Sending Money to a Friend or Relative
In emergency cases, American Citizen Services (ACS) and our companion office in Washington D.C., Overseas Citizen Services (OCS), can establish an OCS Trust to assist an American in need. Once the trust has been established in the name of the recipient of the funds, ACS follows your instructions to pay bills or disburse money to assist the person in need. We also use OCS Trusts to help families take care of arrangements for persons whose relatives or friends have died in Thailand. Aside from a $30 processing fee, any unused funds are returned to you by check. Detailed instructions are listed below. If you have any questions, you can contact us directly or call the OCS office in Washington, D.C. The OCS office is open from 8AM - 10PM weekdays; 9AM - 3PM Saturday eastern standard time. OCS can be reached by phone at: 202-647-5225
How to Establish an OCS Trust
The following are instructions for sending money to a U.S. citizen in an emergency financial situation abroad. When you use this service, a Department of State trust account is established in the recipient’s name in order to forward funds overseas. There is a $30 processing fee. OCS does not accept personal checks. Your money order or cashier’s check must be made payable to the Department of State. Upon receipt, OCS sends a telegram to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad authorizing next workday disbursement. The recipient must contact the Embassy or Consulate to arrange receipt. The forwarding of funds will be delayed if you fail to provide the recipient's overseas location. Funds are normally disbursed in foreign currency and not in U.S. dollars.
WESTERN UNION: If you have a major credit card, you may telephone Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or 4176. Otherwise, tell your local Western Union agent that you wish to purchase a money order for the desired amount plus $30 (our fee) and made payable to the Department of State. A message with your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name and overseas location of the recipient, must accompany the money order. Western Union charges a fee based on the amount sent. The money order and message are sent to: Overseas Citizens Services (OCS), Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. Funds are normally received electronically in OCS within several hours. We have a Western Union checkwriter in our office and an officer is available to receive funds during the hours listed at the top of the page.
OVERNIGHT MAIL: Obtain cashiers check or money order for the desired amount plus $30 (our fee), made payable to the Department of State. Attach a letter with your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the name and location of the recipient. Mail to: Overseas Citizens Services, CA/OCS, Room 4811, Department of State, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20520. Delivery of overnight mail to CA/OCS may take 2 to 3 days.
REGULAR MAIL: Regular mail can take 3 to 4 weeks to reach CA/OCS due to on-going irradiation procedures. We strongly discourage this method for emergency use.