This subchapter addresses consular emergency financial assistance programs available to non-incarcerated, destitute U.
EMDA funds are quite limited and are not intended or designated to provide for long term medical assistance. EMDA funds are generally authorized for short-term treatment necessary to stabilize the patient or short-term emergency assistance. Information may still be disclosed even if the U. This section of the Act may be invoked to save the life of the U. You are also permitted to disclose Privacy Act-protected information about an individual in order to remove that person from harm's way.
In determining whether the "health or safety" exception is applicable in any given case, you should consider what reasonable course of action would safeguard the welfare of an individual whose physical or mental well-being is at stake in light of all the relevant circumstances - i. The officer should document contemporaneously in writing the basis for acting pursuant to 5 U. Information may be released to any person who can reasonably be expected to assist the individual whose health or safety is at risk, e.
Public Law extended the authority to assistance to non-prisoners. Interview the U. Questions to be asked should include, but not be limited to:. The embassy can assist you in contacting them. These private resources may be in a position to transmit funds via OCS Trust see 7 FAM , pre-pay and airline ticket with an air carrier, pay hotel bills by credit card from the United States , etc.
NOTE: The applicant should be advised that if they do not provide the names of at least 3 individuals to be contacted for assistance, they will not be eligible for consideration for an EMDA II loan. Prior to recommending approval of an EMDA II loan, good faith efforts must be made to obtain funds from private sources, and all such efforts should be properly documented in the ACS software activity log.
