They may also pick up paper versions at U.S. embassies and consulates. And the bureau is working with businesses, travelers' clubs and churches — including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to distribute copies to their U.S. members abroad.

It is also running advertisements in the three countries about the program, and is trying to publicize it through the international news media. Kincannon said the test will cost $6 million.

"I encourage all U.S. citizens to get counted. It is easy. It is important. And it is confidential," Kincannon said.

"It is really important that citizens cooperate in the test so that the Congress is well informed about what we can gather, how efficient and effective it is, and how the Congress may see fit to go forward. . . . Our job is to provide the Congress the most complete information possible for what will be a difficult decision," he said.

Kincannon said lessons learned so far in just designing the test show that conducting a true worldwide count would be "daunting."

For example, he said the bureau found many Americans with dual citizenship live in Mexico. But reaching them is difficult because many do not speak English or have many ties with U.S. groups. In France, the bureau found privacy laws prohibit asking about race and ethnicity — something important to many U.S. funding formulas.

"I have found the problems we have faced in even these three countries to be more significant than I personally anticipated," Kincannon said. "These countries are diverse, they are friendly toward the United States, they are well-organized countries, they are willing to cooperate. It may be far more difficult in some other countries."

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com