One might wonder how a number of American citizens end up far from home in an Arctic community such as Inuvik.
Nevertheless, many of them are here and staff from the U.S. consulate in Calgary were looking to meet with them recently.
Staff from the consulate visited Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk between Sept. 13 and 15 to help American citizens in the region with everything from routine passport renewals to reports of birth.
In Inuvik, the consulate had 10 appointments with American citizens, said Cesar Soriano, chief of American citizen services.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was in Yellowkinfe last year and suddenly Americans came out of the woodwork SA国际影视传媒� Americans we never knew were around,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want people to know that SA国际影视传媒� we're here to help Americans.SA国际影视传媒�
Sandy Gordon, an American citizen from Pennsylvania whose husband is from Inuvik, moved to town in 2009.
The unexpected visit from the consulate this month saved her thousands of dollars on a trip south to renew her children's passports, she said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 emailed them and told them that I couldn't afford the trip to Calgary to the embassy,SA国际影视传媒� said Gordon. SA国际影视传媒淚 was extremely shocked that they were coming here, but it's made the difference, because otherwise it would be years before I'd be able to renew their passports.SA国际影视传媒�
She estimated it would have cost between $6,000 to $8,000 for her family to travel south.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd that's not something we'd be able to do anytime soon,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Besides making important services accessible to American citizens living in town, the consulate was also here for crisis management purposes.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat's the main reason why we came up to Inuvik,SA国际影视传媒� said Soriano, who explained that involves making contact with local emergency services and government so they know how the consulate can help American citizens in the event of an emergency.
Soriano with , the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the mosque, tourism officials and airport staff, he said.
While the consulate can help American citizens with many situations, including injuries, deaths and claims of citizenship, there are some things it cannot do SA国际影视传媒� such as bail someone out of jail.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat's probably one of the biggest misconceptions that we get,SA国际影视传媒� said Soriano.
