Diplomatic Security (DS)

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Every U.S. diplomatic mission in the world operates under a security program designed and maintained by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. In the United States, DS investigates passport and visa fraud, conducts personnel security investigations, and protects the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. Within the bureau, there are several divisions that provide administrative services such as automated systems support, financial and personnel management, and other general services. DS has several engineering divisions in Washington, D.C. and an Engineering Service Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The bureau has field and resident offices in various cities throughout the U.S. staffed with special agents and criminal investigators. DS Field Offices are located in the following U.S. cities: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, D.C. DS Resident Offices are located in the following U.S. cities: Portsmouth, NH; St. Albans, VT; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Dallas, TX; El Paso, TX; West Los Angeles, CA (satellite office); Honolulu, HI; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; Tucson, AZ; Atlanta, GA; Charleston, SC (satellite office); San Juan, PR; New Orleans, LA; Hot Springs, AR; Bridgeport, CT (satellite office); Buffalo, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; and Greensboro, NC.

2017-08-08T13:25:40-04:00

Consular Affairs (CA)

The Bureau of Consular Affairs directs consular services relating to the protection, assistance, and documentation of American citizens abroad; conducts all passport activities, including documentation and control of travel of U.S. citizens and nationals; and administers laws, formulates regulations, and implements policies relating to the determination of U.S. citizenship and nationality. At U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, Consular Officers are responsible for issuance of immigrant and non-immigrant visas to foreign nationals seeking to travel or immigrate to the U.S. In addition, CA provides guidance and leadership on consular aspects of children’s services and fulfills U.S. treaty obligations relating to children.
Consular Offices outside of Washington, D.C. include passport offices in the following locations: Atlanta, GA; Aurora, CO; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; El Paso, TX; Honolulu, HI; Hot Springs, AR; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Norwalk, CT; Philadelphia, PA; Portsmouth, NH; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; St. Albans, VT; Tucson, AZ; and Seattle, WA.

  • Office of the Comptroller (CA/C): The Office of the Comptroller (CA/C) is the principal strategic and resource management office for the Bureau of Consular Affairs and is the primary liaison for the Department for the coordination of action and information related to bureau resources and the linkage between policy and those resources.
  • Office of Consular Systems and Technology (CA/CST): The Office of Consular Systems and Technology (CST) exists to develop, install, provide training for, manage and support CA-automated information processing systems. Through its seven branches, CST provides a full range of technology lifecycle development activities, and project management from inception through development.
  • Office of Executive Director (CA/EX): The Office of the Executive Director is responsible for providing the full range of management support for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, including management of the bureau’s budget, IT systems and infrastructure, human resources, and controlled consular supplies.
  • Office of Fraud Prevention Programs (CA/FPP): The Office of Fraud Prevention Programs is dedicated to providing resources, tools and information that will enhance Consular Officers’ ability to detect and deter passport and visa fraud.
  • Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs (CA/P): The Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs (CA/P) coordinates public information and the preparation of press guidance and information for the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
  • Overseas Citizens Services (CA/OCS): Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for the protection and safety of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad. OCS has three offices: the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (OCS/ACS), the Office of Children’s Issues (OCS/CI), and the Office of Legal Affairs (OCS/L).
  • Passport Services (CA/PPT): Passport Services is charged with issuing passports to U.S. citizens, providing information and services to American citizens about how to obtain, replace or change passports, and validating the identity and citizenship of applicants. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to issue or verify U.S. passports.
  • Visa Services (CA/VO): Visa Services Office functions and responsibilities encompass all aspects of visa policy, procedures and information related to U.S. visa issuance to foreign citizens, who are applying at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, seeking to come to America.
2017-08-08T12:12:37-04:00

Arms Control Verification/Compliance (AVC)

The Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC) Bureau’s core mission is to ensure that appropriate verification requirements and capabilities are fully considered and properly integrated throughout the development, negotiation, and implementation of arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments, and to ensure that other countries’ compliance is carefully watched, rigorously assessed, appropriately reported, and resolutely enforced. The bureau leads U.S. efforts to develop arms control policies for the implementation of existing agreements and the negotiation of future agreements. AVC prepares the President’s annual report to Congress on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments. AVC has the lead within the Department of State on all issues related to missile defense and national security space policy. It also leads efforts to develop new verification and transparency technologies in support of arms control agreements and arrangements. AVC offices include:

  • Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Affairs (AVC/CBW): Responsible for efforts to promote the global ban on chemical weapons embodied in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); manages the U.S. National Authority for the CWC; and assesses compliance with the CWC and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
  • Office of Euro-Atlantic Security Affairs (AVC/ESA): Responsible for developing U.S. policy relative to existing and prospective European and Euro-Atlantic arms control agreements and security arrangements concerning conventional and nuclear weapons and forces, including the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE); the Vienna Document 1999 Confidence and Security- Building Measures (CSBMs); and the Treaty on Open Skies.
  • Office of Missile Defense and Space Policy (AVC/MDSP): Responsible for policy and programmatic, technical, and threat issues related to strategic space transparency and confidence-building measures and issues concerning ballistic and cruise missile defenses.
  • Office of Multilateral and Nuclear Affairs (AVC/MNA): Responsible for the efforts to promote the vision of a safe, secure world without nuclear weapons through the identification, negotiation, assessment, and implementation of global and multinational arms control, transparency, and confidence-building measures, and other measures.
  • Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (AVC/NRRC): Operates dedicated, government-to-government communications systems on a 24-hour basis to support implementation of arms control and other security agreements.
  • Office of Strategic Affairs (AVC/SA): Responsible for strategic arms control treaties and implementation of current and prospective arms control agreements involving strategic, intermediate-range, and nonstrategic nuclear weapons systems.
  • Office of Verification and Transparency Technologies (AVC/VTT): Responsible for assessing the capability of technologies, systems, devices, and techniques to promote verification with arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments.
2017-08-08T12:08:16-04:00
Go to Top