Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

Welcome to American Citizen Services, Kolkata!

ACS provides important infor-mation and updates to Ameri-can citizens living and traveling in the Kolkata consular district (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal).

To stay in touch with ACS, and to receive alerts, we highly recommend that you register your stay with us at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

In this issue:

WelcomeAbout ACS U.S. Citizen FeesCrime Victim AssistanceVoting, Announcements & Upcoming EventsEarthquake PreparednessACS Travelogue: LehChildren’s Corner

Have a topic you would like to see covered in a newsletter? Have a suggestion for a suitable name? Let us know at KolkataACS@state.gov

How to contact the Kolkata ACS:

American Citizen ServicesU.S. Consulate General5/1 Ho Chi Minh SaraniKolkata 700 071 Telephone: 91-33-3984-2400, then press ‘0’ for operatorFax: 91-33-2282-2335Email: KolkataACS@state.govWeb: http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov Telephone call hours:

8:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (Monday through Friday, except holidays) List of holidays: http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov/holidays.html

Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011Welcome to our first issue of the newsletter for American citizens residing in the Kolkata Consular district. We are calling it the “Kolkata ACS Journal” for now and hope that you will suggest a suitable name that we could use permanently (something that you will remember when we send you future updates and newsletters!). Thank you to all the attendees who attended our recent Town Hall meeting at the ITC Sonar in Kolkata. We had a record turn-out and we appreciated all of your comments and suggestions. We would like to make these meetings a regular feature and encourage you to invite other U.S. citizens to participate in future Town Halls. We also held a Wardens meeting in August. We thank our Wardens, especially those from far off places like Nagaland and Manipur, for attending. This was a first for us. Wardens are important in communicating with our citizens in the event of an emergency. Their services are critical in times of need, as demonstrated during the recent earthquake in Sikkim. On the subject of earthquakes, we have important information on earthquake preparedness in this issue. Please be sure to read the safety measures all citizens should take. We visited Nagaland and Manipur recently and reached out to our citizens in the area. These visits are important to us and we like to meet with many of you personally. We also visited Mayapur and Nabadwip and had interesting meetings with our citizens on either side of the Ganga. These visits always give us an opportunity to provide services in areas remote from our Consulate, and, of course, to talk to you about the work we do in ACS. Many of our registrants are children and we have a fun children’s corner with some puzzles. Let us know how we could make this better. We would also encourage you to share photographs that we could publish in forthcoming issues. If you have traveled anywhere interesting recently and would like to share this with oth-ers, please send us a short write-up with pictures. Your suggestions are always welcome, including what you would like to see in this newsletter. Please use our email KolkataACS@state.gov to communicate with us. Thanksgiving is round the corner, and we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. The holiday season is fast approaching too. Please be safe during this season!

American Citizen Services, Kolkata, India

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

How to make an emergency callregarding an arrest, death or loss ofpassport: Please dial 3984-2400, thenpress “0,” and speak to the operatorduring normal working hours. Please call our primary hotline cellphone (91) 99030 42956.

If unable to reach the cell phone,please call (91) (33) 3984-2400,dial “0,” and ask for Duty Officer.Note: “91” is India’s countrycode; please omit it if calling fromwithin India. “33” is Kolkata’s citycode; please omit it if calling fromwithin Kolkata. If calling fromwithin India but outside of Kolkata,one must dial “0” before “33.”

To contact the Indian police, dial 100.

The American Citizen Services Unitat the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata canassist when a U.S. citizen in Indiais arrested, missing, is a victim ofviolent crime, becomes ill or dies,or when there is otherwise a needfor immediate help. We can assistwith information on local resourcesand by contacting family membersin the United States to keep themapprised of the circumstances.

What ACS can (and can’t) do for you: ACS is available to help American citizens with the following services:

Passports (Apply, Renew or Add Pages)• Reporting the Birth of your American Citizen Child• Notary and Document Services•

Appointments are required for American citizen services and are available Monday to Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. They can be made athttp://kolkata.usconsulate.gov/service/appointment-and-contact-info.html.

We are closed on the last Wednesday of every month and onAmerican and Indian holidays. Appointments are never required foremergencies.

Regarding U.S. visa inquiries, American Citizen Services units are unable to assist with information regarding visas to the United States. For non-immigrant visa information and for questions about appointments, please visit the VFS website at http://www.vfs-usa.co.in or send an inquiry toinfouskolkata@vfshelpline.com. We do not process immigrant visas in Kolkata; this type of visa is handled by the Mumbai Consulate. Please visit their website athttp://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/immigrant_visas.html.

For information on all the services we provide, please referto our website at http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov/service/other-citizen-services.html. For information on all the services we cannot provide, visit http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov/uscitizenservice.html.

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011U.S. Citizen Fees:You may pay at the Consulate by cash, a credit card capable of U.S. dollar transactions, or by demand draft made in favor of “U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata” payable at Kolkata, which must have the MICR code printed on it. If there is any overwriting or error in the demand draft, kindly get it counter signed and stamped by a bank official next to the error. We do not accept personal checks. ACS fees are nonrefundable.

American Citizen Services Fee U.S. DollarsAdult U.S. Passport Renewal $110 – Using DS-82Adult U.S. Passport Replacement (Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Damaged) $135 – Using DS-11Minor U.S. Passport (under age 16) $105 - Using DS-11Minor U.S. Passport Replacement (Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Damaged) $105 – Using DS-11Additional Passport Pages $82Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) $100Notarial (per signed seal) $50Certified True Copy (per signed seal) $50Authentication: Foreign Official (per signed seal) $50Minor Passport Card $40Adult Passport Card $55Photocopy (per page) $1

Consular Exchange Rate: $1 = Rs 52Effective November 16, 2011

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

Crime Victim Assistance:If you are the victim of a crime overseas, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate; contact •

information can be found at http://www.usembassy.gov/Consular officers are available for emergency assistance 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.• To contact the Department of State in the U.S. call 1-888-407-4747 during business hours, and 202-647-•

5225 after hours. Contact the local police to report the incident and get immediate help. Request a copy of the police report.•

Consular Assistance to American Crime Victims:

When an American is the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer from physical, emotional or financial injuries. It can be more difficult because the victim may be in unfamiliar surroundings and may not know the local language or customs. Consuls, consular agents and local employees at overseas posts know local govern-ment agencies and resources in the country where they work.

We can help to:

Replace a stolen passport• Contact family, friends, or employers• Obtain appropriate medical care• Address emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime• Explain the local criminal justice process• Obtain information about your case• Connect you to local and U.S. resources to assist victims of crime• Obtain information about local and U.S. victim compensation programs• Provide a list of local lawyers who speak English•

However, we cannot investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for you.

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

Photography Contest

Do you have a knack for taking beautiful and inspiring photographs during your travels in our consular district? ACS is holding a photography contest for our American citizens! Submit your entries to KolkataACS@state.gov with the headline ‘Photography Contest.’ The top 3 photographs will be featured in our next newsletter! (One or two submissions per person only). Please provide your name and a short narrative of the photograph.

Announcements: ACS services at the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata will be closed on the following days:

November 24 Thursday Thanksgiving DayDecember 26 Monday Christmas DayJanuary 2 Monday New Year 2012

Upcoming events: For upcoming events at the American Center please visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/AmericanCenter.Kolkata

Sign Up for Travel Safety Alerts

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.

You can sign up at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

Voter Information: The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website, http://www.fvap.gov/, provides current information for uniformed service members and their families as well as U.S. citizens living outside of the U.S. Please also see the list of frequently asked questions with answers at http://www.fvap.gov/faq.html.

The Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting. To con-tact the Voting Assistance Officer, please send an e-mail to KolkataACS@state.gov.

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

Earthquake Preparedness:Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur.• Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay there until the shaking has stopped.• Be alert for PA announcements and/or computer messages.•

If indoors:

During the earthquake, DROP to the floor; TAKE COVER under a sturdy piece of furniture; and • HOLD ON to whatever you are under.

Stay away from and anything that can shatter and fall on you.• If there isn’t sturdy furniture nearby, get into a corner and, facing out, bring your knees and hands up to protect yourself.• Stay away (and face away) from windows and do not stand in a doorway.• Once the earthquake stops, check to if you are OK, and then check to see if others are OK.• Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the •

building or try to leave. Be aware, the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors:

During the earthquake, STAY OUTDOORS.• Move away from buildings, streetlights and utility poles/wires.• Cover your face and head with your arms until the quake is over.•

If in a moving vehicle:

During the earthquake, STOP AS QUICKLY AS SAFETY PERMITS.• Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, streetlights, or utility poles/wires.• Stay in the vehicle.• Cover your face and head with your arms until the quake is over.•

If in bed:

Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a • heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.

Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. •

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

ACS Travelogue: LehKeshav and Anita recently went to Leh and Ladakh, the northern-most part of India.Here is a brief travelogue of their trip.

Leh/Ladakh

“Located at an altitude of 11.000 feet, Leh presents stark beauty not found anywhere else in India. Yes, you realize that India is truly incredible when you see this region. The highest motorable road at 18,500 feet in Khardung La is worth a visit, but make sure you are acclimated to the altitude first. As a minimum, you need 5 days to acclimate. Take it easy the first few days, get used to the altitude, drink plenty of water and then you can get more adventurous.

There are plenty of sites, such as monasteries (Hemis, Thikse, Achi), within a few hour’s drive. No matter where you go, the landscape alone makes the drive memorable. Other popular places are the Nubra Valley (with double-humped Bactrian camels) and Pangong Lake (partially in China), which can be rushed in a day but are really worth a night’s stop.

Foreigners will need a permit to visit certain parts of Ladakh and this is easily arranged locally. The food is also cheap if buying local fare like momos and noodles.”

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011Children’s Corner:Parents, print this page for your children!

Connect the dots by starting at 1 and ending at 20. What picture did you make at the end? Don’t forget to color your finished picture!

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

Children’s Corner:Parents, print this page for your children!

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Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata, IndiaKolkata ACS Journal • November 2011

Children’s Corner:Parents, print this page for your children!

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