Office of Foreign Missions
{{Short description|Office of the United States Department of State}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Office of Foreign Missions
|logo = US-OfficeOfForeignMissions-Logo.svg
|formed = 1982
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|jurisdiction =
|headquarters = 2201 C Street NW
Room 2236
Washington, D.C. 20520
|region_code = US
|employees =
|budget =
|minister1_name =
|minister1_pfo =
|minister2_name =
|minister2_pfo =
|chief1_name = Cliff Seagroves
|chief1_position = Acting Director of the Office of Foreign Missions
|chief2_position =
|parent_agency = Under Secretary for Management
|website = https://www.state.gov/ofm
|footnotes =
|map =
|map_width =
|map_caption =
|seal=|chief2_name=|chief3_name=|chief3_position=|chief4_name=|chief4_position=|chief5_name=|chief5_position=|chief6_name=|chief6_position=|chief7_name=|chief7_position=|chief8_name=|chief8_position=|chief9_name=|chief9_position=|parent_department=}}
The Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) is a component of the United States Department of State to provide services to American diplomatic personnel abroad and foreign diplomats residing in the United States.
History
It was created by the U.S. Congress to help implement the Foreign Missions Act of 1982, which provides the legal foundation for facilitating secure and efficient operations of U.S. missions abroad, and of foreign missions and international organizations in the U.S.; pursuant to the act, the OFM ensures all diplomatic benefits, privileges, and immunities are properly exercised in accordance with federal laws and international agreements.[https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dept-Org-Chart-Feb-2020-508.pdf Dept Org Chart (state.gov)]
Mission
The Office of Foreign Missions has four missions.
- Ensure equitable treatment for United States diplomatic and consular missions abroad and their personnel through reciprocity;
- Regulate the activities of foreign missions in the United States in a manner that will protect the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States;
- Ensure compliance of diplomatic privileges and immunities for foreign diplomats and officials residing in the United States to enhance U.S. security;
- Provide appropriate privileges, benefits, and services on a reciprocal basis to the foreign mission community in the United States.
As an advocate for reciprocal agreements, OFM presses for fair treatment of U.S. personnel abroad while assuring foreign diplomats based in the United States receive the same treatment that each respective government provides in return. Additionally, OFM assists foreign missions in dealing with local government offices in the United States.
OFM also provides a range of services to the foreign diplomatic community, including issuance of vehicle titles, vehicle registrations, driver's licenses, and license plates; processing of tax exemption and duty-free customs requests; and facilitation of property acquisitions through local zoning law procedures. By assisting, advising, and regulating services for foreign diplomats, their dependents, and their staffs while residing in the United States.
Finally, OFM establishes and maintains relationships with U.S. law enforcement and security communities at the national, state, and local levels to educate them about diplomatic privilege and immunity issues.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite report|last=Scherer|first=Dana A.|date=February 11, 2021|title=Foreign Government-Sponsored Broadcast Programming|publisher=Congressional Research Service|url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11759|access-date=February 9, 2025}}
- {{cite report|last=Mulligan|first=Stephen P.|date=May 20, 2021|title=The Law of Foreign Missions and Media in U.S.-China Relations|publisher=Congressional Research Service|url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10601|access-date=February 8, 2025}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.state.gov/ofm}}
- [http://dcplates.net/OFM.htm DC Plates]
- [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/31/realestate/foreign-missions-face-maze-of-red-tape.html Foreign Missions Face Maze of Red Tape]
- [http://washdiplomat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8547:state-department-eyes-walter-reed-to-be-dcs-next-embassy-enclave&catid=1492&Itemid=428 State Department Eyes Walter Reed To Be D.C.’s Next Embassy Enclave]
- [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/state-congo-embassy-driveway_n_1130851.html State Department To Republic Of Congo: Rip Up Embassy Driveway]
{{United States Department of State}}
{{authority control}}