It’s something most of us don’t give a second thought to : until we get into trouble overseas and need help. So, who وقت سفارت آلمان do you call? A Consulate, the Embassy, or High Commission? The following is intended as an unofficial and brief explanation only:
Consulate
Consulates are like mini embassies or companies of embassies. They are found in major tourist cities of the world or areas with large expatriate populations. Consulates issue visas, passports and emergency documents. They also perform notary functions, register births and demise and handle serious matters such as forced a marriage and child abductions. Consulates assist nationals imprisoned abroad and people of crime. They also aid in cases of serious illness while travelling or death of family abroad. They are the first point of contact when passports are lost or ripped off or any other serious problem is experienced when living or travelling abroad. Their main function is to assist people; they cannot normally try country-to-country associations (which is the main role and function of the ambassador and embassy). Smaller cities and towns may have an ‘honorary consulate’ which is a smaller version of a consulate.
A consulate ensures a presence in a foreign country mainly to assist expatriates and travellers and to some degree to promote and enhance friendly associations between the countries with regard to trade, investment, and the importance and export of services between countries.
Consuls are employed as official representatives of their government (whereas there is only one Ambassador for each country, that represent the head of state). There may be several consuls employed to a country, performing different roles, with a different consul accountable for consulates located in major cities. A consulate is also sometimes area of the embassy in the capital city of a country.
A high-ranking consul is known as a consul-general. A consul-general will have deputy consuls-general, vice-consuls, or agents attempting to assist them. In a large country such as the U. S. there is a consul-general in many major cities, such as New york, Los angeles and Chicago, il.
Embassy
An embassy could be looked upon as the ‘head office’ whereas consulates are the part offices. There is only one ambassador situated in the embassy in the capital city of a host country, whereas there are many consuls to cover major cities. For example, in the united states the British Embassy is situated in California, D. C. with consulates in major cities.
An Ambassador is a representative of the head of state and government of their country. The ambassador deals directly with the ambassador for the head of state of the host country (for example the Ambassador to L. Meters. The Queen and the Ambassador to the Director of the Usa States). Ambassadors are responsible for overseeing the work of the embassy and its consulates. An ambassador also presents and explains political policies and views to the host country and similarly reports back to the home country. Other duties include security issues, commercial, economic, media, and diplomatic associations and interests. Some countries do not have an embassy for politically-sensitive reasons, but have a consulate to help hawaiian for resident ) expatriates and travellers.
High Commission
In Commonwealth countries, where the British Monarch is Head of State, an embassy is known as a High Commission and performs the same functions as an embassy. For example, there are High Commissions located in Toronto, Europe; Auckland, New Zealand; Questionnaire, Australia, and Pretoria, South Africa. The employed diplomats in charge are known as High Commissioners. High Commissions are found in capital cities and, just as with embassies, are supported by consulates in major cities.
Expatriates and travellers should never contact any of the above offices unless it is a very important matter (such as a lost or ripped off passport) or a real emergency. Just as it is inappropriate to get hold of emergency services with time-wasting calls about raucous nearby neighbours and dogs, consulates and embassies should never be contacted over slight matters like lost sunglasses, weather reports, missed travellers, or advice about paying bills! Travellers are expected to take out travel insurance to cover travel injuries such as lost and ripped off property and payment of emergency medical expenses. Although you need to contact a Consulate to a lost or ripped off passport, travel insurance will normally cover the cost for replacement.