The American Citizens’ Services unit of the US Embassy’s Consular Section is planning visits to several cities across the country to offer specific services normally only provided in Santo Domingo. US citizens residing in or near Santiago will be able to file passport applications and renewals, notarize documents and seek general information about US passports and how to register children born in the Dominican Republic, as well as issues related to Social Security and US Armed Forces veteran’s benefits. The consulate is reminding citizens that the law requires the presence of both parents of any children under 14 when applying for a passport, documentation to include both parents’ identification papers and proof of parenthood. In case one of the parents cannot be present, authorization must be given to the other parent with an attached identification document. The authorization must be written in English and notarized. The services will be provided at the library of Centro Cultural Dominico-Americano (CCDA) on Avenida Estrella Sadhala No. 101 on Friday, 17 March 2006. Passport issues will be handled from 9:30 am to 11:00 am and notarizations will be dealt with from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. For more information visit http://www.usemb.gov.do/Consular/ACS/passports-s.htm