Bureau of Consular Affairs; Passport and Nationality Procedures Persons Authorized to Issue Passports and Adjudicate Nationality Abroad

Résumé

This rule amends existing nationality and passport regulations to allow designated U.S. citizen employees of the Department of State to grant, issue and verify U.S. passports and to adjudicate U.S. nationality claims in foreign countries. The extension of this responsibility to designated United States citizen Department of State employees will enable foreign service posts to provide more efficient passport, citizenship and nationality service to the public. Consular officers will be able to concentrate on managing consular resources, but will still provide passport and citizenship services to U.S. citizens as necessary. This rule also updates terminology relating to Consular Reports of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America and clarifies the authority of consular Agents and others to administer the oath for passport purposes.