Ask the Consul, By Ed Clancy

Atención welcomes new columnist US Consular agent Ed Clancy with this, the first of his monthly contributions. Questions for the consul can be sent to either consuladosma@unisono.net.mx or to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org.

Q: For certain kinds of banking transactions, US banks require what is known as a "medallion signature guarantee." (This is not the equivalent of a notarized signature, which they will not accept.) Is there any consular signature verification that US banks will accept instead of a medallion signature guarantee?

A: A medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee for the transfer of securities. It is a guarantee by the transferring financial institution that the signature is genuine and the financial institution accepts liability for any forgery. To perform this guarantee, a financial institution participates in a medallion program approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Consulates and consular agencies are not authorized to provide this service. For information, you can contact your US bank or the SEC directly at 1-800-SEC-0330, or through the internet. You can read more about this at 7 FAM 890 (the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual). Just enter "7 FAM" into your favorite search engine.

Q: Does the Consulate now have the postcard applications for absentee ballots? Do you have the voting manual that tells us how to fill out the application? May we send the ballot requests to the US via the diplomatic pouch?

A: We do not have absentee ballot applications but are expecting them from the US Embassy in Mexico City. But we do have three copies of the "2006-07 Voting Assistance Guide." There are copies of the federal forms, state forms and relevant instructions. Everyone should feel free to come in and we will make copies for you. We can also send the ballots in for you.

Ed Clancy is now authorized to notarize documents, administer oaths and perform all the services of a full-service consular agent. The office of the US Consul will notarize documents from 10am to noon daily, without an appointment. If a request is out of the ordinary, such as a Report of Birth Abroad, then an advance appointment should be made.

US Consular Agency, San Miguel (An extension of the Embassy in Mexico City)
Consular Agent: Edward K. Clancy
Monday-Friday: 9am-1pm
Dr. Hernández Macías 72
152-2357
Fax: 152-1588
Mailing address: Apdo. Postal 328,
San Miguel de Allende, Gto., 37700
consuladosma@unisono.net.mx