Consulate General, Edinburgh
E-Newsletter, March 2007
http://london.usembassy.gov/scotland
We want to keep you updated on events that affect Americans across the world and to notify you of events of interest in Scotland. Feel free to forward this e-mail to friends or co-workers.
Consulate Temporary Closure
From February 12, 2007 through the end of March 2007, the U.S. Consulate General in Edinburgh is closed to the public due to construction taking place on the entrance and waiting room areas. American citizens with serious emergencies may phone our answering service at 01224-857-097. All other services must be deferred until after April 2, 2007. For services requiring personal appearance that cannot wait until April, the U.S. Embassy in London and the U.S. Consulate General in Belfast are available to assist you. You may reach the Embassy in London at 020-7499-9000 or the Consulate in Belfast at 028-9038-6100. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time period. The Consulate is closed all Scottish and U.S. Holidays.
Change to Daylight Saving Time
From 1986 to 2006, Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the United States has been from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. In August 2005, Congress passed an energy bill that included extending Daylight Saving Time by about a month. Beginning in 2007, DST will begin the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. DST in the U.S. begins Sunday, March 11 and ends Sunday, November 4, 2007.
In the United Kingdom DST begins Sunday, March 25, 2007 at 1:00 AM when clocks are turned forward one hour to 2:00 AM. DST ends Sunday, October 28, 2007.
From March 11 to 25, the time difference between Eastern Standard Time and UK local time will be +4 hours rather than +5 hours.
New DHS Complaint System
On February 20, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). DHS TRIP provides a single point of contact for travelers who have inquiries, or who seek
resolution to the difficulties they experience during travel screening at transportation hubs, including being denied or delayed boarding; denied or delayed entry into or exit from the United States at a port of entry; or continuous referral for additional screening. If you would like more information, you can find it on the DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/gc_1169676919316.shtm
London Embassy’s Online Webchat
The Embassy in London will host their next American Citizen Services online discussion on Thursday, March 29 at 3 p.m. You are invited to contact them with your questions on American consular topics. To register for the chat, visit http://webchat.state.gov/index.cfm in mid-March when the chat has been listed, and click on the registration link on the right hand side of the page. If you won’t be available to participate in the live discussion, you can submit your questions beforehand for them to answer. The complete transcript of the previous discussion is available on their website at: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/news/consnews004.html
USA PATRIOT ACT and Access to U.S. Banking Accounts While Overseas
The Department of State has been contacted by numerous individuals alleging that, under the USA PATRIOT Act, their U.S. bank accounts have been closed or that they have been prohibited from opening an account due to foreign citizenship or a foreign address.
We would like to highlight that the USA PATRIOT Act does not prohibit foreign citizens or individuals with foreign residences from opening or maintaining a U.S. bank account. Such activity is done frequently.
The USA PATRIOT Act does require financial institutions to complete enhanced security procedures in certain circumstances. For example, under Section 326 of the Act, financial institutions must implement reasonable procedures for (1) verifying the identity of any person seeking to open an account; (2) maintaining records of the information used to verify the person’s identity; and (3) determining whether the person appears on any list of known or suspect terrorists or terrorist organizations
If your U.S. bank has advised you that it is necessary to close your U.S. account because you are living overseas, please write to SCSLondon@state.gov. The State Department may be able to assist you in clarifying the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act to your bank.
IRS Office at the London Embassy
If you have questions regarding your U.S. taxes, the London Embassy’s IRS Office provides a taxpayer service line from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for British and U.S. holidays. The number is 020-7894-0476 or 020-7894-0477. For more information on the services provided by the IRS office, visit http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/index.htm. If you need tax forms, please visit http://www.irs.gov.
Medicare: Don’t Miss Out!
In the good old days, life was simpler. At age 65, one could file for Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare at the same time. In 2003, the age to receive full retirement benefits started to rise. Thus, many individuals have decided to wait until after age 65 to contact the Embassy’s Federal Benefits Unit. This could be a mistake.
The initial enrollment period for filing for Medicare is a seven-month window. It consists of the three-month period before age 65, the month of attaining age 65 as well as the three-month period after age 65. In other words, an individual who has 40 quarters of Social Security coverage (i.e. fully insured) is eligible for Medicare at age 65 even though the age to draw full benefits may be many months away.
Those who visit the U.S. frequently or for extended periods of time, or plan to repatriate back to the United States, should seriously consider filing for Medicare during their initial enrollment period. Medicare Part A is free to fully insured individuals. Part A helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, following a hospital stay. Part B of Medicare is optional. It costs $93.50 per month and helps pay for doctor’s services and supplies that are not covered under hospital insurance. For more complete information about Medicare please visit http://www.medicare.gov/.
To make an appointment to file for Medicare or for benefits, please contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the London Embassy by phone 020-7499-9000, fax 020-7495-7200, or email IN.GB.FSP.London@ssa.gov.
Edinburgh-Info@state.gov.
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