What Are The Advantages Of A Consular Service In A Foreign Country?
Definition of Consular Service
A consular service is an extension of certain international services offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in select countries. These services can be availed by a citizen who belongs to the same country as the consular service. Most of the nations have established their respective consulates in major foreign cities for reasons such as safeguarding their residents or travelling citizens, promotion and protection of business interests operating on foreign land as part of the embassy services provided.
History of Consular Services
The history of consular services originated in Greece and Egypt, when the process of exchanging foreign goods between countries came into being, and there was a need for certain individuals to protect foreign traders from certain areas. As the age of progression grew, so did the functional powers of these individuals. With addition to trade services, they also began to overlook to certain economic and political functions. Today, this is reflected in the work carried out by consular services in most countries, wherein such institutes also offer the added benefit of outsourcing such consular services to private institutes.
What are the Services Offered?
Most of the services that are offered are for diplomatic reason. The following services are the set of standard embassy services by most consular institutes.
• Providing replacement travel documents
• Advice and support in situations which involve, accident, hostage holding, crime, serious illness or death
• Contacting the next of kin for any of the situations mentioned above.
• Organizing visitation contact with any imprisoned national.
• Co- operating with the local or national police in case of abduction or missing person.
• Aiding help for distressed travelers
• Providing help in crises which involve civil unrest or natural disasters.
• Organizing the overseas payment in a situation involving social welfare benefits.
• Registering the birth of citizens abroad
• Supervising their respective vessels in foreign harbors.
What are the services not offered?
There are certain types of Embassy services that not extended by most consulates. They include the following consular services:
• Storing the luggage or valuables of citizens abroad
• Get involved and offer aid to a national in a commercial disagreement
• Providing services that include travel, banking or postal services.
• Financial aid
• Foreign translation and interpreting services
• Provision of legal advice or advocacy
• Intervention and inclusion of special treatment, bail or early release from jail or any criminal investigation
• Provide employment services
Most of the national consular services are now providing an outsourcing of consular services to small private institutes. These institutes provide the same services as the national consular services. Always check the country you are travelling to see if there exist the outsourcing of consular services
