October 2009

Dear American Citizens:

Greetings from Prague!  I hope you will join us for some of the upcoming events detailed below.

Visit of Regional Federal Benefits Unit.  Experts from our Regional Federal Benefits Unit (RFBU) will be available to discuss individual cases and answer questions on Social Security and other federal benefits at the American Embassy in Prague October 14-16 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.  Please email the American Citizen Services unit with any questions about the visit or to schedule an appointment (walk-ins are permitted but those with appointments will be seen first).  You may also e-mail specific questions that we will pass to our RFBU colleagues in advance so they will be better prepared to respond to your needs. 

Social Security Totalization Q&A Session.  There will be a town hall-style meeting on the U.S.-Czech Social Security Totalization Agreement on October 14 at 3:30 pm in the American Center, located at Tržiště 13 in Prague 1, just down the road from the Embassy.  Please spread the word, and come with your questions about Social Security and the Totalization Agreement.  Please visit our website for more information about the Totalization Agreement.

American Citizen Services Day in Plzen.  During our upcoming ACS Day in Plzen, the Embassy team will provide services normally available at the Embassy, such as passport renewals, notarial services, and reports of birth abroad.  Please mark your calendars for the morning of October 27^th in Plzen.  Services will be provided on an appointment basis only.  To make an appointment, please email the American Citizen Services unit no later than October 20th.  The details are as follows:

ACS Day in Plzen:  October 27^th from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM at the American Center located at Dominikánská 9, Plzeň 301 12.

 Voting Information. Massachusetts Voters, Submit Your Ballot Request now for the December 8, 2009 Special Primary!  On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Massachusetts will hold a special primary election followed by the special State election on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 to fill the vacancy left as a result of the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. A list of candidates will be available by November 13, 2009 at: www.sec.state.ma.us.  Request a ballot for this election by completing and submitting a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) if you have not done so already in calendar year 2009. If you are eligible to vote in this election, and requested and received a ballot for last year’s presidential election, you will automatically receive an absentee ballot, and need not take any further action unless your mailing address has changed.  The online version of the FPCA and Massachusetts’ instructions on how to fill out and submit the form are available at: www.fvap.gov.  To save transit time, send your signed FPCA directly to your local election office via fax or as an email attachment. Fax numbers and email addresses can be found at: www.sec.state.ma.us.  You must also submit the original FPCA by mail if you fax or email the form.

Na shledanou!

David Beam
Consul General
Embassy of the United States