The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy invites U.S. citizens, residents, and tourists in the provinces of Puntarenas and Cartago to attend a town hall meeting.

For the Cartago meeting, officials request attendees to confirm their participation in the town hall and/or passport services by emailing ACSSanJose@state.gov by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 27. The Embassy will provide the event location upon receiving RSVPs.

"The U.S. Embassy is eager to meet with American citizens to hear about their experiences living and traveling in Costa Rica," said the Consular Section in its statement.

Following the meeting, embassy representatives will provide passport renewal services.

Those wishing to renew their passports should bring the following documents:

• A completed passport application (printed). The renewal forms can be reached on the embassy website under the "Passport Renewal" section.

• A 2-inch by 2-inch (5x5 cm) passport photo.

• The Pay.gov payment receipt.

• The current passport, along with copies of supporting documents, including birth certificate, ID and a photocopy of each.

Please note that printing services will not be available on-site.

For passport issues such as theft, loss, or damage, applicants must schedule an interview at the embassy by emailing ACSSanJose@state.gov or visiting the embassy website. The staff at the Town Hall meeting will not be able to process these applications.

"Payment for services must be made through Pay.gov. On-site payments will not be accepted," the embassy reminded attendees.

Applicants are advised to ensure they pay the correct amount for services, as collections cannot be made at the event. If there are discrepancies in payment or missing information, the application may be denied, and the applicant may be asked to visit the embassy for an interview.

For more information on passport renewals or upcoming town hall meetings, interested individuals can call the embassy’s hotline at (506) 2519-2000, or from the U.S. at 011-506-2519-2000. Alternatively, they can visit the embassy's website.

The Puntarenas and Cartago town halls are part of a series of meetings the embassy has organized across Costa Rica. Recent meetings took place in Limón province.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Melinda Hildebrand, a Houston-based businesswoman and philanthropist, as the next U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica. However, no information has been released regarding hearings on her nomination before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.