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For about a 1% investment of the Federal budget, the State Department yields a large return for the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. Read on to learn how the work of the Department benefits this state’s residents.

Arizona

• Jobs and Diplomacy

  • In partnership with agencies across the federal government, the Department of State advances U.S. trade policy objectives by opening new export and job opportunities for American businesses and workers through trade initiatives. In Arizona, approximately 93,000 U.S. jobs were supported by goods exports (2014) and foreign direct investment supported about 84,000 U.S. jobs (2013). This resulted in $22.6 billion in goods exports from Arizona (2015). (EB) More»

  • Flights between Phoenix and Montreal with an estimated impact of $3.6 million were made possible by an Open Skies agreement negotiated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. (EB) More»

  • Arizona hosted foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based international exchange visitor programs. (ECA) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributed more than $26 million to Arizona’s economy through contracts and federal grants that directly supported INL missions. (INL) More»

  • Ten partnerships were created in Arizona under the Small Business Network of the Americas International Sister Center Program with Brazil, Belize, Canada, El Salvador, Mexico, and St. Lucia. (WHA) More»

  • Click here for more information about Department career recruitment events in Arizona. (HR)

• Education

  • Fulbright Scholarship Awards: 41 State Scholars, Students, and Teachers from Arizona. (ECA) More»

  • Diplomat-in-Residence (Kenneth Chavez): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers. (HR) More»

  • Arizona State University and The University of California, Los Angeles have participated in every high-level Science & Technology Joint Committee Meetings (JCM) with Vietnam since 2011. These meetings, facilitated by the Department of State, raise the profile of the universities’ collaboration with science and technology (S&T) communities in both countries, leading to research and education partnerships. (OES)

  • The Department of State provided grant funding to Maricopa Community College to host a Community College Initiative (CCI) Program participant from Nairobi. The program helps to raise the profile of U.S. community colleges as prime motivators and initiators of higher education globally. (AF) More»

  • 415 exchange visitors from overseas visited Arizona and 251 Arizona residents traveled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs. (ECA) More»

  • 230 Brazilian students attended several educational institutions in Arizona through the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program. This program is funded by the Brazilian government and the private sector and sends 101,000 Brazilian university students of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to study and conduct research abroad. The U.S. is a priority destination for scholarship recipients, and the program strengthens U.S. and Brazilian institutional partnerships, develops a workforce prepared for 21st century opportunities, and contributes to long-term economic growth for both countries. (WHA) More»

  • The University of Arizona participated in an International Virtual College Fair hosted by the Department of State in 2013 to celebrate International Education Week and the $29 billion international student industry in the United States. This event featured colleges and universities from across the United States and had more than 22,000 potential students from 206 countries in attendance who completed nearly 55,000 visits to the virtual university booths. (IIP) More»

• Partnerships

  • Arizona hosted 75 students from allied and friendly nations for International Military Education and Training (PM) More»

  • The Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of the Foreign Policy Advisor program has one Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) position assigned to U.S. Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) based out of Tucson. POLADs are U.S. diplomats that serve typically two year tours at U.S. military commands and provide foreign policy advice to senior military leadership. (PM) More»

  • Refugee Arrivals in 2015: 2,960. The Department works with nine domestic nongovernmental organizations, which place refugees in over 300 affiliated offices in roughly 180 communities around the country. These local offices work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. (PRM) More»

  • (INL) The Department of State facilitates the Arizona National Guard State Partnership Program with Kazakhstan, founded in 1993. (PM) More»

• Travel and Security

  • Total Passports Issued in Fiscal Year 2015: 259,214 (CA) More»

  • Passport Application Acceptance Facilities: 111. (CA) More»

  • The National Passport Information Center, the Tucson Passport Center, and the Western Passport Center combined employ 161 government and 164 contract staff. (CA)

  • Number of overseas adoptions for Arizona families in Fiscal Year 2014: 92. The Office of Children's Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. Its work is dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad. (CA) More»

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site: Grand Canyon National Park. (IO)

  • UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy: Tucson. (IO)

  • Diplomatic Security Los Angeles Field Office serves Arizona: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Additionally, they liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities. (DS – Resident Offices: Phoenix and Tucson Investigative Field Offices) More»