Foreign Service Assignment Notebook
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Foreign Service Institute Transition Center FOREIGN SERVICE ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK: WHAT DO I DO NOW? Foreign Service Institute Transition Center George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 2016 Foreign Service Institute Mission Statement “The Foreign Service Institute develops the men and women our nation requires to fulfill our leadership role in world affairs and to defend U.S. interests.” Transition Center Mission Statement “The Transition Center serves U.S. Government employees and family members of all Foreign Affairs agencies preparing for or returning from overseas assignments by providing outstanding training, resources, and insight for personal and professional effectiveness throughout all phases of their career cycles.” About FSI Established in 1947, the Foreign Service Institute is the United States Government’s primary training institution for employees of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington. FSI provides more than 600 courses – to include training in some 70 foreign languages, as well as in leadership, management, professional tradecraft, area studies, and applied information technology skills – to some 100,000 students a year, drawn from the Department of State and more than 40 other government agencies and military service branches. FSI provides support to all U.S. Government employees involved in foreign affairs, from State Department entry-level specialists and generalists to newly-assigned Ambassadors, and to our Foreign Service National colleagues who assist U.S. efforts at some 270 posts abroad. Foreign Service Institute Transition Center TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................... viii SECTION 1: Introduction to the Foreign Affairs Lifestyle Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF A U.S. MISSION ........................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2 SPOUSES, SAME-SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERS, AND MEMBERS OF HOUSEHOLD ....... 5 Chapter 3 CHILDREN IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE .............................................................................. 12 Chapter 4 ELDERCARE ISSUES ........................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 5 RESILIENCE FOR THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMUNITY ................................................. 29 Chapter 6 MEDICAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 7 PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES ........................................................................................... 52 Chapter 8 TRANSITION CENTER RESOURCES .................................................................................. 61 SECTION 2: Bidding Considerations Chapter 9 BIDDING AND POST RESEARCH ........................................................................................ 69 Chapter 10 FAMILY MEMBER EMPLOYMENT ........................................................................................ 83 Chapter 11 EDUCATION FOR FOREIGN SERVICE CHILDREN ............................................................ 91 Foreign Service Institute Transition Center SECTION 3: Preparing for Your Post Chapter 12 PREPARATION CHECKLIST ................................................................................................. 101 Chapter 13 TRAVELING WITH PETS ....................................................................................................... 111 Chapter 14 ELECTRICITY, COMMUNICATIONS, TV AND INTERNET .................................................... 118 Chapter 15 AUTOMOBILES ...................................................................................................................... 142 Chapter 16 CONTINGENCY PLANNING .................................................................................................. 150 Chapter 17 PACKING TO GO ................................................................................................................... 169 Chapter 18 UNACCOMPANIED ASSIGNMENTS ..................................................................................... 194 SECTION 4: After You Arrive Chapter 19 CLO AND POST SUPPORT ................................................................................................... 206 Chapter 20 MAIL AND DIPLOMATIC POUCH SERVICES ....................................................................... 210 Chapter 21 HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYEES .................................................................................................. 222 Chapter 22 SAFETY AND SECURITY ...................................................................................................... 229 Chapter 23 LEAVING YOUR POST .......................................................................................................... 238 Foreign Service Institute Transition Center SECTION 5: Finances, Legal, and Administrative Chapter 24 FINANCES .............................................................................................................................. 248 Chapter 25 INCOME TAXES ..................................................................................................................... 265 Chapter 26 ALLOWANCES AND BENEFITS ............................................................................................ 277 Chapter 27 TRAVEL AND LEAVE ............................................................................................................ 293 Chapter 28 LEGAL ISSUES ..................................................................................................................... 306 Chapter 29 INSURANCE .......................................................................................................................... 318 Chapter 30 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES ...................................................................................... 323 Chapter 31 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS .......................................................................... 337 Foreign Service Institute Transition Center PREFACE The Foreign Service Assignment Notebook (FSAN) offers an overview of preparations for an official overseas move. It guides U.S. Government foreign affairs employees and their family members through an process that, while often exciting, can be confusing. The FSAN is organized temporally, beginning with an introduction to the foreign affairs lifestyle, then moving into bidding considerations, preparing for your post, and life at post, and concludes with logistical and administrative topics that apply throughout. The FSAN draws on expertise from a variety of Department of State offices and provides many additional references and resources for further information. This publication provides an overview of the moving process and foreign affairs lifestyle. It should not be construed as legal, tax, or investment advice; consult a professional when needed. Some chapters contain information that changes rapidly and could be time sensitive. Always double check regulations before taking actions that could have legal or financial consequences. The U.S. Government does not endorse any commercial products or services. Any listings found in this publication are for informational or reference purposes only. vii Foreign Service Institute Transition Center ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Transition Center’s Overseas Briefing Center wishes to express its appreciation to everyone who reviewed, researched, updated, and cleared relevant sections of this publication. The Foreign Service Assignment Notebook owes much of its content to the collaboration between many offices in the Department of State as well as outside partner organizations, including: • The Transition Center at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI/TC) • The Family Liaison Office • The American Foreign Service Association • The Association of the American Foreign Service Worldwide • Bureau of Medical Services • Career Development Resource Center • The Child and Family Program • Employee Consultation Services • Fire Protection Division • Foreign Service Youth Foundation • Human Resources Office of Retirement • Office of Allowances • Office of Casualty Assistance • Office of Diplomatic Law and Legal Litigation • Office of Fire Protection • Office of Logistics Management • Office of Mail and Diplomatic Pouch Services • Office of Mental Health Services • Office of Overseas Schools • Transportation • Independent Consultants viii Foreign Service Institute Transition Center SECTIONSECTION 1: 1 Introduction to the Foreign Affairs Lifestyle Foreign Service Institute Transition Center 01 - OVERVIEW OF A U.S. MISSION SECTIONTHE ORGANIZATION 1 A U.S. mission exists to manage American diplomatic and consular activities within a country. A mission may consist of an embassy, consulate general, consulates, and other offices. Where the U.S. does not have full diplomatic relations with a nation, the U.S. may be represented by a liaison office or interests section. More than one U.S. mission may exist in a country if the U.S. has a multilateral mission, which is a delegation to an international organization such as the United Nations. Since ambassadors also head multilateral missions, two