American Citizens Services

General Information

Hours of Operation for routine American Citizen Services:

Monday:

8:30 to 12:00 - Visa inquiries and American citizen services (cashier open)
13:30 to 16:00 - Visa inquiries and American citizen services
16:00 - Visa pickup

Tuesday:

8:30 to 12:00 - Visa inquiries and American citizen services (cashier open)
13:30 to 16:00 - American citizen services

Wednesday:

8:30 to 12:00 - Immigrant Visa interviews (by appointment only) and American citizen services (cashier open)
13:30 to 16:00 - Visa inquiries, Immigrant Visa interviews (by appointment only) and American citizen services (cashier open)

Thursday: Non-immigrant visa interviews (by apppointment only) and emergency American citizen services

Friday:

08:00 to 11:00 - Visa inquiries and American citizen services (cashier open)

In case of an after-hours emergency involving an American Citizen, please call the Embassy at (229) 21 30 06 50.
Please also contact the Warden of your District

Consular Information Sheet:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1066.html

International Financial Scams:
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/financial_scams_brochure.pdf

American Citizen Services:

The American Citizen Services section of the Consular Section provides information and assistance to U.S. citizens in Benin. The Consular Section assists Americans living abroad with passport renewal, registration in the embassy’s warden system, lost or stolen passport replacement, the issuance of Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for children born in Benin to American citizens, notarial services, and emergency services to American citizens.  Information about voter registration, income tax forms, and additional passport pages may also be obtained.

For more information on traveling to Benin and elsewhere, please consult the website <http://travel.state.gov/>.  The current Consular Information Sheet for Benin provides information for travelers on entry/exit requirements, travel conditions, and other useful topics. If you have any questions, contact the Consular Section at 229-21-30-06-50

U.S. Citizens in Distress:
The Consular Section maintains a list of attorneys and notaries practicing in Benin. The Consular Officer is not permitted to advise U.S. citizens on legal matters or to recommend a particular lawyer from the list. The Consular Section provides services to U.S. citizens in distress, including visiting detainees in Beninese custody, arranging financial assistance for U.S. citizens who are temporarily without money, providing information about physicians and hospitals, helping family members and friends in the United States locate and transmit information to U.S. citizens believed to be in Benin, and responding to issues associated with deaths of U.S. citizens abroad. 

U.S. citizens interested in adopting a child in Benin:
  
U.S. citizens interested in adopting a child in Benin and applying for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States are strongly encouraged to contact the U.S. consular office at the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou before formalizing an adoption agreement. This will ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed, which will make it possible for the Embassy to issue a U.S. immigrant visa for the child. The adoption process involves complex Beninese and U.S. legal requirements.

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