ADS Chapter 523 - Foreign Service Assignment Travel

The chapter also covers the storage and shipment of their furniture, household and personal effects, and motor vehicles. The Bureau for Management, Office of Administrative Services, Travel and Transportation Division (M/AS/TT), in conjunction with the Agency's Office of Human Resources (M/HR), the Office of Financial Management (M/FM), and the Department of State, is responsible for developing and promulgating travel policies and procedures, and for administering and coordinating the travel and transportation activities for the Agency. Foreign Service employees and their families are responsible for performing official travel in accordance with the governing regulations and for the payment of any charges incurred through noncompliance with applicable regulations. The Uniform Foreign Affairs Travel Regulations, 6 FAM 100, govern the travel of Foreign Service employees, Foreign Compensation (FC) schedule employees of Participating Agency Service Agreements (PASA), including commissioned officers of the Uniformed Services assigned to USAID programs overseas, and their families. These regulations also govern the shipment and storage of their furniture, household and personal effects, and privately owned motor vehicles. The regulations apply to travel and transportation within the United States as well as overseas. Foreign Service employees and their families are entitled to various types of travel, including official travel, rest and recuperation travel, home leave travel, and medical travel. The chapter provides information on the use of U.S. flag carriers, U.S. and foreign flag vessels, and premium class travel. It also outlines the procedures for acquiring a new family member, visitation travel, emergency visitation travel, and educational travel of dependent children. The chapter references various external and internal mandatory references, including the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR), Chapter 200, Cost of Living Allowances, and 6 FAM 100, Travel, Transportation, and Storage. It also defines key terms, such as accommodations, agency, family/authorized dependents, American ship, and non-temporary storage/continuous storage. In terms of storage and shipment, Foreign Service employees and their families are entitled to non-temporary storage/continuous storage of their household goods, which includes allowable expenses for continuous storage of household goods belonging to Agency employees. The chapter provides information on the shipment of household effects, including weight allowances and the shipment of consumables. Overall, ADS Chapter 523 provides a comprehensive framework for Foreign Service assignment travel, including policy and procedures, mandatory references, and definitions. It is essential for Foreign Service employees and their families to understand and comply with these regulations to ensure smooth and efficient travel and storage of their belongings.