1. Consular Notification & Access
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Presents
Consular Notification & Access
We educate U.S. law enforcement about the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) and other applicable treaties, and investigate all possible violations or instances of non-compliance of the VCCR for the entire U.S. We also assist police departments, sheriff’s offices and other U.S. law enforcement agencies to write and implement their own CNA policy and procedures. By providing training and guidance for U.S. law enforcement and assisting our consular colleagues from around the world, we aspire to be a model of compliance for other countries.

2. Special Point for Consuls
CNA – Consular Notification and Access
Based on Articles 5, 36 and 37 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR)
Handled in US by Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs in Bureau of Consular Affairs at the United States Department of State
CA/P

3. Touch Lives Consular Affairs What We Do Our mission is:
to protect the lives and interests of American citizens overseas
to protect U.S. border security
and to safeguard the freedom to travel through the vigilant adjudication of U.S. passports and visas.
Our main responsibility is – and has always been – the protection of U.S. citizens.

4. U.S. Consuls Visa Services Judicial Services American Citizen Services
60 million trips abroad each year
6.3 million reside overseas
8,500 deaths each year
8,900 prison visits each year
We have 10,000 consular officers, posted at more than 300 locations worldwide. In a year, U.S. consular officers interview around 8.6 million nonimmigrant and 750,000 immigrant visa applicants; issue 16.2 million U.S. passports; make more than 8,500 prison visits, assist in almost 9,000 death cases.

5. U.S. Consuls Service to Arrested U.S. Citizens Monitor conditions
Contact family
List of attorneys
Food/medical assistance
When it comes to consular notification and access, regardless of the arrested person’s guilt or innocence, it is the job of every U.S. consular officer posted overseas to help American citizens who are in such situations. U.S. consuls provide the same types of services to our citizens, as your consuls do for your citizens when they travel abroad.
U.S. consular officers can provide lists of attorneys for detained persons, contact family members, and bring comfort items like food and reading materials if permitted by local regulations.

6. Purpose
To ensure that foreign nationals are not placed in a situation in which they cannot communicate with or receive assistance from their own government.
However, consular officers can only provide services, if, 1) they know about the detention and 2) they are allowed access to the detainee by local officials. In order to ensure that both these conditions are met, just about every country in the world, including the United States, have signed treaties requiring consular notification and access.
The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that foreign citizens are not placed in a situation in which they cannot communicate with and receive assistance from their own government.

7. Special Point for Consuls
In the United States, law enforcement at Federal, State, and Local level
18,000 agencies
1,000,000 men and women with arrest powers
State and Local agencies do not report to Federal Authorities
No comprehensive list of detainees

8. Consular Access Types of Consular Access Types of Consular Services
Visits, phone calls, letters, etc.
Depends on traditions, resources,
and location of consulate
Types of Consular Services
Arrange legal representation
Monitor case progress
Observe trials, court appearances
Inquire about detention conditions
Provide reading material, food, medicine
Provide information to family members
What happens next is up to the consulate. It depends on the traditions and resources of the country, and the location of the nearest consulate or the Embassy, as to the method of access and the services provided to the foreign citizen.

9. Consular Access Types of Conditions
Consuls generally must follow facility regulations
regarding security, time, place, and manner of visits
Consuls may not act as attorneys, or interfere with the
criminal investigation or judicial process
Treat at least as well as a defense attorney
Treat as you would want a US Consul to be treated who
is trying to visit an American citizen overseas
When making an official consular visit, consuls are expected to follow the regulations of the detention facility regarding security precautions, and the time, place, and manner of their visits – but jail or prison regulations may not be so strict as to have the effect of preventing consular access.
We urge authorities to grant consular officials liberal access to detained persons, providing them every courtesy consistent with local laws and regulations. Liberal visiting privileges are particularly important when consular officers have to travel long distances to visit their citizens.

10. Special Point for Consuls
Who is a foreign citizen?
Green Card Holder? Yes.
Dual citizen? No.
List of Mandatory Notification Countries
Based on Bilateral Agreements
Authorities not required/prohibited to notify non-mandatory consular officers.

11. Your Best Resource
THIS IS OUR CNA WEB PAGE. IT IS THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR OFFICIAL STATE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION ON CNA.
THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM; YOU CAN WATCH THE TRAINING VIDEO; YOU CAN ORDER TRAINING MATERIALS, AND MUCH MORE.

12. Here For You! For Policy Guidance or Questions Phone: 202-647-4415
After Hours:
Fax:
WE ARE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU TO FULFILL OUR MUTUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGAL OBLIGATION.
AND, HERE ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS OUR CNA INFORMATION AND, FOR U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CONTACT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IF THEY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE OR GUIDANCE.

13. Points for the Consul Corps
We need to hear from consular offices on cases of noncompliance
We are happy to share our materials
Changing over to notification