Messages for U.S. Citizens
Demonstration Notices Now on the Embassy Website
February 13, 2012 | U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru
In order to provide more rapid information on demonstrations in Peru, the Embassy will now post notices of demonstrations directly on our website without sending a separate emergency message to U.S. citizens. This will allow rapid access to the information by U.S. citizens both within and without Peru. It will also permit the Embassy to post notices on demonstrations that might not require an emergency message, but would be useful information for U.S. citizens for planning or other purposes.
Demonstration notices will be listed on the U.S. Citizen Services section of the U.S. Embassy Lima website, which you can find here.
Demonstrations in Peru are often peaceful, but can quickly escalate into violent confrontations. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid large crowds and demonstrations and are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, maintain awareness of local events and their surroundings, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. It is illegal in Peru for foreigners to participate in demonstrations. U.S. citizens who have been caught up in political demonstrations in Peru have been detained and expelled from the country.
You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the Embassy Lima website. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, by calling the regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00am to 8:00pm Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
U.S. citizens residing and traveling abroad should review the Department’s Worldwide Caution and other travel information when making decisions concerning their travel plans and activities while abroad. U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without internet access may enroll directly at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the embassy/consulates to contact them in case of emergency.
Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.
The U.S. Consular Agency in Cusco, Peru, can be found at Avenida Pardo 845, Cusco. The office can be reached by phone at (51) 984-621-369 or (51) 84-231-474, and is open Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. and Peruvian holidays, 8:00am to 2:00pm. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located in Monterrico, a suburb of Lima, at Avenida La Encalada, Block Seventeen; telephone 51-1-618-2000 during business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm) or for after-hours emergencies; website at http://lima.usembassy.gov/ . The Consular Section is open for emergency services, including registration, from 8:00am to 11:30am weekdays, excluding U.S. and Peruvian holidays. Non-emergency services are provided by appointment only.
Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)
January 4, 2012 | U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru
Interested in Being a Diplomat? Take the Foreign Service Officer Test.
The next opportunity to join the Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) will be in February 2012! The computer-based Foreign Service Officer exam will be offered in Lima on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 8, 2012, and, if all of the February 8 seats are taken, there will be a second test date on Thursday, February 9, 2012.
For detailed information on pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, to learn about what career track might be right for you, and to explore in detail the steps of the Foreign Service hiring process, please go to http://www.careers.state.gov
If you decide that the Foreign Service is the right life for you, you must first take the computer-based Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). In order to register for the FSOT in Lima, you must complete the following steps:
- Complete a registration packet at: http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/register.html
After registering, you will receive notification from the testing service (ACT) that you are eligible to schedule your test seat. The registration deadline for overseas test centers is Wednesday, January 25, 2012 (at 9:00am CST).
- Next, you must schedule your overseas test seat. Following the information you receive in your confirmation email, schedule your test seat in Lima. Test seats for overseas exams must be scheduled by Friday, January 27, 2012 (at 9:00am CST).
Please do not delay in registering and scheduling your test seat! If the test seats are all filled, you will have to take the exam at a later date. The test is currently offered three times a year, both within the U.S. and at certain locations overseas.
Message for U.S. Citizens – National Strike of Peruvian Air Traffic Controllers
December 20, 2011 | U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru
The air traffic controllers at airports in Peru, including those at Lima International Airport, have announced that they will be on national strike for 72 hours between December 22 and 25, 2011.
According to the regulations, the air traffic controllers may be on strike but must maintain operations at a specified level. This means that airports will continue to operate and flights will continue to come and go with the same safety regulations in effect, but the capacity to manage those flights will be diminished, likely resulting in schedule shifts, delays and possible flight cancellations.
Passengers are advised to check with travel agents and airlines to ensure they have the latest information on flight times and to arrive at the airport well in advance, at least three hours before departure for international flights and two hours before departure for domestic flights, in order to avoid congestion or last-minute setbacks.
You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the Embassy Lima website. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, by calling the regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
U.S. citizens residing and traveling abroad should review the Department’s Worldwide Caution and other travel information when making decisions concerning their travel plans and activities while abroad. U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without internet access may enroll directly at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the embassy/consulates to contact them in case of emergency.
Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.
The U.S. Consular Agency in Cusco, Peru, can be found at Avenida Pardo 845, Cusco. The office can be reached by phone at (51) 984-621-369, and is open Monday thru Friday, excluding U.S. and Peruvian holidays, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located in Monterrico, a suburb of Lima, at Avenida La Encalada, Block Seventeen; telephone 51-1-618-2000 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or for after-hours emergencies; website at http://lima.usembassy.gov/. The Consular Section is open for emergency services, including registration, from 8:00am to 11:30am weekdays, excluding U.S. and Peruvian holidays, and non-emergency services are provided by appointment.
Notice: Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)
Posted: September 14th, 2011
Interested in Being a Diplomat? Take the Foreign Service Officer Test.
The next opportunity to join the Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) will be on Tuesday, October 4, 2011! The computer-based Foreign Service Officer exam will be offered in Lima on the afternoon Tuesday, October 4, 2011, and, if all of the October 4 seats are taken, there will be a second test date on Wednesday, October 5.
For detailed information on pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, to learn about what career track might be right for you, and to explore in detail the steps of the Foreign Service hiring process, please go to http://www.careers.state.gov .
If you decide that the Foreign Service is the right life for you, you must first take the computer-based Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). In order to register for the FSOT in Lima, you must complete the following steps:
- Complete a registration packet at
http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/register.html - After registering, you will receive notification from the testing service (ACT) that you are eligible to schedule your test seat. The registration deadline for overseas test centers is Monday, September 19, 2011 (at 9:00 AM CST).
- Next, you must schedule your overseas test seat. Following the information you receive in your confirmation email, schedule your test seat in Lima. Test seats for overseas exams must be scheduled by Friday, September 23, 2011 (at 9:00 AM CST).
Please do not delay in registering and scheduling your test seat! If the test seats are all filled, you will have to take the exam at a later date. The test is currently offered three times a year, both within the U.S. and at certain locations overseas.
Notice: Restricted Machu Picchu tickets
Posted: July 27th, 2011
The historic site of Machu Picchu has a daily visitor limit of 2500 guests. This limit is now being strictly enforced. It is also the high season for tourism at Machu Picchu and recently tourists have been having difficulty obtaining tickets on the day they had planned to visit the site, resulting in substantial additional expenses.
The U.S. Embassy would like to remind all U.S. citizens planning a trip to Machu Picchu that the government of Peru recommends purchasing tickets in advance to avoid possible disappointment if the maximum has been reached for the day of an intended visit. The website of iPeru, Peru’s tourist information and assistance agency, has detailed information on how to obtain tickets. It is possible to reserve and pay online, although the website may be slow to load. The English language website address is http://www.peru.travel/en/.
For those U.S. citizens already in Peru who have been unable to secure tickets, a limited number of extra tickets are being sold at the Direccion Regional de Cultura (DRC) office in Aguas Calientes over the next few weeks.