Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-102
§4202 Exaction of Excessive Fees for Verification of Invoices; Penalty
Title 22 › CHAPTER 52 — FOREIGN SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER XIV — POWERS, DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF CONSULAR OFFICERS GENERALLY › § 4202
Summary
When the set fee for verifying invoices is paid, it covers blank declaration forms and the consular officer’s work in preparing, signing, and sealing the certificate. A consular officer or a clerk who charges more or accepts extra pay can be jailed up to 1 year, fined up to $2,000, and removed from office.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §4202
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The fee provided by law for the verification of invoices by consular officers shall, when paid, be held to be a full payment for furnishing blank forms of declaration to be signed by the shipper, and for making, signing, and sealing the certificate of the consular officer thereto; and any consular officer who, under pretense of charging for blank forms, advice, or clerical services in the preparation of such declaration or certificate, charges or receives any fee greater in amount than that provided by law for the verification of invoices, or who demands or receives for any official services, or who allows any clerk or subordinate to receive for any such service, any fee or reward other than the fee provided by law for such service, shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $2,000, and shall be removed from his office.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 1716 derived from act Mar. 3, 1869, ch. 125, § 3, 15 Stat. 321. Section was not enacted as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter. Section was formerly classified to section 1182 of this title, and prior thereto to section 85 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 4202
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102