DSS has the largest global presence of any U.S. law enforcement agency and has a robust domestic mission in the United States. Through its 29 domestic offices, DSS investigates violations of the law involving U.S. passports and visas and protects the Secretary of State and visiting foreign dignitaries.
A special agent-in-charge and an assistant special agent-in-charge manage each field office, and staffing varies with the size of the region and workload. Resident offices, managed by a resident special agent-in-charge, are smaller in size.
The primary responsibilities of field and resident offices include:
- Conducting criminal investigations for passport and visa fraud and related crimes;
- Conducting background investigations of applicants, current employees, and high-level appointees to the Department of State;
- Protecting the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and certain visiting foreign dignitaries;
- Providing protective and security related support with foreign diplomatic and consular missions located in their geographic regions; and
- Providing security support for foreign diplomats working and residing in the United States.
Click Here for a directory of the DSS Field Offices.