Employee with a disability : See also special needs. An employee who has a disability as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of , as amended 29 U. Exceptions Committee EC : A committee established to review requests from employees for relief from costs incurred due to travel, transportation, or storage of effects that are truly exceptional in nature.
Excess luggage : The extra weight or number of pieces of accompanied baggage luggage that exceed the checked luggage allowance outlined in 14 FAM Extra-fare train : A train that operates at an increased fare due to the extra performance of the train i. The term "extra-fare train" does not mean first-class train accommodations, even though an extra-fare train may offer first-class accommodations see 14 FAM First-class air accommodations : Generally, the highest class of accommodations offered by the airlines in terms of both cost and amenities.
First-class cruise vessel accommodations : Includes all accommodation classes above the lowest class, including, but not limited to, suites.
First-class train accommodations : Includes bedroom, roomettes, club service, parlor car accommodations, business-class, or other premium accommodations. Foreign air carrier : An air carrier that is not holding a certificate issued by the United States under 49 U.
See also nonforeign area. Foreign-flag vessel : Vessel registered under the laws of a foreign country. Global distribution system GDS : A worldwide computerized travel reservation network used as a single point of access for reserving airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel-related items by travel agents, online reservation sites, and large corporations.
Government contractor-issued individually-billed account IBA charge card for travel : A Government contractor-issued charge card, also known as a travel card, issued to an employee to pay for official travel and transportation related expenses, such as meals, lodging, and rental cars while on official travel. The contractor bills the employee for use of the travel card and the Department reimburses the employee for authorized official travel-related expenses.
This purchase form may be used to procure directly from either a Travel Management Center TMC or a travel agent, and obligates the Government to pay for travel and transportation services provided. Gross weight : Obtained by adding to the net weight the weight of lift vans, outside shipping containers, and the weight of dunnage or bracing material used to secure articles in such vans or containers.
Heads of agency at establishments abroad : The highest ranking person at an agency establishment abroad authorized to make determinations on behalf of the agency. Includes, but is not limited to, the USAID mission director or USAID representative; officers in charge of radio relay stations or radio program centers; and officers in charge of regional service centers. Household effects HHE : Property, unless specifically excluded, associated with the home and all personal effects belonging to an employee and immediate family members that legally may be accepted and transported by a commercial carrier.
Incidental expenses : See the definition of per diem. Indirect route : The portion of any journey that deviates from a usually traveled route. Indirect travel : Personal travel done on a cost-constructive basis against official i. Indirect travel is subject to the provisions of 14 FAM Innovative Mobility Technology Company IMTC : An entity, other than a TNC, that applies technology to expand and enhance available transportation choices and better manage demand for transportation services.
Layover : The period of time between connecting flights during travel. Per diem including lodging may be authorized for layovers that encompass any hours of darkness during which it could normally be expected that the traveler would need to sleep between flights.
Per diem including lodging may be authorized for extended daytime layovers in circumstances during which it could normally be expected that the traveler would need bed-rest; for example, travelers with special needs or families with infants. See the definition of per diem.
Locality rates : The maximum per diem rates prescribed for specific localities. Lodging : See the definition of per diem. Lodging-plus per diem system : A single worldwide computation system that includes two components:. These rates are prescribed by the appropriate agency's regulations the authorizing officer may specify a lesser rate under certain circumstances. Lowest-class cruise vessel accommodations : The least expensive class of reserved accommodations available on a steamer.
Meals : See the definition of per diem. Mobile home : Any type of house trailer or mobile dwelling constructed for use as a residence and designed to be moved overland, either by self-propulsion or towing.
Net weight : Consists of actual effects plus cartons, barrels, fiber drums, crates and boxes, as well the necessary wrapping and cushioning material, used to pack small or fragile articles for shipment or storage. Such articles include clothing, linens, books, pictures, mirrors, lampshades and bases, bric-a-brac, glassware, chinaware, and other small articles that normally require preliminary packing before removal from the residence.
New appointees : Includes not only individuals when first appointed to U. Government service but also individuals appointed after a break in service except that employees separated as a result of reduction-in-force or transfer of function may be treated as transferees instead of new appointees. New appointees do not include individuals who transfer from one Federal Government personnel system to another Federal Government personnel system where there is no break in service.
Nontemporary storage : The permanent storage of household effects while an employee is assigned to or is at an official station or duty post to which the employee is not authorized to take a portion of the regulatory HHE weight entitlement due to post specific weight or other post specific restrictions, or which is authorized in the public interest.
This term has the same meaning as continuous storage. Official rest stop : An official rest stop is defined as a U. Government-funded rest period, not to exceed 24 hours, plus necessary time to obtain the earliest transportation to the authorized destination. Official station : The official station of an employee is the location of the employee's permanent work assignment.
The geographic limits of the official station are:. Overnight : The period during which lodging for sleeping facilities is authorized, usually during the hours of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
Per diem : The per diem allowance also referred to as subsistence allowance is a daily payment instead of reimbursement for actual expenses for lodging, meals, and related incidental expenses. The per diem allowance is separate from transportation expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. Career Tracks. When registering to take the Foreign Service Officer Test, you will be asked to make the first big decision of your future Foreign Service Officer career — the choice of a career track.
Selection Process. The Foreign Service Officer selection process begins with online registration, proceeds through the selection process, and, for those who succeed, culminates in hiring from the Register for assignment to the training and orientation course known as A that marks the beginning of every Foreign Service Officer career.
Who We Look For. The provisions in this subchapter govern the acceptance and use of gifts to the Department of State from nonfederal sources and the solicitation of gifts for the Department, when such solicitation assists the Department in carrying out its official functions in the United States and abroad. Government, including but not limited to corporations, nonprofit organizations or associations, international or multinational organizations, and foreign, state, or local governments;.
Public diplomacy purposes abroad are distinguishable from representational use. Reference 2 FAM He or she is responsible for the acceptance of all gifts to the Department of State for official purposes, unless a specific delegation to another official has been made in these provisions or subsequently, in writing, from the Under Secretary or from a person delegated authority to accept gifts under these provisions. Any person who has been delegated authority to accept gifts under these provisions will consider the same criteria that the Under Secretary considers consistent with 2 FAM No Department employee may engage in solicitation or other fundraising activities for U.
Government use, or for the use of an outside organization without prior authorization, in writing, from the Under Secretary for Management, except as specifically authorized in 2 FAM Regarding vetting of foreign entities and individuals for the due diligence informational memorandum referenced in paragraph a of this section, if the foreign individual or entity has a significant U.
If, however, the foreign individual or entity does not have a significant U. If the condensed vet reveals any red flags, a standard full vet will be performed. This memorandum must include the following:.
Corporate donors should provide a list and description of their subsidiaries. The Under Secretary will generally not approve a request to solicit an entity that:. The Under Secretary will also not approve a request for authority to solicit that would cause a reasonable person to question the impartiality of any Department official.
In addition, the Under Secretary will generally not approve solicitation or fundraising proposals that involve a significant use of appropriated funds in order to conduct the solicitation. Approval of solicitation or other fundraising proposals requires balancing the U. Governmental policy interests in favor of fundraising against the potential risks of Department involvement in raising money from the private sector.
This process inherently requires making judgment calls about issues, such as the importance of the project and the risks that the Department will be subjected to criticism for its activities. Sections 2 FAM As a general matter, the Department's acceptance of official gifts from foreign governments or international organizations must be reported to the Office of the Chief of Protocol Gift Unit via the Chief of Protocol's gift registration form. An employee offered a personal gift that he or she cannot accept under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act 5 U.
The management officer at post, in consultation with the Office of the Chief of Protocol, determines whether returning an overvalued gift would likely cause embarrassment or offense, or would adversely affect the foreign relations of the United States.
The chief of mission COM or other Department official must forward all offers of gifts involving real property at an overseas post to OBO, along with the post's recommendation regarding acceptance.
OBO recommends whether to accept or decline all real property gifts. These recommendations will take into account any appearance of a conflict of interest, the desirability of the gift in terms of appropriateness, need, usefulness to the U. Government, and associated life-cycle maintenance costs. Upon approval, the COM assigned to the post or the relevant Department official issues a formal letter of acceptance on behalf of the U. OBO will supply a draft text. This includes, but is not limited to:.
Government; and. This includes artworks and transportation of gifts. The Office of Art in Embassies shall prepare and manage the drafting and routing of all relevant recommendation, approval, and notification documents, which formally records acceptance or rejection. Several gifts may be included in the same memo, if needed. The Office of Art in Embassies may use this authority to accept works of art for its permanent inventory for use to lend to posts, embassies, consulates and COM residences.
If other authority to accept a gift of artwork exists, for instance, if a piece of artwork is accepted on behalf of the Department, under 3 FAM or under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, separate approval from the OBO Director is not required. However, approval from the OAC is required if the artwork is going to be displayed in a public area. Donations for such projects should be made directly to the Department.
Foundations should generally not serve as an intermediary for gifts. Ambassadors and other principal officers should be aware that, in cases involving personal donations to the Department for the purpose of activities at post, including embassy refurbishment in their host countries, whether cash or in-kind, the Department is generally unable to provide a statement to the donor confirming that it has provided no goods or services in consideration for the contribution.
As a result, the Internal Revenue Service IRS may treat such donations as unreimbursed business expenses rather than charitable gifts for tax purposes. OBO must approve of the proposed project e. To do so, OBO is responsible for:. If OBO approves a project proposed by post, it will submit a project approval memorandum to the appropriate regional bureau indicating the approved scope of work and the estimated cost. Once the project is approved, the COM or other Department official may propose a method of fund raising e.
The COM or other Department official submits a written proposal to the Under Secretary for Management via the applicable regional bureau seeking authority to raise funds for the OBO approved project.
The Action Memo to the Under Secretary should include:. All solicitation proposals for OBO approved projects should adhere to the following:. If a gift is accepted by post, the management officer must report the gift in the Gift Fund Registry, with the exception of those gifts listed in 2 FAM , subparagraph a 3.
Management officers at post may accept gifts to be used for representational purposes in their countries of assignment only in accordance with the following principles:. Government employees has been determined to further the interests of the United States and its mission abroad, following the procedures in 2 FAM Some examples are functions to introduce visiting scholars or artists, receptions to open a cultural event e.
However, incidental travel outside the United States, not involving an overnight stay, is acceptable under these regulations. Any leave used en route will be charged to annual leave, sick leave, earned compensatory time, or LWOP, as appropriate. However, accrued annual leave or LWOP may be granted in combination with home leave. Home leave may not be used except during the period for which it has been authorized and for which home leave travel authorizations have been issued.
Unused home leave may be added to future accruals and used when the employee again becomes eligible and is authorized home leave travel. Home leave will be granted only when, in accordance with 3 FAM Civil Service employees serving under limited noncareer appointments LNAs or other temporary Foreign Service appointments abroad are not eligible for home leave when they return to a domestic position upon completion of the assignment.
Unused home leave may not be the basis of any lump-sum payment upon separation. The authorizing official should seek to approve trips that are cost effective to the U. Government at the time of actual travel. Timing of trips should be arranged to take advantage of:. Travel to a location in the United States other than the home leave address is permitted on a cost-construct basis using travel to the home leave address of record as the basis for the allowable travel expenses.
Employees are granted transit time in conjunction with home leave travel. Home leave will be charged for all days on which an employee would otherwise work in the basic hour workweek, including any local holidays which occur at the post of assignment while the employee is in the United States or a U. The minimum charge is 1 day and additional charges are in multiples of 1 day. Home leave will not be charged for any day in which an employee spends authorized time in community relations and public affairs activities such as speeches and participation in university seminars and media events.
Time spent in such activities, when approved in advance by the foreign affairs agency, is considered performance of duty. When a determination is made that a refund of all home leave is required, the employee must repay the transportation costs connected with the home leave and must have the home leave charge changed to annual leave.
If a partial refund of home leave is required, that portion is charged to annual leave, and there is no requirement to repay the transportation costs, provided that the minimum time requirements for home leave are met refer to 5 CFR Such exceptions may involve physical or mental health or circumstances over which the employee had no control; or.
If an employee is on home leave and a determination is made that he or she must not be retained in the Foreign Service, the appropriate human resources office must immediately notify the employee of such determination.
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