Flag

An official website of the United States government

Travel Advisory Level 1: Exercise Normal Caution Travel Advisory Level 1: Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.                    Exercise normal precautions in Vietnam. Read More...
American Liaison Network (ALN) of Citizen Liaison Volunteers (CLV) Information
By
8 MINUTE READ

The American Citizen Services teams are strengthening our American Liaison Network (ALN) of Citizen Liaison Volunteers (CLV) to build and maintain effective two-way communication between the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General and U.S. citizens in Vietnam.  We need your help!  We are looking for volunteers to serve as CLVs in various regions of Vietnam.  If you or someone you know may be interested, or you just want to learn more – let us know!

Citizen Liaison Volunteers are formerly known as wardens.  Wardens/CLVs are private citizens who help the Embassy and Consulate General support U.S. citizens in need.  CLVs can assist travelers in distress, help us track down missing U.S. citizens, and, in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, help us locate other U.S. citizens so we can help get them to safety.  Most often, CLVs are called on to be our ‘eyes and ears’ in the community, providing valuable feedback on what life is like for U.S. citizens living in Vietnam.  CLVs are usually U.S. citizens who are longer-term residents of Vietnam and, ideally, speak some Vietnamese.  Please note that this is a voluntary position that does not imply financial reimbursement.

CLVs in smaller cities and rural areas are uniquely important because those can be the hardest places for us to reach in an emergency.  If you live outside Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Danang, we especially need you to volunteer to be a CLV.

By

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CITIZEN LIAISON VOLUNTEER?

A CLV partners with the Embassy and Consulate General to address security, safety, and health issues affecting U.S. citizens overseas.  CLVs are assigned to one of several zones throughout Vietnam.  The Embassy and Consulate General are looking for CLVs from a variety of professional backgrounds, who can bring a range of skills, knowledge, and contacts to the position.  They have strong ties to the expatriate community in their zone, and they are familiar with local contacts and resources that would be useful in emergency situations.

CLVs serve on voluntary (non-paid) basis and must sign a Memorandum of Agreement that outlines their roles and responsibilities.

CLVs are not U.S. Embassy official representatives, employees, spokespersons, consular officers, or consular agents.

By

WHAT ARE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CLV?

CLVs are key links between the Embassy/Consulate General and U.S. citizens in Vietnam.

You may be asked to:

  1. Be an on-the-ground resource to help the U.S. Mission to Vietnam understand issues of concern to U.S. citizens and share information that might support the Embassy’s consular operations.
  2. Report on available local resources for U.S. citizens in your ALN zone, identify gaps, and when possible, seek solutions to fill those gaps.
  3. Disseminate information as directed by the Embassy/Consulate General to the U.S. citizen community in your zone.
  4. Encourage U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
  5. Maintain local contacts in your ALN zone, including U.S. citizen and non-U.S. citizen expatriates, which might be of use to the Embassy/Consulate General’s consular operations.
  6. Identify risks for potential crises and security issues in your ALN zone, identify gaps in preparedness for the U.S. citizen community.
  7. In exigent situations only, at post’s explicit direction, help the Embassy/Consulate General provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.
  8. Engage with other CLVs to share experiences through the Embassy’s ALN online forum, by email, by meeting in person, or other appropriate means.
  9. Identify, for the Embassy/Consulate General’s consideration, individuals who may be willing to serve as an alternate CLV for your ALN zone or as a CLV in another part of the country.

Important:

  • You are not a representative of the U.S. government.
  • You are not compensated for performing this role.
  • You are not a government employee, a spokesperson, a consular officer, or consular agent.
  • You must refer all media or legal inquiries to the Embassy/Consulate General.
  • You must also refer to the Embassy/Consulate General all general requests to explain policies, procedures, or services beyond what is publicly available.
  • You must safeguard the privacy of personal information that is provided to you in the course of your duties.  Some of the information that you will receive from the U.S. Department of State in your role as a CLV is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, when it is maintained by the Department.  You must not use or disseminate this information to others, except as necessary, to perform your duties as a CLV.

By

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CLV?

If you would like to be a CLV, please provide us with your full name, date of birth, passport number, and your contact details via email at: VietnamCLV@state.gov.  Once you notify us of your interest, we will get back to you with more information and further instructions.

U.S. Citizen Services