American Citizen Newsletters

June 2008

IRS Tax Filing Deadline – Monday, June 16

The IRS office at the American Embassy would like to remind taxpayers that the deadline for overseas filers is Monday, June 16, 2008. To accommodate the large number of taxpayers wishing to file their returns, the IRS office at the Embassy, in addition to its regular office hours (Tuesdays - Thursdays), will be open on Friday June 13th from 9:00am to 4:00pm and Monday, June 16th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The IRS office regrets that it will not be able to answer complex tax questions or help prepare tax returns on these two days due to the high number of taxpayers filing their returns. If you would like proof that you have filed your return, bring an extra copy of the first page (e.g. 1040 or 1040NR) and we will date–stamp the copy for your records.

If you cannot file your return by June 16th, you can receive a four month automatic extension by filing Form 4868 by June 16, 2008. Forms can be downloaded at: www.irs.gov.

Further information about the IRS office and taxes can be found at the Embassy website: http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/index.htm.

Filing your Tax Returns by Mail

To beat the large crowds that will be at the Embassy on these last filing days, you can file your return by post. To meet the filing deadline, the return must be postmarked by June 16, 2008 to be considered timely filed. Individual tax returns should be mailed to the Austin Service Center at:

Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, Texas 73301–0215
U.S.A.

For U.K. residents, there are options for ensuring delivery through the Royal Mail:
— International Signed For will track your item in the U.K. and provide a signature receipt when your item is delivered to the Austin Service Center
— Airsure items are tracked abroad and you will get confirmation of final delivery at the Austin Service Center

For private courier services (such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS) only, the following address should be used:

Internal Revenue Service
3651 South Interregional Hwy 35
Austin, Texas 78741
U.S.A.
Attention: Darryl Krebs
Telephone: (512) 460 7944

Alternately, you can post your return to our office at the following address:

IRS – Box 44
U.S. Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
London W1A 1AE
U.K.

To receive proof of filing, include a copy of the first page (e.g. 1040 or 1040NR) and a stamped self–addressed envelope.

Independence Day Events in the U.K.

Several Independence Day events are taking place on and around the 4th of July. Many American and American-themed restaurants throughout the U.K. will also be serving 4th of July lunches and dinners on that Wednesday.

St. Martin’s in the Fields Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ will be the site of a 7:30pm concert by the New London Singers. They will be singing songs of American themes and from American composers. To book tickets online (priced from £6 to £24) go to: http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org. Alternatively, call the box office on: +44 (0)20-7839-8362 Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm

The American Museum in Britain will be hosting a Picnic Night to celebrate American Independence day. On Friday, July 4th pack a blanket and head up the hill for BBQ, ice cream and dancing on the lawn. Music provided by Corn Liquor and the Stillhouse Stompers. £2.00 per person or £5 per family. For more information go to http://www.americanmuseum.org/

The Democrats Abroad U.K. will be hosting a picnic on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 12:30pm. Simply pack a picnic, a kite, and your political knowledge. Bring the family, friends, and colleagues. Location: Marylebone Gardens (just South of Chester Road, near the playground), Regent’s Park (same location as in prior years) Prizes awarded for most creative kite (with or without the summer wind!), as well as for the winner of the Democrats Abroad Political Quiz. For more information go to http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/5634

The American Museum in Britain will also be presenting Living History: American Independence Day Displays on Saturday and Sunday, July 5th and 6th. Once again the Crown Forces of 1776 joined by the Soldiers of George III will give a glimpse into the life of British soldiers during the American revolutionary War. Their humorous demonstration will not only give insights into an infantryman's equipment and training but also how men were recruited into the ranks - either willingly or unwillingly. Entry by admission to grounds. Drill displays at 1:30pm and 3:00pm on the Terrace Lawn. For more information go to http://www.americanmuseum.org/

Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington’s family, located in Oxfordshire, will be holding an Independence Day celebration on Sunday, July 6th from 10:30am to 4:00pm. Activities will include the sights and sounds of 1940’s Britain with American/English re-enactors. Meet ‘Winston Churchill’, learn the Jitterbug and Lambeth Walk. An exhibition of American Indian artifacts, clothing and pictures will also be on display. There will be a hog roast as well as refreshments all day. Tickets are £7.50 for adults, £3.50 for children; family tickets are available for £20. For more information go to http://www.sulgravemanor.org.uk/visitorinfo/independence_day_2008.pdf

Talk to the Consul June 26

Our next “Talk with the Consul” Webchat is scheduled for 3:00pm on Thursday, June 26th. All you need to do is go to http://webchat.state.gov and follow the instructions. You can 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!

Celebrate Independence - Register and Vote Your Ballot!

The Secretary of Defense has designated June 28 to July 7, 2008 as Overseas Citizens Voters Week.

On November 4, 2008, we will be electing 35 U.S. Senators, the entire House of Representatives and 13 state Governors. There will also be thousands of other state and local office elections and referenda. Election laws differ from state to state, but most state election laws require the absentee ballot request to be received at least 30 days before the general election. With Election Day so close there is not much time left.

The Basic Absentee Voting Process

Step 1 – Citizen completes and mails the Federal Post Card Application Form (SF-76), Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Form
Step 2 – Local Election Official approves Registration request or requests further information
Step 3 – Local Election Official mails absentee ballot
Step 4 – Citizen votes and mails the absentee ballot to the Local Election Official

If you want to vote in the presidential election in November (or your state primary) you have to sign up for an absentee ballot.

Our voter information page, http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/scs/voting.html, and the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at http://www.fvap.gov contain an explanation and description of the entire process of voting overseas.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Americans traveling to the U.S. with non-American companions should be aware that on June 3rd, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which will begin to accept voluntary ESTA applications starting on August 1, 2008. ESTA is a new fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). By using ESTA in advance, a traveler from a VWP country will be able to confirm in advance that he or she is able to travel without a visa.

U.K. citizens, as well as citizens of 26 other countries participating in the VWP will be able to use ESTA beginning in August and get a better understanding of how it works. It is anticipated that ESTA will become mandatory for VWP travelers on January 12, 2009.

ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and Visa Waiver Program travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States.

Learn more about ESTA on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/.

New Country Specific Information for the United Kingdom

The Department of State prepares “Country Specific Information” (CSI) for every country of the world. CSI includes information such as the location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, visa requirements, health conditions, currency regulations, crime and security information, etc. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security." Consular Information Sheets generally do not include advice, but present information in a factual manner so the traveler can make his or her own decisions concerning travel to a particular country. Consular Information Sheets are reviewed approximately every six months.

New Country Specific Information for the U.K. was released on June 3, 2008, and is available online at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1052.html.

In this update, among other things, we’ve supplemented the “crime” section with information about the “cabwise” program, leaving a GPS devise visible in a parked car, and using underpasses after dark.

Crackdown on knives

In the CSI we also note that “generally low crime rates and rates decreased slightly in 2007 in significant categories;” however, we have seen an increase in arrests for carrying knives following the announcement of stronger sanctions to prevent knife crime http://press.homeoffice.gov.uk/press-releases/Knife-Crime-Sanctions.

This is a good opportunity to remind Americans that, as we note in our CSI, many pocketknives and other blades, and mace or pepper spray canisters, although legal in the U.S., are illegal in the U.K. and will result in arrest, confiscation, and possible prosecution if detected.  A U.K. Metropolitan Police guide to items that are prohibited as offensive weapons is available at http://www.met.police.uk/youngpeople/guns.htm.  A U.K. Customs Guide, detailing what items visitors are prohibited from bringing into the U.K., is available at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/downloadFile?contentID=HMCE_CL_001734

Paying it Safe

We’ve also had reports in the past month from Americans residing in the U.K. who have found that unauthorized charges were being made in the U.S. on their U.S. credit cards. The Federal Trade Commission has advice on its website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/payments.shtm that can help people avoid becoming victims of credit or bank fraud, particularly when using electronic systems. One basic safeguard is to review your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges.

Perimeter Security Project Completion

As noted last month, the construction around the Embassy that has been taking place since last Fall is on schedule for completion this month. Our aim has been to not only make the Embassy and its surroundings safer, but also to improve the area's appearance and streamline the entrance of American citizens, visa applicants and other visitors. When finished, one of the new entry pavilions will be devoted to American citizens and distinguished visitors, while we will have a separate pavilion for processing the daily flow of hundreds of applicants for various types of visas. We will once again have wide pedestrian walkways along Upper Brook and Grosvenor Streets.

Cultural Events of American Interest

For those looking for a taste of American culture in the U.K., 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:

Sara Laimon at Wigmore Hall, Praised for her interpretations of American music, pianist Sara Laimon gives the U.K. première of three works by composers important in her life. At the Wigmore Hall, Laimon will play Harold Meltzer's Piano Sonata; Laura Kaminsky's Fantasy; and Ezra Laderman's Piano Sonata No. 3. For more information visit the Wigmore Hall's website: http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/. June 16, 2008

American Friends of English National Opera, The American Friends of English National Opera (ENO) present their 2008 Spring/Summer Season of events. Unless otherwise stated, all events take place at The London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES. Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 6:30pm

Bridging the Atlantic: Artful Innovations in Cancer Care, The Longwood Symphony Orchestra is a unique orchestra named for the Longwood Medical area of Harvard Medical School. It is dedicated to healing the community through music, performing concerts that raise awareness and raising funds for medical charity. This U.K. tour marks the end of its 25th anniversary concert season and will include performances (in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care) and symposia. More information is available on the Longwood Symphony Orchestra's website: http://www.longwoodsymphony.org/. June 22-28, 2008. Various venues

The American Scene: Prints from Hopper to Pollock, The British Museum’s exhibition, The American Scene, features around 150 outstanding prints by 74 leading modern American artists, including George Bellows, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Josef Albers, Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois and Jackson Pollock. The first half of the 20th century was a period of great change in America, and this exhibition examines American society and culture through the prints produced by some of the most important artists of the time. Until September 7, 2008

Cy Twombly: Cycles and Seasons, Coinciding with Cy Twombly’s 80th year, this will be the first major retrospective in the U.K. for twenty years of the work of this artist. Born in 1928 in Lexington Virginia, Twombly studied in Boston, New York and Black Mountain College, Carolina. In the mid 1950s, following travels in Europe and Africa, he emerged as a prominent figure among a generation of artists working in New York that included Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. Full details are on the Tate Modern website: http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/

Picturing America, For those looking for a taste of American culture online, the National Endowment for the Humanities has put a number of American cultural works online. In particular, its “Picturing America” project (http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/index.php?sec=home) which is focused on bringing masterpieces of American art to classrooms and libraries throughout the U.S., also makes these works of art available for viewing online as well as printing in high resolution.

Embassy Weekly Update

Americans have, in the past, asked whether they could find out more about the position of the U.S. Government on matters of foreign policy. While our Consular Newsletter focuses on non-political policy matters affecting the welfare of American citizens in the U.K., the Embassy also produces a weekly update on matters of U.S. foreign policy. Those interested in receiving weekly updates on U.S. foreign policy, U.S./U.K. relations and other political and global issues can subscribe at: http://london.usembassy.gov/ukweekly.html.

Embassy Closure Dates

The Consular Section will be closed to the public on the morning of June 16, 2008

The Embassy will be closed on Friday, July 4, for Independence Day

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.

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