US Embassy in UK Accepting Federal Post Card Applications

The US Embassy is reminding overseas Americans that they can submit their Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) via the Embassy's diplomatic pouch service free of the charge. In order to vote in 2020's Presidential and Congressional elections, overseas Americans need to fill out an FPCA - you need to do this whether you're a first time voter, or if you've received ballots and voted absentee in the past. You can find an FPCA at the Federal Voting Assistance Programme (FVAP) website - https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter.

The big advantage of the diplomatic pouch service is that it's free of charge, although the Embassy advises that due to the ongoing pandemic, delivery times are longer. Normally, diplomatic mail from London to the US takes 4 to 6 weeks, but at present, transit times are likely to be 8 to 10 weeks. The fastest service, according to the Embassy, is the British postal system. However, if you would prefer the security of mailing your FPCA via the Embassy's diplomatic pouch, completed voting forms and ballots (addressed to your local election officials), can be dropped into a ballot mailbox located at the Consular entrance to the Embassy in Nine Elms, Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm.

The FVAP are encouraging Americans living abroad to complete and send their applications as soon as possible owing to international mail delays caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. This week marks marks Overseas Voting Week, and with July 4th this Saturday, the Embassy is reminding overseas Americans to "Celebrate democracy this 4th of July by taking the necessary steps to vote in the 2020 US elections!"

If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, you can contact the Embassy's Voting Assistance Officer by e-mail at SCSLondon@state.gov, or by telephone: +44(0)20 7891 3640. You can also go to The FVAP website for more details.

>> MORE NEWS