Consular clerks are administrative assistants who work for the U.S. Department of State and are often stationed at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world. Their duties are as varied as responding to inquiries from the public, hosting country officials and other embassies on matters related to non-immigrant visas and American citizen services, and specialized processing and reporting of activities related to the consular section.
Consular clerks are information specialists in two areas: non-immigrant visas and American citizen services. Consular clerks keep abreast of the current developments and regulations in these two areas and provide specific information to inquires or refer to websites for additional guidance. Consular clerks respond to specific requests from host country government officials and U.S. government officials on visa statuses for constituents.
Processing and Reporting
In addition to providing information, consular clerks also compile data on non-visa immigrant services and also draft diplomatic notes or correspondence to the host country or other diplomatic missions on behalf of the consular officer on consular and visa matters. Consular clerks record fee and non-fee transactions and compile daily and monthly reports on the transactions. They might also review and process passports.
Consular clerks generally need at least a high school diploma, customer service experience and good interpersonal skills. Fluency in English and knowledge of the host country's language may also be required. Other basic requirements for the position are basic computer skills such as Internet research and Microsoft Outlook. They also need to be able to learn and apply complex regulations and procedures from other countries. Job descriptions and qualifications for consular clerks may vary by embassy, depending on the needs of the host country.
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