American Citizen Newsletters

April 2008

Talk with the Consul Webchats

Our last Webchat was held on March 27, covering a wide range of American citizen issues. During the chat, we covered topics such our recent email request for people to update their registration information (and how looking for the ".gov" at the end of an email address can help ensure that an email is from a governmental entity), voting, and the transmission of U.S. citizenship to children. For a complete transcript of the March Webchat, go to http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/news/Talk_to_the_Consul_27March08.html .

We do not yet have a date for our next "Talk to the Consul" Webchat. When the date is determined, you will be able to find it on the Embassy’s website at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/acs_webchats.html . To participate, all you need to do is go to http://webchat.state.gov and follow the instructions. You can even provide us with questions beforehand if you won’t be at a computer on the day of the chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Identity Email from a Government Address

Recently, you may have received an email from the U.S. Embassy's American Citizen Services (ACS), requesting verification of your contact details. As noted in our email, the U.S. Embassy's American Citizen Services (ACS) section is updating its registration records so that we can better respond in an emergency. Given the proliferation of fraudulent email seeking personal information for a malicious purpose, we received a number of inquiries as to whether the email was genuine. And in fact we have seen fraudulent emails, purportedly from the U.S. Embassy in London, being sent from "London.us.embassy@consultant.com" . Generally, official correspondence from a U.S. Government office will have a ".gov" email address. Additional information about this project can be found on the Embassy’s website at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/acs_contact_emails_march08.html .

Extensions to File with the IRS and Foreign Bank Accounts

Extensions to File

Taxpayers generally must file a 2007 tax return by April 15, 2008. U.S. citizens and residents with tax homes outside of the United States on April 15, 2008, however, are automatically granted a two-month extension to June 16, 2008, to file a tax return. However, any tax due must still be paid by April 15, 2008, to avoid being charged penalties and interest.

To file a later return, taxpayers may request a filing extension to October 15, 2008, by filing Form 4868 before the normal return due date. Those taxpayers living abroad who need an extension to qualify for the bona fide residence test or physical presence test in order to be eligible for a foreign-earned income exclusion on Form 2555, however, should request a filing extension using Form 2350 by the normal due date of their return. With either extension, any tax due still must be paid by April 15, 2008, to avoid being charged interest and penalties.

Foreign Bank Accounts

American citizens and residents with a financial interest in, or signatory or other authority over, any foreign financial accounts, including bank, securities, and other types of accounts, which exceed $10,000 at any time during a calendar year, must file Form TD F 90-22.1 with the Department of the Treasury before June 30 of the following year. Such interests should also be indicated in Part III of Schedule B of Form 1040.

A TD F 90-22.1 does not need to be filed, however, if assets are with a U.S. military banking facility operated by a U.S. financial institution or if the combined value of assets in any and all accounts is $10,000 or less during the year.

TD F 90-22.1 should be sent (separately from any tax return) to the IRS office at the U.S. Embassy, London, or to the following U.S. address:

U.S. Department of the Treasury
P.O. Box 32621
Detroit, MI 48232-0621
USA

New Face at the head of IRS London

We welcome the arrival this month of Kelli D. Winegardner. Kelli is the new Tax Attaché at the IRS office at the U.S. Embassy in London, having taken up her assignment in London on April 7. Kelli has been with the IRS for 26 years, and has 15 years of international tax experience, dealing directly with treaty-related matters for the IRS.

New Hours for the Federal Benefit Unit

Due to staffing shortages, the Embassy’s Federal Benefits Unit is reducing its public hours. Beginning in May and running through October, the Federal Benefits Unit will be open to the public Monday through Wednesday and on Fridays only. The unit will not field telephone calls or maintain public office hours on Thursdays. We regret the inconvenience that this may cause.

Social Security and You

The U.S. Social Security program provides insurance against the loss of income due to retirement, death, or disability. The U.S. system is relatively new compared to many European national pension systems.

The Social Security system was created in 1935 and has since undergone many changes. Several significant events in history have shaped it; such as population shifts from the countryside into big cities, longer life expectancy, and the steady decline in the practice of extended families. The increasing number of workers who are spending their careers in more than one country also has had an impact.

To become eligible for Social Security benefits, a worker generally has to work at least 10 years in the United States. However, social security agencies from around the world have recognized that there are a growing number of workers who have spent their careers working in more than one country. Thus, many of these workers have found that they do not qualify for benefits under the normal rules. For this group of workers, social security agencies have entered into "totalization agreements" whereby each country can use another country’s work record to qualify the worker for benefits from one or both countries. For a list of countries that have an agreement with the United States, please go to http://www.ssa.gov/international/status.html .

or workers who fall under a totalization agreement, only 1.5 years of work in the United States is needed to qualify for benefits. In addition, the worker’s spouse and young children, under certain conditions, may also qualify for benefits. The worker and/or dependents do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for benefits.

U.S. Political Parties Active in the UK

As we noted last month, the two largest U.S. political parties are active in the UK. Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad regularly organize events to encourage engagement in the American political process. Their websites (http://www.republicansabroad.org.uk/ and http://www.democratsabroad.org/group/united-kingdom) provide information about voter get togethers, debates and other upcoming events.

On April 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00pm, a Voting Assistance Officer from Democrats Abroad will be at FOCUS offices in London to help U.S. citizens living overseas exercise their right to vote. You will need the address where you last lived in the United States, your Social Security number, and your driver's license number (if you have a valid U.S. license). Both members and non-members are welcome to drop in. FOCUS is located at 13 Prince of Wales Terrace, London W8 5PG.

Relocation of the FCO’s Legalization Office

There are two ways to have documents notarized for use in the United States, either at the U.S. Embassy by a Consular Officer (which may be faster, but requires travel to London during limited hours) or under the British system (which takes longer, but may be more convenient). As we note on our website (http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/scs/legalization-us.html) notarization under the British system is a two-step process.

Step 1:  Have your documents signed in front of a Notary Public. For your nearest Notary Public, please visit http://www.thenotariessociety.org.uk .

Step 2:  You must have the signature and seal of the Notary Public legalized by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The main body of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO’s) Legalization Office will move to Milton Keynes sometime this summer, but a small satellite office dedicated to notaries, solicitors, and business customers will remain in London. The satellite office is situated on the 17th floor of the Centre Point building, New Oxford St., WC1, with effect from April 1, 2008. The current Legalization Office at the Old Admiralty Building will remain open until the new office at Milton Keynes is ready. For further details, please telephone the Legalization Office at 020-7008-1111.

Changes to our Special Consular Services website

By the end of the April, expect to see some changes to the Special Consular Services (SCS) section of our website. The SCS unit of the American Citizen Services 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, updated information on the services we provide, in a format we hope you'll find easier to use, should be available on the SCS website by the end of April. 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 londonacsnewsletter@state.gov .

Calendar of American Cultural Events in the United Kingdom

For those looking for a taste of American culture in the United Kingdom, there is always something going on. The Embassy maintains a calendar of American cultural events online at http://london.usembassy.gov/culture/index.html .

Some upcoming events include:

Québec, Louisiana, and the Heritage of French North America, an international conference at the British Library to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City. April 22 at the Conference Centre at the British Library.

Recapturing the Banjo, a series of concerts celebrating the history of the Black Banjo. Concerts will take place in Gateshead, London, Brighton, Basingstoke, and Canterbury from April 27 through May 1.

Dancing The World '08, an international dance festival celebrating dance and movement from around the globe. Presented on various dates from May 2 through May 23.

See http://london.usembassy.gov/culture/index.html for more information about these and many other events.

Embassy Closures

The Embassy will be closed on Monday, May 5, for the May Day Holiday, and Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day/Spring Bank Holiday.

Important Security Announcement When visiting the Embassy, please remember not to bring mobile phones or any electronic devices, such as Blackberries, iPods, or PDAs, as they are not allowed within the Embassy. We also strongly advise that you do not bring large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases or packages to the interview as there are no storage facilities on Embassy grounds. Click on this link for a PDF file for a list of Left Luggage storage facilities.

back to top ^