Diplomat explains US government services available to US citizens here

Kellee Farmer addresses about 40 US citizens at a non-political
Democrats Abroad informational meeting. Photo by Eric Jackson

US consular officer outlines what help the embassy and consulate can and can't give to American citizens here

Moving to Panama is not, after all, the same as moving to Kansas
by Eric Jackson

So, if you are a US citizen and you run into some legal trouble in Panama, will the American Embassy go to bat for you? When Americans are treated unfairly or are subject to discrimination, Kellee Farmer of the US Consulate's American Citizens Services Unit explained, "it's a concern in the US-Panamanian relationship," but "we won't get involved in your individual dispute," be it civil or criminal.

If you are arrested you have a right to see a consular officer, and, except maybe if you are being held in some remote boondocks lock-up, Panamanian authorities are pretty good about allowing someone from the consulate to visit within 48 hours. She or he will help you contact your family or someone else close to you, or if you ask will refrain from informing family members or anyone else. They can provide a list of Panamanian lawyers who haven't been busted for ethical violations. They can periodically bring you vitamin pills and reading material. But they can't get you out of jail, act as your lawyer or legal interpreter, or mediate the community dispute that may have led to your incarceration.

So are you going to buy Hectare Negro, that farm where you want to spend the rest of your days? You do that at your own risk, without the assistance of the US government. "Talk to an attorney before you buy," Farmer urged.

More commonly, the Citizens Services Unit notarizes documents ($30 per document, an extra $20 for each extra signature on a single document), with notary services valid for either Panama, the USA or both.

There are a lot of US documents that the consulate will authenticate, and which the Panamanian government generally accepts but is not obligated to do so. For a $30 notary charge, they will "authenticate" but not "validate" a US driver's license. If you are applying for Panamanian residency under a pensionado status, the consulate can't certify the retirement benefits you have coming but they can notarize an affidavit about these, which Migracion usually accepts.

Birth, death and marriage records from the USA are handled through the states rather than the consulate. Criminal records checks from the United States are handled through state or local authorities there, or from the FBI, but not through the embassy or consulate.

The unit renews passports ($75 for renewal, $100 if it has been expired for more than 15 years). That takes a week or two, and you need to bring your old passport. You can get emergency passports, but waiting until the last minute to do that part of your ordinary travel plans is not considered an emergency --- "emergencies" are generally cases in which someone in the family is dead or dying. The consulate will give you extra pages for visa stamps in your passport for free.

There is a Federal Benefits Unit, whose beneficiaries are mostly Panamanians who worked for the US government and get retirement benefits. It also does things for American citizens living here, like replacing Social Security cards.

Apart from the embassy and consulate, there is a volunteer US veterans' benefits office in Corozal's Building 9. Disabled vets who need to be examined for a re-evaluation can arrange for that there. The office in Corozal is also the place to go for help with hassles about the whole range of veterans' benefits.

So what about health care? The veterans have Tri-care and other benefits, and current US government employees are covered, but just forget about what the insurance and health care hustlers and their online shills tell you. "Medicare does not pay for anything outside of the United States --- it just doesn't," Farmer emphasized.

But once the health care matters are resolved in whatever fashion, in the case of pregnancy that results in the birth of the child of an American citizen here, the services unit can provide an American birth certificate --- a "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" that's not a substitute for a Panamanian birth certificate but which can be vital for the child's recognition as an American citizen.

In a medical emergency resulting in the death of a US citizen, the unit's role is to facilitate information for the family. However, if remains are to be shipped back to the States, that has to be done through a funeral home. The consulate has a list of institutions that do that. In rare cases where there is no spouse or other family member available, the US Embassy can take control of a deceased American citizen's assets pending further legal disposition.

But understand the general rule about the emergencies in the lives of American citizens living here: "There is almost never money that the government will bring to bear."

The consulate helps Americans living abroad cast their ballots in US elections through the Federal Voting Assistance Program. (The respective organizations of Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad and the non-partisan Overseas Vote Project do similar work and tend to be a bit more zealous about getting out the vote.)

The Citizen Services Unit also coordinates the warden messages system, which is generally about upcoming demonstrations that may cause traffic blockages. (It has been a number of years since we have had one in which American citizens are being attacked, but the wardens usually warn to stay away from protests in particular and to avoid doing stupid things in general.)