January 2010

Dear American Citizens:

Greetings from Prague!  I hope you are enjoying the snow.

New Appointment System for American Citizen Services.  The American Citizen Services Unit is introducing an Appointment System for all services.  Effective February 1, 2010, we will provide routine consular services to American citizens by appointment only.  Appointment systems for American Citizen Services are in wide use throughout Europe and have proven very popular with Americans because they allow Consular Sections to provide better service to their fellow citizens.  We are implementing this system to better serve the American citizen community in the Czech Republic, and we believe it will reduce wait times and ensure that your visit to the Embassy is more efficient and pleasant.  Appointments for routine inquiries, non-emergency passport services, reports of birth abroad, extra passport pages and notarial services can all be made online free of charge. 

How Do You Feel about the New Health Insurance Requirement?   As of January 1, 2010, a new health insurance requirement took effect for foreigners in the Czech Republic on visas valid for more than 90 days as well as for long-term residents. The new policy requires that foreigners and long-term residents have proof of medical insurance from an insurance company that has representation (i.e. an office) in the Czech Republic.  This means that in addition to Czech insurance companies, insurance can also be arranged with a foreign insurance company based in the Czech Republic.  Click here for a list of insurance companies or branches of foreign insurance companies registered with the Czech Central Bank which operate in the Czech Republic as of January 1, 2010.  Additional information can be found on the website of the Czech Foreigners’ Police.

We are interested in your reaction to this new requirement.  Will it have a significant impact on you,  your business or finances?  Is it a major issue or a minor inconvenience?  Do you already have health insurance through a Czech insurance company or will you need to arrange new insurance for yourself and your family?  Please send your feedback to ACSPRG@state.gov with “Czech Health Insurance Requirement” in the subject line.

Voting Information:  Florida & Illinois Elections.  Florida Voters, submit your ballot request now for the February 2, 2009 Special Primary!   On Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Florida will hold a special State primary election to fill the congressional vacancy left by the resignation of Congressman Robert Wexler. A list of candidates is available here. The 19^th Congressional District includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  The Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010.  If you do not have an absentee ballot request on file, please fill one out as soon as possible. The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) ballot application and instructions are available at www.fvap.gov.  Send your FPCA NOW to ensure you have enough time to receive, vote, and return the ballot!  The ballot request deadline for registered voters is January 27, 2010.  This date does not take into account mail delivery times required to receive and return your ballot by Election Day. You should not wait to complete and submit your FPCA, especially if you are completing the process by mail from an overseas location.  

Illinois Military and Overseas Voters, submit your ballot requests for the February 2, 2010 State Primary!  Illinois will hold its State primary election on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. If you are eligible to vote in this election, and requested and received a ballot for the November 4, 2008 presidential election, you will automatically receive an absentee ballot, and need not take any further action unless your mailing address has changed.  Registration is not required for Uniformed Service members, eligible dependents, and overseas citizens if you only wish to vote for Federal offices. If you want to vote for State and local offices you must register to vote.  Uniformed Service members or family members will be registered if their Federal Post Card Applications (FPCAs) are received at the local election office by January 22, 2010.  Your ballots must be received at your local election office by 7 pm February 2, 2010 or by February16, 2010 if postmarked February 1, 2010.  Please see www.fvap.gov for more information.

Best regards,

David Beam

Consul General
Embassy of the United States