part of an embassy’s role is to assist citizens of the country of origin when necessary. The U.S. Embassy in Israel is no different. And so, the U.S. Embassy in Israel provides many different services to American citizens, including assistance in times of trouble, issuing passports, handling naturalization procedures, and so on.
In the following article, we will review some of the services you can receive as American citizens from the U.S. Embassy.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel – General Information
An embassy is a diplomatic agency of a country located in the territories of another country. This is the most important diplomatic body with the ambassador at the head of the embassy. Thus, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel is a U.S. diplomatic representative, headed by Ambassador David Friedman.
In 2018, the embassy was moved to the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem, with the previous embassy in Tel Aviv designated an extension of this embassy. The embassy is responsible for promoting American interests in Israel and engages in relations between the two countries. In addition, the embassy is responsible for providing consular services to US citizens residing in Israel, and at the same time handles visa requests from Israeli citizens.
The U.S. Embassy Services in Israel for American Citizens
The U.S. Embassy services in Israel are divided into several categories: emergency assistance services, passports and citizenships, local resources, and federal programs.
Emergency assistance
One of the most prominent advantages attributable to holding U.S. citizenship is the assistance and protection provided by the U.S. government to American citizens around the world. Thus, in any trouble that we might come across, as American citizens we are entitled to receive the protection of the government and any necessary assistance. Therefore, if there is a need for emergency assistance, anyone who is a U.S. citizen should contact the embassy (at any of its branches) and ask for their help. Emergency assistance also covers the following matters, and in each of the following cases you can contact the embassy representatives:
- The arrest of a U.S. citizen
- Child abduction – the abduction of a child with U.S. citizenship, whether by a parent as part of a parental custody dispute or by a stranger.
- Death of an American citizen – Assistance includes aid in an imminent matter, transferring of the deceased’s belongings to the United States, and filing a report of the death to the relevant authorities.
- Medical emergencies – assistance in locating the relevant medical bodies, assistance in transferring funds from the United States, assistance in informing the relatives, and transferring the patient to the United States as soon as he or she recovers.
- Assisting victims of crime– assisting American citizens who have been the victims of a criminal offense. The assistance includes informing family members, assistance in understanding the investigation and criminal prosecution procedures in Israel, referral to relevant parties medically and otherwise.
Passports and Nationalities
The embassy handles requests for the issuance and renewal of passports of American citizens. The embassy also handles applications for citizenship of children whose parents are U.S. citizens. Also, applications from U.S. citizens to waive their citizenship will also be processed at the U.S. Embassy. More information on the issuance of American citizenship to children and the waiver of American citizenship can be found here.
Local Resources
As noted, one of the main functions of the embassy is to preserve the relations between the two countries, including encouraging cultural and social ties and solving trade problems between the two countries. Therefore, in case of a problem that an American citizen in Israel might have with the Israeli government authorities, he should contact the American Embassy.
The embassy’s assistance in this context will mainly include a referral to the relevant government officials in Israel and an explanation of the nature of the proceedings as conducted in Israel. Similarly, if an American citizen needs medical treatment, the embassy representatives will be able to refer him to the relevant medical authorities.
In this context, it should be noted that the U.S. Embassy in Israel also provides notarized services to American citizens who wish to sign documents in the presence of an American consul.
Federal programs
The embassy mediates in certain matters between the American citizen and the United States authorities. Thus, the embassy can assist in the submission of conscription applications to the United States Army by American citizens. Similarly, the embassy can assist in submitting applications for the issuance of a Social Security Number. Assistance to senior citizens is also available at the U.S. Embassy.
In general, the embassy does not assist in the conduct of U.S. citizens before the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Any communication with the US Tax Authority will be done directly online or through Israeli tax consulting firms that are authorized to submit reports and forms to the U.S Tax Authority.
If you are an American citizen and you are undecided on business and taxation matters, the Mas America team consists of American and Israeli accountants and lawyers who are well versed in all of the professional secrets and will be happy to assist you in tax planning your tax in a manner that will minimize and even nullify your tax liabilities.
