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Canadians
and US citizens celebrate Labor Day
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Today is Labor Day for Canadians and U.S. Citizens. In both countries, this holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of September and considered the unofficial end of summer, with summer vacations ending and students returning to school. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this is public holiday honors the American labor movement and the power of collective action by laborers, who are essential for the workings of society. It is the Monday of the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend. It is recognized as a federal holiday. "Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor," said the U.S. Department of Labor in its statement. Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the United States officially celebrated Labor Day. In other English speaking countries, like Australia, Labor Day is a public holiday on dates that vary between states and territories. In the United Kingdom, Labor Day is on May 1st, known as International Workers' Day, as it is here in Costa Rica. The Canadian and United Kingdom embassies in Costa Rica continue a regular work schedule. The U.S. Embassy announced they will be closed and reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd. Regarding the services of the United States embassy, it announced the outreach event in Dominical and Perez Zeledón, as A.M. Costa Rica published on August 28th. The embassy will offer routine consular services for U.S. citizens in Dominical Beach, in the province of Puntarenas, on Wednesday, September 25th, at Villas Rio Mar Hotel*. Consular staff will be answering questions and providing a Town Hall for Citizen Services from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. And from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., for passport renewals, Federal benefit inquiries, voting assistance, and a notary. - Adult passport renewals (age 16 and up, no lost or stolen passports). The fee is ˘67,700 colones. To renew a 10 year U.S. passport, the document must have been issued no more than five years ago. A 2X2 passport photo with a light-colored background is required. A DS-82 form must be submitted. - Passport renewals for minors under age 16 are accepted on a case-by-case basis only. You must inquire via email for fees and requirements and to schedule an appointment. - Notary Services cost ˘30,800 colones per document requiring a notary stamp. A government-issued ID is required for the person requesting the notary services. - Federal benefits and voters' assistance. The embassy will also accept applications for Social Security cards and will have informational material on Federal benefits for veterans, dependents, and survivors, as well as voter registration applications. The same U.S. consular services will be offered in Perez Zeledón, in the Municipality Hall*, in the southern zone. Citizens will be assisted on Thursday, September 26th. Fees for the services must be paid in colones. U.S. dollars or other forms of payment cannot be accepted. For more information on Embassy outreach, can be reached at the phone number (506) 2519 2000, email: ACSSanJose@state.gov, or visit the Embassy site at CR.USEmbassy.gov*. ------------------------ What additional services would you like your embassy to bring to your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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