Embassy Consular Conference 2013 Review

First Consular Conference a success

Almost 150 consuls from more than 80 missions gathered at the InterContinental Hotel Westminster for the first-ever Embassy Consular Conference, held in partnership with the Consular Corps of London.

The event included an afternoon of briefings, networking and product demonstrations from consular service providers who can help consuls meet the growing challenge of global mobility in the 21st century.Diplomats received a detailed briefing on the new Immigration Bill from the Home Office and learned about the growing threat of travel document fraud from the National Document Fraud Unit. They also learned how to help their nationals involved in a mass casualty event and how to assist the voluntary returns of their irregular migrants.

Consuls were shown how technology – from consular case management software and high-tech document scanning to using social media as an outreach tool – provides solutions to help them cope with the mounting pressures of the job.