Do not make direct mail contact with individuals outside the US other than claimants,
beneficiaries, legal guardians or legal representatives; i.e., do not write directly
to civil authorities, record-keeping agencies, etc. For title VIII claims development
purposes , Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa are not considered to be outside the US.
When it is necessary to elicit evidence to establish one or more qualification requirements
or to establish residence outside the US (see VB 00102.001), write directly to the claimant or make contact through an FBU, depending on where
the claimant lives or the source of the evidence. When the claimant resides in the
Philippines, see VB 00210.001C.2.