According to the announcements in Time Square, salvadorans will now be able to exercise their rights by obtaining their Documento Único de Identidad (DUI) through the Centros de Servicios de registro, emisión y entrega del Documento Único de Identidad, which are located in 23 consulates established in different countries, including 18 in the United States, 1 in Canada, 1 in Mexico, 1 in Italy and 2 in Spain.

On august 6, 2021, during the celebration of the Day of the Salvadoran in the United States, the first DUI Printing and Immediate Delivery Center was inaugurated at the Consulate General of El Salvador in Los Angeles, California. Currently, there are 8 DUI printing and immediate delivery centers in consulates in the cities of Los Angeles, Silver Spring, Long Island, Elizabeth, Woodbridge, Dallas, Houston and Seville.

For the cases of the Service Centers located in the United States, where there is no immediate delivery of the DUI, salvadorans can opt for the DUI Express service, a service they can choose to send the DUI by mail, arriving at their doorstep in a short period of time, the additional cost is $20.00. This service can be requested through the website www.duiexpress.com or by downloading the DUI Express APP.

Obtaining the DUI abroad provides benefits such as exercising the right to vote, legal identification, studying in universities in El Salvador, affiliation to the Salvadoran insurance program (ISSS), opening accounts in financial institutions in El Salvador, extension of powers of attorney and permits, signing contracts, immigration procedures and driving licenses.

The DUI is recognized as an identification document in several U.S. states, including Texas, Colorado, California, Georgia, Washington, Virginia, Illinois and Minnesota. In addition, in Virginia, the DUI is accepted to apply for a driver's license. The BB&t Suntrust bank also accepts the DUI for financial transactions in its more than two thousand branches distributed in several states and Washington D.C.

The requirements to process the DUI abroad vary according to the type of procedure (first time, modification, reinstatement or renewal) and include the payment of $35.00 dollars or the equivalent in local currency, birth certificate, photo ID, proof of academic degree, among others.

The consulates also offer saturday days, mobile consulates and identity fairs to bring services closer to salvadorans abroad in cities where there are no permanent services.

Translated by: A.M