The Foreign Service on Stage: Madama Butterfly

In Puccini's masterpiece Madama Butterfly an innocent young Japanese girl is seduced (well, bought) by a caddish American naval officer who quickly abandons here. While she waits patiently for his return, her one line of communication is the American Consul, Sharpless.

Poor Sharpless has a pretty thankless role, both in the drama and in the opera. He must be the perpetual bearer of bad news and has no arias and very little memorable music (except the 'Letter Duet' with Cio-Cio San). He is usually depicted as a good-hearted but feckless bureaucrat, overdress and out of shape.

So it seems that art often imitates life...

A Few More Words

214(b): Intending Immigrant, AKA the Consular Officer's best friend. Allows officers to reject non-immigrant visa applications because they believe the person will not return to their home country in a timely manner.  The majority of NIV refusals are 214(b).

Amcit: American Citizen.

ACS: American Citizen Services. The section of Consular Affairs that deals with American citizens abroad. Birth certificates, lost passports, prison visits etc.

CLO: Community Liaison Officer. In charge of social planning and wellness activities for the mission community.

EER: Employee Evaluation Report. The annual review all FSOs must go through.

EFM: Eligible Family Member. Refers to dependents of FSOs who can share their housing, transport, and receive priority for certain in-mission jobs.

FLO: Family Liaison Office. Usually an EFM, in charge of community activities and services for families with children.

 IV/NIV: Immigrant/Non-Immigrant Visas.

IWP: Interview Waiver Program, by which someone who has a valid US visa can renew it without going through the interview process.

LES: Locally employed staff. Refers to the non-US workers who make up the majority of the workforce in most foreign missions. Also known as FSNs (Foreign Service Nationals).

TDY:  Temporary duty. Describes when an FS professional is sent to another mission on a short-term basis.

VLA: Visa Lookout and Accountability. A program to review visa issuances to ensure that consular officers are not issuing visas to people with prior ineligibilities.

Lake Chapala at Sunset