Consular Affairs: Special Consular Services

Hours of operation

The Special Consular Services (SCS) unit of the American Citizen Services (ACS) branch of the U.S. Embassy in London provides a variety of emergency and non-emergency services to Americans in England and Wales. We visit Americans in jail, assist families and friends following the death of a U.S. citizen loved one, offer help to U.S. children and families involved in abduction, custody, support, and other cases, check on the welfare of U.S. citizens, provide routine notary services (by appointment only), can help you register to vote in U.S. elections, and can provide you with information on safety and security in the United Kingdom. Detailed information on these and the other services we provide is available via the links below.

We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., excluding U.S. and UK public holidays. We will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 13, 2008. American citizens in need or immediate, emergency assistance, including on public holidays, can always reach the Embassy at 020-7499-9000.

We are always available in case of an emergency involving an American in distress in England and Wales via the Embassy telephone number: from the United States, dial 011-44-20-7499-9000; from within England and Wales, dial 020-7499-9000. Our Consulates General in Edinburgh and Belfast assist Americans in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

If you have questions about any of the information on our webpages, or can't find what you are looking for, please send us an email at SCSLondon@state.gov .

Emergencies & Medical

Arrest of an American Citizen Abroad Death of an American Citizen Abroad Children's Issues and Family Matters Lost or Stolen Property/Airline Tickets Doctors Finding Missing People in the United Kingdom Finding Missing People in the United States Medical Specialists Independent Medical Facilities Marriage & Civil Partnerships in England and Wales Medical Evacuation from the United Kingdom Dentists Warden Messages

Legal Matters

Arrest of an American Citizen Abroad Death of an American Citizen Abroad Children's Issues and Family Matters Child Custody Solicitors and Law Firms Debit Card Fraud Entry into the United Kingdom Precautions Against Theft Marriage & Civil Partnerships in England and Wales Finding Missing People in the United Kingdom Finding Missing People in the United States ATM Fraud Internet Scams Criminal Records Checks in the United States (Fingerprinting Services) Public Records -- Obtaining Copies in England and Wales Solicitors American Attorneys in the United Kingdom American Divorce and Matrimonial Attorneys Serving Legal Papers and Process Taxis and Minicabs Translators in the United Kingdom

Money Matters

Money Transfers Through Western Union Precautions Against Theft ATM Fraud Internet Scams Internal Revenue Service Tax Preparation Services U.S. Savings Bonds

Education

Entry Into The United Kingdom American Schools in the United Kingdom American Universities/Colleges in the United Kingdom American Organizations in the United Kingdom

Guidebook to Living and Traveling in the United Kingdom

The Guidebook to Living and Traveling in the United Kingdom (PDF, 162 pages, 600Kb) is designed to assist Americans with a variety of administrative and personal matters. If you can’t find the information you need, please take a look at the rest of our website (http://london.usembassy.gov); send us an email at SCSLondon@state.gov ; or call the Special Consular Services unit at 011-44-20-7499-9000 from the United States or 020-7499-9000 within the United Kingdom. The Guidebook is a 162-page Adobe PDF document (600Kb) and requires the free Acrobat Reader software. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader software installed, you can download it for free.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The Consulates General in Edinburgh and Belfast assist American citizens in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively. The website for the U.S. Consulate General in Edinburgh can be found at: http://london.usembassy.gov/scotland/index.htm . The website for the U.S. Consulate General in Belfast can be found at: http://london.usembassy.gov/nireland/index.html .

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