American Citizen Services

General Information

Welcome to the American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Freetown.  The United States government has no higher responsibility than to serve and protect its citizens, including those who reside or are temporarily abroad.  We strive to render prompt, courteous, and efficient service to U.S. citizens, consistent with U.S. laws and regulations.

The ACS Unit provides a wide range of services to American citizens visiting or residing in Sierra Leone.  Use the links on the left for more information about our services.

We urge you to register with the Embassy if you will be traveling or living in Sierra Leone in order to allow the ACS Unit to better help and serve you, especially in the event of an emergency or disaster.

The ACS Unit is open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays for routine services including passport services, U.S. citizen registration, reports of birth abroad, notarial services, voter assistance, and tax forms.  American citizens can also register in person at the Embassy on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For emergencies including cases involving serious illness or injury, death, and victims of serious crime, the ACS Unit is available 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.  For emergencies after hours, please call (232)(76) 515-000.

Current versions of all forms

Contact Information

If you are an American Citizen residing in or traveling to Sierra Leone, please email us with your questions or concerns.  We will respond to your email message as soon as possible.  For other inquiries, we refer you to the information posted on the American Citizen Services section of our website.

You may also call the ACS Unit at (232)(22) 515-000 or (232)(76) 515-000 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, for routine inquiries. For emergencies after hours, please call (232)(76) 515-000.

Avian Influenza - How to Prepare for "Sheltering-In-Place"

 

 

 

 

 

Article

Avian Influenza - How to Prepare for “Sheltering-In-Place."

Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus among animals in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe has the potential to significantly threaten human health.  If a virus such as H5N1 mutates and spreads easily from one person to another, avian influenza may break out globally.  While there are no reports of sustained human-to-human transmission of avian influenza, the U.S. government and international health agencies are preparing for a possible pandemic.  

Depending on the severity of a pandemic, commercial airlines might drastically curtail or even cease operations.  Travel restrictions could also impede people from returning to the United States or fleeing to other countries.  For these reasons, it may make more sense to “shelter-in-place” (i.e., stay home and practice “social distancing” to avoid contagion) for an appropriate period of time.

United States Residents: The Department of Health and Human Services suggests that US residents prepare two weeks of emergency supplies (food, water, medicines, etc.) in order to shelter-in-place during an influenza pandemic. http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html
American Citizens Abroad:  Due to varying conditions overseas, Americans abroad should evaluate their situation and prepare emergency supplies accordingly (non-perishable food, potable water, medicines, etc.) for the possibility of sheltering-in-place for at least two and up to twelve weeks.  Water purification techniques such as boiling, filtering and/or adding chlorine to locally available rainwater, swimming pools, lakes, rivers and wells may replace the need to store large quantities of water.

What can you do on a daily basis?  Cover your cough.  Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to eradicate viruses and bacteria or apply a hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content when soap and water are not available.  Stay home if you are sick. Vaccinate yourself against seasonal flu.

Travel: American citizens living in or traveling to countries with human or animal cases of H5N1 virus should consider the potential risks.  Keep informed of the latest medical guidance and practical information and plan accordingly.  Consult www.travel.state.gov for the latest tips on international travel.

On-Line Resources: Detailed information about suggested preparations, as well as planning checklists, are available on the U.S. government’s one-stop web site on pandemic influenza (www.pandemicflu.gov), also the World Health Organization (www.who.int/en/) and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) websites.

On February 8 news sources reported the first case of avian influenza in Africa among poultry in Nigeria. There have been no reported cases of avian influenza in Sierra Leone.  U.S. citizens present in countries with documented H5N1 outbreaks are advised to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or fluids from poultry or other animals.

American citizens in Sierra Leone are advised that the anti-viral medication Oseltamavir (brand name Tamiflu), which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has suggested may be effective in preventing or treating avian influenza, is not currently available in Sierra Leone. American citizens traveling to or residing in Sierra Leone are encouraged to consult with their doctor.

For additional information on Avian Influenza be sure to visit the State Department's Consular Affairs website at: http://cas2k3ftp01/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

Americans living or traveling in Sierra Leone are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, and to also review the Embassy's Internet website at http://freetown.usembassy.gov/ for the latest travel and security information within Sierra Leone. Americans without Internet access may register directly at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Registration will permit the consular section to contact a registered individual in case of an emergency.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http:// travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Consular Section is located at the U.S. Embassy, Leicester Square, Regent.  Tel: (232) (22) 515 000 or (232) (76) 515 000, consular fax: (232) (22) 515 075, general fax: (232) (22) 515 355.  Normal Embassy business hours are Monday - Thursday, 0800 - 1700 hrs and Friday 0800 - 1230. After hours, the Embassy Duty Officer may be reached at (232) 076-634-603.