What is the purpose of a foreign consulate office?

Question

I am going to be doing business/charity work in a foreign country. Can the country's consulate here be of any help to me?

Answer 1

They can. That's one of the main reasons they exist.

Call or visit the consular office and tell them what your plans are, they'll answer any questions and give advice.

Answer 2

This answer assumes that you are American, if you are from elsewhere, I don't know the answer.

It depends on the country.

Consulates provide visa services to foreigners who want to visit the U.S.

They also provide American Citizen Services abroad, like issuing passports, visas, and American Birth Abroad records, processsing adoptions, and checking on imprisoned Americans.

As a business person, you may want to touch base with the commercial attache at the embassy (not the consulate). Not all embassies have commerical attaches - only ones that have commercial ties to the U.S. Personnel serving as commercial attachés meet with businesspeople from both their own country and their host country, and attend trade fairs and expositions.

Answer 3

They are there to help people from their country who are residing in or visiting the country where the consulate office is located. I'm not sure what type of help you are looking for but it never hurts to ask them for assistance.