2 FAM 430
CLOSING A POST
(CT:GEN-517; 07-24-2018)
(Office of Origin: P)
2 FAM 431 MISSIONS
(CT:GEN-164; 01-09-1974)
(State Only)
A diplomatic mission is officially closed as of the date
of termination of diplomatic relations. The regional bureau is responsible for
the prompt issuance of necessary instructions to the chief of mission and to
any other posts concerned.
2 FAM 432 CONSULATES AND BRANCH OFFICES
(CT:GEN-501; 05-17-2018)
(State Only)
a. When a consulate, consulate general, branch or
special office is to be closed, the regional bureau informs the supervisory
mission and the post concerned. The supervisory mission makes the decision
known to the host government.
b. The principal officer of the post notifies the
Department by cable of the anticipated dates of closing to the public and of
the principal officer's departure. Similar information is given to the
supervisory mission.
c. The official closing date is fixed by the
supervisory mission in consultation with the regional bureau, and usually
coincides with the date of the principal officer's departure from the post.
The mission communicates to the host government both the date the post will be
closed to the public and the official date of closing.
2 FAM 433 CONSULAR AGENCIES
(CT:GEN-164; 01-09-1974)
(State Only)
When a consular agency is to be closed, the regional
bureau notifies the post having supervisory authority over the agency and the
diplomatic mission to the country (if the mission is not the post of direct
supervision). The post having supervisory authority determines the date of
closing of the consular agency and informs the Department and, as applicable,
the mission. The mission's communication to the host government of the
decision to close the consular agency and of the official date of closing is
primarily informational.
2 FAM 434 Notification about services post will continue to
provide
(CT:GEN-517; 07-24-2018)
(State Only)
a. Providing Services after Post Closes: Normally, a post that closes to the public stops
providing services to the public. However, a closed post may continue to
provide services related to the disposition of pending business, or other
limited services, as long as transactions do not interfere with closing the
post.
b. Notifying the Public: The post informs the public, through local news
media, where to apply for consular or other services that it will no longer
provide.
c. Notifying the Department: The principal officer, or the officer in charge,
informs the Department and any supervisory mission of
1. services the post
will continue to perform after it closes to the public
2. the date those
services will cease.
2 FAM 435 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
(CT:GEN-501; 05-17-2018)
(State Only)
Prior to departure, the principal officer, or in the
principal officer's absence the officer-in-charge, is responsible for
completing the final business of the post, including arrangements for payment
of all bills, shipment or other disposition of all records, supplies and
equipment, disposition of U.S. Government-owned real estate, cancellation of
all leases and contracts (including releases), and completion of all required
periodic fiscal reports for expired fractional or full periods. (The
Department makes a particular effort to coordinate and implement the
instructions or actions of the Department's functional offices concerning the
disposition of U.S. Government and real personal properties.) Refer to 2 FAM 422.2
for general instructions for complying with administrative reporting and action
responsibilities, which are applicable conversely to the closing of a post.
Officers responsible for closing a post are guided by these instructions, as
well as by any special instructions which the Department considers necessary
(for example, disposal of real and personal property).
2 FAM 436 EMERGENCY CLOSING
(CT:GEN-501; 05-17-2018)
(State Only)
A post may be instructed by the Department to close, or
may close without specific instructions from the Department because of
emergency conditions including war, civil disturbance or disaster. Department
instructions to close a post are based on a decision at the level of authority
prescribed in 2
FAM 410. The principal officer is guided by the Department and appropriate
provisions of 12 FAH-1, Emergency Planning Handbook. If a post is compelled by
emergency conditions to close without specific instructions from the
Department, the post sends immediate notification of the action to the
Department by the most expeditious means available. Short of full post
closure, the Department or principal officer also may respond to emergency
conditions by suspending operations at a post or by temporarily closing the
post to the public, in accordance with 12 FAH-1 Annex K Drawdown and Evacuation.
2 FAM 437 THROUGH 439 UNASSIGNED