American Citizen Services

• Obtaining Funds in an Emergency
• Inexpensive Temporary Lodging in Manila
• Arrests
• Missing Persons
• Hospitalization and Medical Emergencies in the Philippines
   

Americans traveling abroad sometimes run out of funds either because of imprudence, robbery or other unforeseen circumstances. Destitute citizens may be entitled to financial assistance, but they must demonstrate that they have no other sources of income and are unable to receive financial assistance from friends or relatives. In the limited circumstances under which the Embassy can entertain a loan application, the repayment guidelines are strict and applicants cannot obtain a US passport again until the loan is repaid. Frequently, individuals may feel they are destitute when in fact they are simply low on cash. Remember that credit cards, debit cards and ATM cards may also be used to obtain cash or pay bills. Family or friends in the U.S. can send funds through the procedures described below. The role of the Embassy in such cases is to help the person contact others in the U.S. who will be able to send funds to the person in distress.

The Embassy is not able to loan cash to individuals except under certain conditions. Americans seeking financial assistance must exhaust all other options first. We will ask an American to first make collect telephone calls to relatives or friends in the United States requesting funds to be transferred to Manila. Money transfers may be accomplished through the following means: 

Funds may be transferred directly to the destitute person through Western Union. 

-or- 

Funds may be transferred to Manila through the Department of State's Overseas Citizens Services: 

The following are instructions for sending money via the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services to a U.S. citizen with a financial emergency abroad. When you use this service, a Department of State (DOS) trust account is established in the recipient's name in order to forward funds overseas. There is a $30.00 processing fee. Personal checks are not accepted. Your money order or cashier's check must be made payable to the Department of State. Upon receipt, we send a telegram to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad authorizing next workday disbursement. The recipient must contact the Embassy or Consulate to arrange receipt. The forwarding of funds will be delayed if you fail to provide the recipient's overseas location. Funds are normally disbursed in the foreign country's currency and not in U.S. dollars. 

WESTERN UNION: If you have a major credit card, you may telephone Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or 4176. Otherwise, tell your local Western Union agent that you wish to purchase a money order for the desired amount plus $30.00 (for the Department of State fee) and made payable to the Department of State. A message with your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name and overseas location of the recipient, must accompany the money order. Western Union charges a fee based on the amount sent. The money order and message are sent to: Overseas Citizens Services (OCS), Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. Funds are normally received electronically in OCS within several hours. We have a Western Union checkwriter in our office.

BANKWIRE: It may take 1 to 3 days to process a bankwire transaction. If you choose this option, tell your bank that you want to wire the desired amount plus $42 to Bank of America, Department of State Branch, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20520 at 202-624-4750 via ABA number: 114000653; Account Number: 7476363838; Account Name: PUPID State Department; Special instructions: OCS/Trust for benefit of (recipient's name), U.S. Embassy/Consulate (City, Country); and include your name and telephone number. The wire instructions must include the recipient's full name and overseas location. Bank of America notifies our office when funds are received. The $42 fee includes the $30 Department of State fee and Bank of America's $12 wire fee. 

OVERNIGHT/REGULAR MAIL: Obtain cashiers check or money order for the desired amount plus $30 (Department Of State fee), made payable to the Department of State. Attach a letter with your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name and location of the overseas recipient. Mail to: Overseas Citizens Services, CA/OCS, Room 4811, Department of State, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20520. Regular mail can take 7 to 10 workdays to reach CA/OCS, and even overnight mail may not reach our office for several days.  BACK TO TOP
 
 

As of August 8, 2008

Rates Are Subject to Change Without Notice. BACK TO TOP
 

If you are concerned about the welfare or whereabouts of an American citizen in the Philippines, we may be able to provide information. If you are in the United States, you may call the Department of State's Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) toll-free hotline at (888)407-4747 during the hours 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday. At all other times, call the duty officer twenty-four hours a day at 202-647-4000. You may also contact the American Citizens Services Branch of the Embassy at (02) 301-2000. Please give the office as many particulars as you can about the individual - physical description, where seen last, itinerary, interests, etc. The Embassy will attempt to contact the missing individual and advise them of your concern. 

If you wish to locate a Filipino citizen in the United States, please contact a Philippine Consulate in the U.S.

If you wish to locate a child believed to be missing in the United States, please contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). 

If the missing child is an American citizen and is believed to be in the Philippines, please contact the Office of American Citizen's Services in the Department of State (202-736-7000) or the American Citizens Services Branch in the U.S. Embassy. 

If you are searching for information regarding the location of an active or former member of the U.S. military, please consult the Military Locator Service. 

However, Privacy Act restrictions prohibit the Embassy from releasing information to you about the missing person without his/her consent. BACK TO TOP