International Focus Magazine Premiere Edition | Page 10

directly benefits the U.S. government
Guide to addressing
when sales taxes for support materials needed to build and run overseas
consular officials
“The
Honorable”
is extended to consular
installations does not have to be paid.

Do consular officials have
diplomatic immunity?
The purpose of the privileges and
immunities described in the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations
is not to benefit individuals, but to
ensure the efficient performance of
functions by consular posts on behalf
of their respective nations. Consular
officials are expected to abide by the
laws of the receiving nation. With that
said, the level of immunity afforded to
consular officials posted in the U.S. is
based on guidance within the Vienna
Convention and what level of immunity U.S. consular officials are afforded
in the sending country.
Generally speaking, consular officials
only have immunity with regard to
their official acts and their dependents
have no immunity at all. A notable
exception is that U.S. consular officials and their dependents posted in
the People’s Republic of China and
Russia are given immunity and the
U.S. government reciprocates based

heads of post in Houston and many other
cities as a courtesy. In international protocol, consular officials who have obtained
the rank of ambassador are afforded the
honorific His or Her Excellency.
Addressing career consular heads of post
In conversation: Consul General Smith (title
+ last name).
In correspondence:
The Honorable
John Smith
Consul General of Canada
Addressing honorary (non-career) heads of
post
In conversation: Mr./Ms. or Honorary Consul
General Smith (Mr./Ms. or title + last name).
In correspondence:
The Honorable
Jane Doe
Honorary Consul General of Canada
Addressing career consular heads of post
with the rank of ambassador
In conversation: Ambassador Smith (Ambassador + last name).
In correspondence:
Her Excellency
Jane Doe
Consul General of Canada

Our target audience is as diverse as the planet and we strive
to have something for everyone in every issue. Our readers
are mostly college-educated, they share common interests in
entertainment, diversity in culture, taste and faith. They assimilate, eat out often and are easy to court. Many are business
owners and professionals, they are middle-aged and higher
and make business and family time top priorities.

10 iF Magazine | July 2016

on bilateral agreements with these
countries. There is no diplomatic immunity for traffic and parking tickets;
they must pay all fines. OFM serves as
the liaison to local enforcement with
regard to questions about immunity.

Conclusion
Houston’s consular corps is an integral part of our community, contributing immeasurably to the cultural
and economic life of the city. Consular officials wear many hats – they
promote the countries they represent
to Houstonians, promote Houston
to the nations they represents, protect foreign nationals residing here,
develop trade ties, promote friendly
relations among the people of different countries, and find synergies between two nations across a variety of
fields for mutual benefit. These officials, both career and honorary help
connect Houston with the world.
Deanea LeFlore
serves as chief of
protocol, Mayor’s
Office of Trade and
International Affairs
and is a certified
corporate etiquette and international
protocol consultant.