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February 2022
Hello,
My name is Cedra Eaton, the American Citizen Services Chief at the
U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
First, I’d like to thank all of our applicants and clients for their patience.
We are continually navigating COVID-19 and other unpredictable
situations in Haiti, and sometimes need to reschedule appointments
when our own staff are unable to make it into the office.
This unpredictability is something I would like to remind you all to heed
as you or your networks consider traveling to Haiti. The U.S. Embassy
in Port-au-Prince encourages U.S. citizens to avoid non-essential travel
to Haiti at this time. The U.S. government’s travel advisory for Haiti
remains at its highest level, “Level 4: Do Not Travel” due to crime, civil
unrest, kidnapping, and COVID-19. If you must travel, please sign up
for STEP, our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
If you have an appointment at the Embassy for a passport renewal, a
Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or another American Citizen service,
please ensure that you are completely prepared so we can serve you as
quickly as possible and avoid requiring a follow-up appointment. Our
website has a checklist of everything you need to bring to these
appointments. Click on the following links for passports, Consular Re-
ports of Birth Abroad, and notarial services.
Lastly, if you are a U.S. citizen living abroad and are looking to vote in
the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, please read through this month’s
Ask the Consul section for everything you need to know to vote.
Cedra Eaton
Chief, American Citizen Services
Inside:
• Cover Message
• Ask the Consul
• This Month
• Health
Resources
• Travel &
Security
• Contact Info
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Ask the Consul
As campaigns for U.S. midterm elections are starting, we’re
answering all your questions about overseas voting for U.S.
citizens.
Q
: Can I request an absentee ballot?
A
: Yes, you can request an absentee ballot for all federal office elections: President, U.S.
Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives (including primaries and special elections). To
request an absentee ballot, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). FPCA forms that
are correctly filled out and include a signature and date are accepted by all local election officials in
every U.S. state and territory. FVAP’s easy online assistant can help you complete the FPCA.
Q
: Should I have my ballot mailed to me in Haiti?
A
: We encourage you to select the option for receiving your ballot electronically (by email,
internet download, or fax) when available. This is the fastest way for you to get your ballot and
ensures you have it in time to return before your state’s deadline.
Q
: Can I drop off my ballot at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince?
A
: If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by
mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through U.S.
Embassy Port-au-Prince’s diplomatic pouch. Ballots can be
dropped off by placing them in the designated box outside
the Consular Entrance, Monday-Friday, 7am to 3:30pm.
Please note all visitors to the Embassy are subject to
security screening and you will not be permitted to bring
electronic devices, including cell phones, inside. Please
note that it can take up to three weeks for mail to reach its
destination if sent by diplomatic pouch.
Useful Links
• FVAP.gov - start here
• FVAP Online Assistant
• Voting Resources
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LETTER
Q
: How do I request my ballot from overseas?
A
: Registering to vote and submitting a ballot is fast, easy,
and can be done from anywhere in the world! Most states
provide the option to request ballots through their state election
portals, which you can easily access via FVAP.gov. From
FVAP.gov, connect to your state’s voter portal to register to vote
and request a ballot.
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This Month
February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of
achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing
their central role in U.S. history—from activists and civil rights
pioneers such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth,
Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Rosa
Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture, and more.
The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century
after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United
States. For years it was a weeklong commemoration. Then, in 1976, on the occasion of the
bicentennial of the United States, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month,
calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments
of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Black History Month
The Black History Month 2022 theme Black Health and
Wellness explores “the legacy of not only Black scholars
and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also
other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas,
midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the
African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities,
rituals, and initiatives that Black communities have done to
be well.
2022 Theme
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The independence of Haiti as the world’s first Black nation has had a powerful influence on the
history of the United States and far beyond. News of Haiti’s successful revolution led by slaves
reverberated across the Caribbean to the United States, emboldening African American slaves. In
antebellum America and during the Civil War, black and white abolitionists saw Haiti as an example
of the potential and possibilities of black political leadership. On the eve of the Civil War, Frederick
Douglass spoke for most African Americans when he
referred to the “bright example” of Haiti. He called
Toussaint Louverture “the noble liberator and law-giver of
his brave and dauntless people.” Douglass and others
considered Toussaint one of the greatest men of the 19th
century. Today, Haitian culture—from food, music, and its
proud revolutionary tradition—is part of contemporary
African American culture.
The United States and Hai
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Health Resources & COVID-19
Useful Links
• Embassy COVID-19 Page
• Travel Requirements
• Air Ambulance Services
• Hospitals in Haiti
The CDC has issued a Level 4 health
advisory for Haiti. Avoid travel to Haiti. If you
must travel to Haiti, make sure you are fully
vaccinated.
Haiti—Level 4:
Very High Level of COVID-19
• Make sure you are current on your vaccines,
including tetanus and rabies.
• Know where doctors and the closest emergency
room are in your area. Please visit the Embassy
website for a list of hospitals and medical
professionals in Haiti.
• Always keep basic medications and supplies on
hand. Invest in a quality first aid kit and keep one
in your car and at home.
• Always have medical insurance, including
medevac insurance. If you need to be medically
evacuated out of Haiti, you should contact a
medevac company or an air ambulance service.
Visit the Embassy website for a list of Air
Ambulance Services.
General Health Guidance
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COVID-19
For updated information about COVID-19 in Haiti,
please visit the Embassy website. You’ll find information about:
• Where to get vaccinated
• Where to get tested
• Entry/exit requirements
• Quarantine guidelines
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Travel & Security
The U.S. Department of State has renewed the highest level
“Level 4: Do Not Travel” travel advisory for Haiti due to
kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19.
Haiti—Level 4: Do Not Travel
If you are in Hai:
• Sign-up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment
Program (STEP) to receive important
information from the Embassy about safety
conditions in Haiti, and help the Embassy
contact you in case of emergency. Enroll
here: step.state.gov
• Remember that demonstrations, tire
burning, and roadblocks are frequent,
unpredictable, and can turn violent at any
time. Emergency response, including
ambulance service, is limited or non-
existent.
• Always carry your cellphone and ensure it is
charged before you travel. Ensure you have
important numbers programmed into your
phone. Consider using code names for
family or friends.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds. If you
encounter a roadblock, turn around and get
to a safe area.
• Arrange airport transfers and hotels in
advance, or have your host meet you upon
arrival.
• Travel by vehicle to minimize walking in
public, and travel in groups of at least two
people whenever possible.
• Always keep vehicle doors and windows
locked with valuables out of sight.
• Exercise caution and alertness, especially
when driving through markets and other
traffic-congested areas.
• Do not travel in areas unfamiliar to you and
be aware that navigation apps are highly
unreliable in Haiti.
• Do not physically resist any robbery or
kidnapping attempt.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in good
driving condition.
• Travel at times when traffic is expected to be
lighter; avoid travel after dark in Port-au-
Prince.
• Ensure adequate spacing between vehicles
to provide options for evading a potentially
dangerous situation.
• Patronize shops or restaurants that provide
secure, enclosed, and well-lit parking.
• Always inform someone, such as a family
member or friend, of where you are going
and what time you expect to return.
• Minimize broadly publishing your travel
plans on social media.
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Contact Info
This newsletter is published by the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. Please
pass this newsletter along to other interested people. If you would like to receive your own copy
directly, sign up through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Comments and
suggestions regarding this newsletter are welcomed at [email protected].
Address
U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince
Boulevard 15 Octobre
Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Email
• American Citizen Services: acspap@state.gov
• Visas: support-haiti@ustraveldocs.com
Phone
+509-2229-8000
Websites
• American Citizen Services Website
• U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince’s Website
• U.S. Embassy Facebook
• U.S. Embassy Twitter
• Haiti Travel Advisory
• American Citizen Services Facebook
• American Citizen Services Twitter
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
• Make an ACS Appointment
• COVID-19 Information in Haiti
Useful Links
