Important Notice for Queensland Residents

We anticipate that our next periodic consular visit to Brisbane will be during the first quarter of 2010 (date not determined). During our periodic visits, we accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and U.S. passports. If you would like to be contacted when we have confirmed the date and begin preparing for our next consular visit, please send an email to queenslandacs@state.gov. In your email, please include the applicant’s name, date of birth, contact name, address, telephone number, and the type of service requested.

We will only accept applications for U.S. passports and/or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. However, if the applicant is eligible to submit a passport application by mail, they must do so. Please refer to our page about making an application for a U.S. Passport by mail for further information.

Note: We will only be accepting applications for U.S. passports and/or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. No visa services will be available.

Interview with PEW Center’s Manik Roy, Part 1: Waxman-Markey bill

In the first of a two-part series on the politics of climate change in the United States, America.gov discusses the American Clean Energy and Security Act and how energy legislation is shaping up in the U.S. Senate. Transcript »

This Week From Washington - October 30

This podcast edition of This Week from Washington reviews Secretary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan and the release of the State Department’s 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. Transcript »

Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers

English teacher Erin Gruwell discusses the background of the bestseller, the Freedom Writers Diary, written by a group of students from troubled neighborhoods. Transcript »

Connecting with Political Experts Coast to Coast

Thomas Mann, political scientist and fellow at the Brookings Institute, shared his views on the new Obama administration and its relationship with Congress during a wide-ranging series of talks and interviews in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in the past month. His visit was arranged by the Grattan Institute in cooperation with the American Embassy.

Climate Change: One of Our Greatest Global Challenges

Statement from Chargé d’Affaires Daniel Clune:

President Obama will speak to world leaders on climate change during a special U.N. summit in New York on the eve of the 64th U.N. General Assembly. Climate change is one of our greatest global challenges.

Read the complete statement.

EducationUSA Advisers Recognized For Their Outstanding Service

The volunteer EducationUSA advisers in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane recently received the Unsung Hero Award for 20 years of volunteer advising to Australians interested in studying in the United States. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Association of International Educators conference in Los Angeles and was one of only 5 awards presented worldwide to EducationUSA advisers.

Feeling unwell?

The U.S. Consulate requests that all persons who require non-emergency Consular services and who feel unwell or exhibit flu like symptoms postpone their business with the Consular section. In this situation appointments may be rescheduled free of charge by contacting the following:

• Non-immigrant Visa appointments: SydneyInterviews@state.gov
• Immigrant Visa appointments: SydneyIV@state.gov
• American Citizen Services: SydneyACS@state.gov

ESTA Requirements Now in Effect

All nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, including Australia, are required to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States. This requirement commenced January 12, 2009. Authorization may be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a free Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

There is no charge to complete the ESTA application. VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established websites, which charge visitors for information and for submitting ESTA applications. These websites are not endorsed by, associated with, nor affiliated in any way with the U.S. government.

VWP visitors should apply now for the travel authorization.

For more information, start by reading our page on the Visa Waiver Program.

U.S. – Australia Student Work and Travel Pilot Program

The Student Work and Travel Pilot Program allows Australian citizens to combine work and travel in the United States for up to 12 months. For more information, visit our page on the Student Work and Travel Pilot Program.

Please see our nonimmigrant visa page for general information on the U.S. visa application process, including how to apply for a U.S. visa in Australia.