On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that "you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten." The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.
Ambassador Bleich addressed a large audience of the Melbourne Press Club for his first address in the Melbourne Consular District. The Ambassador spoke of the strong and enuring U.S Australian friendship, and his commitment to and enthusiasm for being President Obama’s representative in Australia.
Reading President Barack Obama’s Proclamation at a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Service hosted, PAO Aric Schwan celebrates with two WWII Veterans the enduring friendship between The United States and Australia.
Former President Clinton to Lead International Haiti Coordination
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who has been the U.N. special envoy to Haiti since May 2009, agrees to lead international relief efforts for Haiti…
Iran Urged to Inform U.N. Agency of Position on Nuclear Deal
If Iran has agreed to enrich its uranium supplies through a foreign country for use in its medical research reactor, it needs to inform the International…
Boosting Biofuels, Clean Coal Promotes U.S. Energy Independence
The United States is boosting the contribution of biofuels and clean coal to its strategy for increasing American energy independence and laying the foundation…
Important Notice for South Australian Residents
We anticipate that our next periodic consular visit to Adelaide will be during the last week of January 2010. During our periodic visits, we accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and U.S. passports. If you would like to be contacted when we have confirmed the date and begin preparing for our next consular visit, please send an email to melbourneacs@state.gov. In your email, please include the applicant’s name, date of birth, contact name, address, telephone number, and the type of service requested.
We will only accept applications for U.S. passports and/or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. However, if the applicant is eligible to submit a passport application by mail, they must do so. Please refer to our page about making an application for a U.S. Passport by mail for further information.
Note: We will only be accepting applications for U.S. passports and/or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. No visa services will be available.

Posted 21 January, 2010 by melb-owner
The computer based Foreign Service Officer Test will be held at the U.S. Consulate General in Melbourne on Saturday, February 27, 2010.
All registrations for the Foreign Service Officer Test must be completed online: http://careers.state.gov or http://www.act.org/fsot/. The deadline for registration is February 19, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (U.S. Central Standard Time).

Left Right think tank – Ambassador speaks to hard heads, soft hearts and young minds.
Posted 10 December, 2009 by melb-owner
Ambassador Bleich met with a group of dynamic young Victorians when the Left Right think tank hosted his speech in Melbourne.

Ambassador Bleich at Grattan Institute
Posted 9 December, 2009 by melb-owner
Ambassador Bleich spoke to the Grattan Institute, congratulating the think-tank on their first anniversary of operation. He commended the institute for attempting to find critical solutions for challenges facing both our nations as a non aligned, independent and evidence based think-tank.

Ambassador Bleich’s first address in Melbourne
Posted 9 December, 2009 by melb-owner
Ambassador Jeffery L. Bleich made his first Melbourne speech to the Melbourne Press Club. To an audience of over one hundred guests of the club, Ambassador Bleich spoke of the important U.S Australian friendship.

Visit to The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Posted 4 December, 2009 by melb-owner
The Consul General, Michael Thurston toured through The Royal Melbourne Hospital with U.S Special Envoy for Women’s Health Issues – Fran Drescher.
ACS Newsletter
The latest Melbourne ACS Newsletter is now available.
ESTA Requirements Now in Effect
All nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, including Australia, are required to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States. This requirement commenced January 12, 2009. Authorization may be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a free Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security.
There is no charge to complete the ESTA application. VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established websites, which charge visitors for information and for submitting ESTA applications. These websites are not endorsed by, associated with, nor affiliated in any way with the U.S. government.
VWP visitors should apply now for the travel authorization.
For more information, start by reading our page on the Visa Waiver Program.
U.S. – Australia Student Work and Travel Pilot Program
The Student Work and Travel Pilot Program allows Australian citizens to combine work and travel in the United States for up to 12 months. For more information, visit our page on the Student Work and Travel Pilot Program.
Please see our nonimmigrant visa page for general information on the U.S. visa application process, including how to apply for a U.S. visa in Australia.
Become a fan of the U.S. Embassy Facebook page.
Follow the U.S. Embassy Canberra YouTube channel
Subscribe to the RSS feed for the USRS Australia blog.
This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State.
External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.