assistance
Financial Assistance
When a U.S. citizen encounters an emergency financial situation abroad, the Department of State’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) can establish a Trust account in the citizen's name in order to forward funds overseas. There is a non-refundable $30 Trust processing fee. Upon receipt of funds, OCS will transfer the money to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate for disbursement to the recipient. The recipient must contact the Embassy or Consulate directly, except in extremely limited circumstances, to arrange receipt. If the recipient's name and overseas location (city, country) are not provided with the money, it will delay the transfer.
The Embassy or Consulate normally disburses funds in the foreign country’s currency and not in U.S. dollars. Trust funds transfers are a one time service, except in specific, pre-approved circumstances. Funds sent during non-business hours may not be processed until the next business day. Questions can be directed to OCS at 1-888-407-4747.
There are three methods of transmitting funds to OCS for transfer overseas:
SENDING MONEY TO U.S. CITIZENS OVERSEAS
8AM – 8PM weekdays
1-888-407-4747
WESTERN UNION: is the fastest method of sending funds to OCS. Funds sent via Western Union are generally processed and available for disbursement overseas within 24 hours during the business week. Western Union’s Quick Collect© service may be used by calling 1-800-634-3422 or by logging onto www.westernunion.com. In most cases, funds sent via Western Union arrive at OCS within 30 minutes.
- You will need one of the following major credit cards to send money over the phone: MasterCard, Visa or Discover; on the Internet: MasterCard and Visa only. You will be asked for a "code city", which is: "OVERSEASEMERGENCY, DC".
- You will be asked for a “Pay To” name which is “Department of State.”
- You will be asked for an account number: please use your phone number.
- Tell the operator to put the name and location of the citizen you are sending money to in the reference field, or key that in if you are using the website.
- Some states place restrictions on the use of QuickCollect© by phone or the Internet. States with restrictions by phone are CT, MA, ME, MN & NY. States with restrictions by Internet are CA, CT, MA, ME, MN & NY.
You may go in person, with cash, to any Western Union agent location. This is the least expensive Western Union method of sending money. To find the closest location, call 1-800-325-6000. You will need to complete a blue payment form which will ask for the same information requested above. The State Department’s non-refundable $30 processing fee must be included in the total amount sent by Western Union. Failure to include the fee will result in the money being deducted from the amount intended for the U.S. citizen recipient.
BANKWIRE: can take up to 7 days to process a transaction. Tell your bank that you want to transfer the desired amount plus the non-refundable $30 processing fee 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. Include the recipient’s full name, their overseas location, and your name, address, and telephone number. Bank of America forwards the funds to OCS. Failure to include the non-refundable $30 fee will result in the money being deducted from the amount intended for the U.S. citizen.
U.S. MAIL OR COURIER SERVICE: send a cashiers check or money order ONLY (personal checks and cash cannot be accepted) for the desired amount, plus the non-refundable $30 processing fee, made payable to Department of State, to: Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20520. Include the recipient’s full name, their overseas location, and your name, address, and telephone number. Failure to include the fee will result in the money being deducted from the amount intended for the U.S. citizen. Delivery of overnight/courier mail to OCS may take 3 to 4 days. Regular mail can take 3 to 4 weeks to reach OCS due to on-going irradiation procedures. We strongly discourage this method for emergency use.
Americans experiencing financial difficulties overseas may seek assistance in contacting family or friends from the Consular Section. Officers and consular assistants will explain how friends or family can send funds to Ecuador via Western Union or a Department of State mechanism called OCS Trust. The Consular Section recommends that you notify airlines, credit card companies, and travelers check companies should these items be lost or stolen.
SENDING MONEY TO OVERSEAS CITIZENS SERVICES
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. weekdays; 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday
202-647-5225
The Following are instructions for sending money to U.S. citizens in an emergency financial situation abroad. When you use this service, a Department of State trust account is established in the recipient’s name in order to forward funds overseas. There is a $20 processing fee. We do not accept personal checks. 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.
WESTERN UNION: If you have a major credit card, you may telephone Western Union at I-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 $20 (our 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 check writer in our office and an officer is available to receive funds during the hours listed at the top of the page.
BANK WIRE: It may take 1 to 3 days to process a bank wire transaction. If you choose this option, tell your bank that you want to wire the desired amount plus $32 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: OC/Trust of benefit of (recipient’s name), US 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 $32 fee includes our $20 fee and Bank of America’s $12 wire fee.
OVERNIGHT/REGULAR MAIL: Obtain cashiers check or money order for the desired amount plus $20 (our 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.
