I want to serve my constituents in any way I can. Whether you need help with a federal agency, are trying to find out if federal grants are available for your project, or are considering applying to a service academy. I hope all the information in this section will be helpful.
If you need immediate help with a federal agency (i.e. Social Security, Veteran's Administration, immigration, passports, or other government agencies) please contact my Tampa office directly at 813-871-2817 in order for us to assist you.
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Due to ongoing regional events, U.S. citizens in the Middle East should exercise caution, and we encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments. Citizens are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas. Citizens should prepare a plan for emergency situations, and they are also encouraged to review the Traveler’s Checklist . Security information about specific countries and updates from the Department of State on what U.S. citizens in these countries should do is available below.
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In Israel, the U.S. Department of State has ordered personnel and their families shelter in place until further notice. U.S. citizens who wish to leave the country should take the first available option, even if it is not their first choice of destination. Israeli airspace is closed, and Ben-Gurion Airport is also closed. The U.S. Department of State has begun assisted departure flights from Israel, but no commercial or charter flights are leaving the country. Land borders with Egypt and Jordan are open, and individuals should expect long lines. There are also commercial opportunities to depart Israel by ship. Third parties are assisting citizens with leaving Israel by both land and sea; however, the U.S. Department of State cannot endorse any of these providers.
For U.S. citizens leaving Israel and planning to enter Jordan, a passport with a validity of at least six months is required for entry into Jordan. While it is not explicitly illegal to bring Jewish religious items into Jordan, the U.S. Embassy has received reports that travelers carrying such items have encountered delays. Individuals may wish to consider not carrying such items with them into Jordan. Individuals are also encouraged to carry cash to pay for fees charged at border checkpoints.
In Iran, U.S. citizens are urged to depart the country immediately. Iranian airspace is closed, although land borders with Armenia, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan are open. Citizens are discouraged from attempting to leave through the land border with Turkmenistan, as no U.S. citizens have ever received approval from the Government of Turkmenistan to enter.
Individuals with dual U.S.-Iranian nationalities must exit Iran using Iranian passports, as the Iranian government does not recognize dual nationality and will treat individuals with it as Iranian citizens. These individuals are also heavily discouraged from showing their U.S. passports, as they may be at risk of questioning, arrest, or detention from Iranian authorities, and can have their U.S. passports confiscated. For these reasons, dual U.S.-Iranian nationals are also encouraged to obtain visas for the countries they plan on transiting through on their way back to the U.S. in their Iranian passports. If their U.S. passport is confiscated, they can apply for a new U.S. passport in the country they are transiting. U.S. citizens residing in Iran must obtain an exit permit regardless of the period of stay.
In Iraq, the U.S. Department of State has ordered the departure of some nonessential personnel. Land borders to Türkiye and Kuwait are both open. It cautions that there is increased potential for terrorist-inspired violence against businesses and locations frequented by U.S. citizens inside the country. U.S. citizens should not travel to Iraq for any reason, and Travel Advisory remains at Level 4: Do Not Travel to Iraq.
In Jordan, the U.S. Department of State has no specific announcement or update on the situation, though they do remind citizens to monitor the situation and exercise increased caution. The Travel Advisory remains at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.
In Lebanon, the U.S. Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel, along with their families. Citizens are encouraged to monitor the situation and exercise increased caution. Lebanese airspace is open, and the international airport in Beirut is operating, although flight options are limited.
In Türkiye, the Embassy encourages citizens to monitor the situation and exercise increased caution. They also advise citizens to avoid travel to the US Consulate Adana District, which comprises of Türkiye’s 22 southernmost provinces.
In both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Department of State has no specific announcement or update on the situation, though they encourage citizens to monitor the situation.
