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The American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) of the Consular Section provides emergency passport and citizenship services. The United States Consulate in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa covers all routine services, such as passport renewals for American Citizens residing in or visiting in Lesotho.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
If you require emergency services, call the Police at (+266) 2232-2099/ (+266) 22312934 or LDF Rapid Response Team (+266) 5684-8491 immediately!
These lines are the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and Lesotho Defense Force Emergency Numbers. Call these numbers should you need immediate police, rapid response or medical assistance. The U.S. Embassy does not provide police, rapid response or medical services.
In an emergency involving an American citizen in Lesotho, you can reach us during normal business hours at (+266) 2231-2666. After regular hours, please call the duty officer at (+266) 5888-4035. Please note that these numbers are NOT for visa and passport inquiries.
The Embassy is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., excluding U.S. and Lesotho holidays.
What do I report to the U.S. Embassy?
Please report deaths, arrests, and serious injuries or accidents resulting in hospital stays to the U.S. Embassy at (+266) 2231-2666 or after hours at (+266) 5888-4035. In emergencies, the U.S. Embassy will help you communicate with your family in the United States, understand local procedures, and may be able to provide other assistance as appropriate.
What if my family needs to reach me?
If your family in the United States needs to reach you in the event of an emergency, they should call the Department of State’s American Citizen Emergency Center at these U.S. numbers: 1-888-407-4747, 1-202-647-5225, or 1-202-501-4444.
Enroll with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you are a U.S. government employee working overseas, you cannot claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For additional information, visit the IRS website.
U.S. embassies and consulates overseas assist the Selective Service System with its registration program abroad.
If you reside in Lesotho and have questions regarding services provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in London. For more information on their services and how to contact them, please visit their webpage at: Federal Services Benefit Unit London. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
Service members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits services on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website at www.va.gov. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) can also be of assistance if Veterans and beneficiaries have questions about benefits and services.
Now all U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, go to www.FVAP.gov to complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), print and sign the form then return it to your local election office in the United States. We recommend overseas U.S. citizens get in the habit of completing FPCAs each January. You should include your email address on the form so it’s easier for your election officials to reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, be sure to include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you’ll receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal assistance Medical Assistance Emergency Preparedness Disposition of RemainsThe Embassy cannot represent U.S. citizens in court nor provide legal counsel. Instead, you may wish to consult with an attorney in Lesotho, who can provide advice on your options and remedies within the Lesotho system. The Embassy maintains a list of attorneys however; the Embassy cannot recommend a particular attorney and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. List of Attorneys in Lesotho:
Doctors practicing in Lesotho and hospitals in Bloemfontein
The U.S. Embassy offers a home disaster kit checklist to assist in your personal emergency preparedness. In case of an emergency, you will wish to have the following items at the ready
Intercountry Adoption
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
Births
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages. Depending on the local law, civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. If your marriage overseas was performed in accordance with local law, it is valid in the country where it took place. Whether your marriage is recognized elsewhere depends on the laws of that place.
Please call: +266-2231-2666
Outside of Office Hours, contact: +266-5888-4035
Outside of Lesotho: +266-5888-1024
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
