Latin America Collection

Everyone planning to live, retire or do business in Nicaragua should
know that the American Embassy can help with Social Security and
Veterans benefits, notarizing documents, obtaining new U. S. passports,
reporting lost or stolen passports, obtaining a marriage license,
registering births of your children, registering to vote, complying with
Selective Service registration requirements, private mail service,
reporting deaths of U.S. citizens abroad, and getting a U.S. visa for
your spouse (if you choose to marry a Nicaraguan). They also assist in
obtaining absentee ballots for U.S. elections and getting U.S. income
tax forms and information. However, if you get into any legal trouble
in Nicaragua, do not expect help from the U.S. Embassy.Passports -
Effective in 2002, American citizens residing or traveling abroad who
need a U.S. passport are issued the latest, state-of-the-art passport
incorporating a digitalized photo image and other innovative security
features. U.S. Embassies and Consulates will send the applications to
domestic U.S. passport facilities. This increases processing time at some
Embassies and Consulates, but it ensures that American citizens receive
secure documents in a timely manner. Therefore, American citizens are
encouraged to apply early for renewal of expiring passports.
U.S. embassies and Consulates issue passports in emergency situations.
Such passports have limited validity and cannot be extended. Bearers are
required to exchange their limited validity passports for full-validity
digitalized photo passports upon completion of their emergency travel,
either through passport facilities in the U.S. or U.S. embassies abroad.

First-Time Passport Applicants - To apply for a U.S. passport, a native-
born, U.S. citizen must present a certified copy of his or her birth
certificate, two passport photos measuring 2 inches by two inches,
(color or black and white with a light background), photo ID and the
applicable fee. You will need to present the certificate of naturalization
together with the photos, a photo ID, and the fees.

Passport Renewal - You will need your current passport as evidence of
citizenship and two passport photos measuring two inches by two


inches (color or black and white with a light background). To be
eligible you must have been issued a U.S. passport in your name within
the past 12 years. There are different fees for adults and for those under
the age of 16.
Lost or Stolen Passport - You will need to report the loss of your
passport to the police and obtain a copy of the police report. In
addition to the two passport photos, you will need to present proof of
identity and proof of U.S. citizenship. The proof of identity could be
any photo ID like a U.S. driver's license. Proof of citizenship could be
a certified, sealed copy of your U.S. birth certificate and/or old cancelled
U.S. passport.
Report of a Birth Abroad - Children being registered as U.S. citizenss
must be brought to the Embassy or Consulate by the U.S. citizen parent
along with the following documents:

(1) Child's Nicaraguan birth certificate may be obtained from the Civil
Registry or Registro Civil.(2) Evidence of parent's U.S. citizenship.
This may be in the form of original U.S. birth certificates, U.S.
passports, Certificates of Citizenship, or Naturalization Certificates.
Military IDs are not proof of U.S. citizenship.
(3) Parents' marriage certificate.

(4) Evidence of dissolutions of previous marriages. If either parent has
been previously married, submit original divorce decrees or death
certificates.
(5) If only one parent is a U.S. citizen there are additional requirements.
Please check with the embassy.