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Overseas Business FAQs

Q.  How do I apply for a passport?

A.  The Office of Consular Affairs handles all passport inquiries. You can also reach them by phone: 1-877-4USA-PPT or TDD/TTY 1-888-874-7793.

Q.  How do I authenticate a personal/business document?

A.  The Office of Verification and Authentication does this. You can also reach them by phone: 202-647-5002 or TDD/TDY 202-663-3468, 1-800-333-4636, email: aoprgsmauth@state.gov, or fax: 202-663-3636.

Q.  How do I start a business?

A.  Contact the Small Business Administration or phone your local SBA. The Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency has a nationwide network of business enterprise centers that provide management and technical assistance for U.S. minority-owned businesses, including assistance in creating business and marketing plans as well as identifying appropriate financing.

Q.  Can you tell me if Company XYZ is legitimate?

A.   If the company is located in the United States, contact the office of the Secretary of State (within the state-level government) in whichever state the company is headquartered. The Office of Authentication updates the list of Secretaries by State of the United States. If the company is located outside the United States, contact the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, part of the Department of Commerce, to get information on their International Company Profile service.

Q.  How do I incorporate my business?

A.   This is determined by the state in which you reside or plan to incorporate your business. Contact the office of the Secretary of State (this is a state government-level official, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State). The Office of Authentication updates the list of Secretaries by State of the United States.

Q.  How do I do business with the State Department?

A.  Contact the Office of the Procurement Executive or by phone: 703-516-1684.

Q.  How do I get visas for business associates who plan to travel to another country?

A.  Foreign Entry requirements for Americans traveling to another country may be accessed through the website or you may contact the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit.  All visa inquiries must be handled through the embassy or consulates of the country you plan to visit.

Q.  How can I help my customer/client who is having problems getting a visa to the U.S.?

A.   Comprehensive information on visa process and policy is available on the web at www.state.gov, www.travel.state.gov, or www.unitedstatesvisas.gov. You should also check the website of the consulate in which the applicant is applying -- there is a link to U.S. Embassies and Consulates from each of the above sites. The best advice is for people to apply early.

Q.  How can a U.S. business request commercial assistance-for-fee from a U.S. Embassy or the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service?

A.   Gold Key Services, International Partner Searches, International Company Profiles and Customized Market Research reports are provided at all US&FCS offices as well as many U.S. embassies.

Q.  Where can I find current country commercial guides for doing business abroad?

A.  Country Commercial Guides (CCGs) are prepared annually to provide a comprehensive look at commercial environments, using economic, political, and market analysis.

Q.  How can I verify whether I can do business with companies in certain countries?

A.   Information about sanctioned countries, entities, and individuals can be found through the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Q.  Where can I find other information and help with exporting?

A.   The Department of Commerce, Trade Information Center (TIC) provides resources for export/import.  Contact TIC by web at http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/ or by phone at 1-800-USA-TRADE.

Q.  How do I apply for an export license?

A.   The first point of inquiry in export licensing is the government office responsible for coordinating the process. Consult the following web pages for detailed information on areas of competence:

 
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Disclaimer: This website is not intended to provide professional advice or be a substitute for professional advice concerning specific questions or situations. It is our intent to provide general information for educational purposes only. If you have a specific question or situation, we strongly recommend that you seek advice from a properly qualified professional such as a lawyer or accountant. While we take reasonable care, mistakes can happen and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of information on this website. Furthermore, laws are constantly changing and information on this site may not be 100% up-to-date. Laws also differ from country to country and even from state to state. It is thus imperative that you do not rely in information presented on this site, but always check with a qualified professional.