Originally Posted by
soitgoes
Yes, looking out for American interests is the goal of the State department.
Yes, some foreign service officers have no interest in consular services, though almost all are forced to spend time doing so at the beginning of their career.
However, services for US citizens are absolutely a part of the mission of the State department.
I certainly found this to be the case in the several years I lived abroad as an expatriate. During those years I made regular trips to the embassy for various consular services and always received them with good grace and expediency - whether it was getting documents notarized, registering my child's birth and obtaining a US passport for her, or getting tax advice from the itinerant IRS agent who came through once a year. I always thought that was what the consul's office was there for - to assist US citizens. They always assisted me when I asked.