Important Security Announcement for U.S. Citizens in Nepal

January 22, 2010

Maoist Party (UCPN-Maoist) has announced that they intend to carry out a nation-wide general strikes beginning January 24, 2010.  In the past, similar strikes, or bandhs as they are referred to locally, have been successful in completely shutting down vehicular movement and businesses.  The same results are likely in Kathmandu and throughout Nepal if the Maoist strikes take place.

U.S. citizens are strongly urged to avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.  If the strikes materialize, U.S. citizens are advised to monitor the situation closely on local media outlets, and to stay in your homes and hotels and not move throughout the area unless absolutely necessary.  The U.S. Embassy may also close.  Please remain cognizant and aware of your surroundings and what may transpire.

For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad”.   Americans living or traveling in Nepal are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is located at Maharajgunj.  The telephone number is 977-1-4007200, 4007201.  The number for after-hours emergencies is 977-1-4007266, 4007269.  The fax number is 977-1-4007281.  The Consulate's e-mail address is consktm@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://nepal.usembassy.gov. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's latest Country Specific Information for Nepal,
Travel Warning for Nepal, and the Worldwide Caution.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States 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).  We will be closed on February 12 and 15th, 2010.

Consular Section Closures

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will be closed on Thursday, January 28 and Thursday, February 03, 2010 for internal training.  The section will be closed for both visa interviews and routine American citizen services.  In case of an emergency, American citizens should contact the Embassy duty officer at 400-7266 or 400-7269.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this closure.

Illinois Military and Overseas Voters, Return your Ballot for the February 2, 2010 State Primary Now!

Illinois will hold its State primary election on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. If you requested your ballot and have not received it, submit the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

If you are eligible to vote in this election, and requested and received a ballot for the November 4, 2008 presidential election, you should have received an absentee ballot by now, unless your mailing address has changed.

If you have not requested your ballot for this election, it may be too late. Find out by referring to FVAP News Release #18 available at www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr18-2009.html .

Vote your FWAB
You may download a FWAB at www.FVAP.gov or get a FWAB from your installation/embassy/consulate voting assistance office. To complete the FWAB’s Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation correctly, follow the Illinois instructions at www.fvap.gov/FWAB/fwab-il.html or in the 2010-11 Voting Assistance Guide. To complete the ballot, use the official candidate list at the Illinois State Board of Elections website at: http://www.elections.il.gov/InfoForVoters.aspx

Return Your FWAB Immediately by Mail!
Fold and place the voted ballot in the security envelope and seal. Insert the sealed security envelope and the completed, signed and dated Voter's Declaration/Affirmation into the mailing envelope and mail the ballot directly to your local election office. Addresses can be found at www.fvap.gov/contact/addresses/iladdr.html.

Your State ballot or FWAB must be received by your local election office by 7 pm February 2, 2010 or by February 16, 2010 if postmarked February 1, 2010. 

If you receive the regular State ballot after submitting the FWAB, vote and return it immediately! If both ballots are received by the deadline, only the regular State ballot will be counted.

For More Information: Go to the Illinois election website at: www.elections.il.gov or visit FVAP at: www.fvap.gov.

We Want Your Feedback! If this document was helpful to you or if you ran into problems or have questions, please contact FVAP at 1-800-438-8683, DSN (312) 425-1584, or at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.  Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed at: www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html . With your feedback, we can make this even more helpful for the next election.