Sending Money to Overseas Citizens Services
8AM - 10PM weekdays; 9AM - 3PM Saturday
202-647-5225
The following are instructions for sending money to a U.S.
citizen in an emergency financial situation abroad. When you
use this service, a Department of State trust account is established
in the recipient’s name in order to forward funds overseas. There
is a $20 processing fee. We do not accept personal checks.
Your money order or cashier’s check must be made payable to
the Department of State. Upon receipt, we send a telegram
to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad authorizing
next workday disbursement. The recipient must contact the Embassy
or Consulate to arrange receipt. The forwarding of funds will
be delayed if you fail to provide the recipient's overseas location.
Funds are normally disbursed in the foreign country's currency
and not in U.S. dollars.
WESTERN UNION: If you have a major credit
card, you may telephone Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or 4176.
Otherwise, tell your local Western Union agent that you wish to
purchase a money order for the desired amount plus $20
(our fee) and made payable to the Department of State. A message
with your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the
name and overseas location of the recipient, must accompany the
money order. Western Union charges a fee based on the amount
sent. The money order and message are sent to: Overseas Citizens
Services (OCS), Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. Funds
are normally received electronically in OCS within several hours.
We have a Western Union checkwriter in our office and an officer
is available to receive funds during the hours listed at the top
of the page.
BANKWIRE: It may take 1 to 3 days to process a
bankwire transaction. If you choose this option, tell your bank
that you want to wire the desired amount plus $32 to Bank
of America, Department of State Branch, 2201 C St. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20520 at 202-624-4750 via ABA Number: 114000653;
Account Number: 7476363838; Account Name: PUPID State Department;
Special Instructions: OCS/Trust for benefit of (recipient’s name),
US Embassy/Consulate (city, country); and include your name
and telephone number. The wire instructions must include the
recipient’s full name and overseas location. Bank of America notifies
our office when funds are received. The $32 fee includes our
$20 fee and Bank of America’s $12 wire fee.
OVERNIGHT/REGULAR MAIL: Obtain cashiers check or
money order for the desired amount plus $20 (our fee),
made payable to the Department of State. Attach a letter with
your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name
and location of the overseas recipient. Mail to: Overseas Citizens
Services, CA/OCS, Room 4811, Department of State, 2201 C St. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20520. Regular mail can take 7 to 10 workdays
to reach CA/OCS, and even overnight mail may not reach our office
for several days.
|
