It’s something most of us don’t give a second thought to – until we get into trouble overseas and need help. So, who do you call? A Consulate, the Embassy, or High Commission? The وقت سفارت هلند following is intended as an unofficial and brief explanation only:
Consulate
Consulates are like mini embassies or divisions 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 deaths and handle serious matters such as forced weddings and child abductions. Consulates assist nationals locked up abroad and patients of crime. They also help out with cases of serious illness while travelling or death of loved ones abroad. They are the first point of contact when passports are lost or stolen or any other serious problem practical knowledge when living or travelling abroad. Their main function is to assist people; they just don’t normally get involved in country-to-country relations (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 concludes a presence in a foreign country mainly to assist expatriates and travellers and to varying degrees to promote and enhance friendly relations between the countries with regard to trade, investment, and the import and move of services between countries.
Consuls are appointed as official representatives of their government (whereas there is only one Ambassador for each country, comprising the pinnacle of state). There may be several consuls appointed to a country, performing different roles, with a different consul in command of consulates located in major cities. A consulate is also sometimes perhaps 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 working to assist them. In a large country such as the You. S. there is a consul-general in many major cities, such as New york, Los angeles and Chicago.
Embassy
An embassy could be looked at as the ‘head office’ whereas consulates are the branch offices. There is only one ambassador operating out of 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 located in Buenos aires, 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 H. Mirielle. The Queen and the Ambassador to the Chief executive of the United States). Ambassadors are responsible for supervising 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 relations and interests. Some countries do not have an embassy for politically-sensitive reasons, but have a consulate to help homeowner 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, Canada; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia, and Pretoria, South Photography equipment. The appointed diplomats in charge are known as High Commissioners. High Commissions are generally 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 stolen passport) or a real emergency. Just as it is inappropriate to contact emergency services with time-wasting calls about noisy nearby neighbors and dogs, consulates and embassies should never be contacted over unimportant matters like lost sunglasses, weather reports, missed travel arrangements, or assistance with paying bills! Travellers are expected to take out travel insurance to cover travel incidents such as lost and stolen property and payment of emergency medical expenses. Although you need to contact a Consulate to exchange a lost or stolen passport, travel insurance will normally cover the cost for replacement.