Shipping and Packing
The USG will pay to ship this number of privately-owned vehicles (POVs) to post.
What is:
ONE
Answer YES or No
It is customary to give the good ole American handshake with everyone I meet at post.
What is:
NO
These are legal items I should have in place before going overseas.
What are:
Wills, Powers of Attorney, Letter of Instruction, Medical Directive.
Communicate to family or a trusted individual where documents are located. Determine WHO has access to them.
This APP allows me to organize my "to do" list, place items on my calendar, and provides contacts for Department offices that can help.
What is:
OBC's READY SET TRAVEL app!!
Available for iPhone and Android.
This category of family member does not receive travel benefits, health unit privileges, and other health insurance overseas.
What is:
Member of Household (MOH)
This shipment allows me to send food and other non-perishable items to post, if my post is designated for this extra shipment.
What is:
A consumables shipment.
2-year tour – 2,500 lbs / 3-year tour – 3,750 lbs. Weight includes packing materials. Check post restrictions. Consumables can also be packed in HHE.
Answer yes or no.
My American values, habits, and ways of viewing a situation will fit in fine at post.
What is:
Not necessarily.
Some banking arrangements to consider.
What are:
Overdraft coverage, investigate services of State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU), how to pay recurring bills, credit cards, Embassy check cashing, funds upon arrival at post, direct deposit of your tenant’s monthly check.
Post-specific resources and documents are found here.
What is:
POST INFO TO GO
Visitors to my post (family or otherwise) should consider these items when traveling to see me.
What are:
Proper inoculations, malaria medicine if needed, passport requirements, visas, overseas health coverage, SOS insurance for a medevac, evacuation insurance, cell phone coverage.
This resource helps me understand how to get my pet to post.
What is:
OBC's Shipping of Pets Checklist
OBC Pet Surveys
OBC's pet expert at FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov.
Answer yes or no.
Driving at post will be just like in the U.S. with a few challenges.
What is:
No! Every country has it's own rules of the road, in signage and unspoken. Learn the rules of your country of assignment.
Purchasing this type of insurance is highly recommended for my household effects (HHE).
What is:
FULL REPLACEMENT insurance.
Explore insurance carriers and the cost, buy commercial insurance, insure for FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE. Buy “riders” if needed for extremely valuable items. Check OBC's list of insurance providers.
This person can arrange things for me for my arrival at post, like money, food in my fridge, transportation to my office, and other helpful tasks.
What is:
My social sponsor and my office sponsor.
This office is responsible for my home security.
What is:
The Regional Security Office (RSO)
I should carry these important records with me to post.
What are:
Passports; Records for medical (including vaccines), spouse employment, military service; Birth certificates, marriage license, inventory of possessions, driver's license, official travel orders. Traveling with children? School records.
I can refuse to eat foods I don't like at a formal dinner event.
What is:
Depending on the culture of your host country, it may be rude to not eat. Have you RSVPed with your dietary preferences? It is a courtesy to alert your host in advance of your dietary restrictions (no meat, allergic to diary, etc.).
The Department of State offers this to ease financial burden of transition, available for employees on PCS to a foreign post.
What is:
Advance of Pay! Interest free loan, requested up to 45 days before departure (with travel orders) and until 60 days after arrival at post. Can borrow 6 pay periods net salary (max), paid back over 18 pay periods via payroll deduction.
This board arranges for my housing assignment.
What is:
The Interagency Housing Board (IAHB).
This office can help me hang pictures, and move some furniture around when I first arrive.
What is:
The General Services Office (GSO)
This group of items is best to organize first before the movers arrive.
What is:
Your luggage and carry on for the plane, then your air freight. Followed by your HHE, then storage.
This online (internet) training module allows you to learn about cross-cultural communication and how best to engage with new host country contacts.
What is:
So You're an American: A Guide to Answering Difficult Questions Abroad
This employee benefit helps me find lawyers, templated forms, guidance on financial matters, and more!
What is:
WorkLife4You!!
The Office of Medical Services has a worldwide network of these, assigned to keep us healthy, both physically and mentally.
What is:
Regional Medical Officers (RMOs) and Regional Medical Officers/Psychiatrists (RMO/Ps). Health Units are also staffed by qualified medical providers.
This office welcomes me to post, assigns my sponsor, hosts mission-wide welcome events, and makes sure I have a smooth transition to post.
What is:
The Community Liaison Office, staffed by a Community Liaison Office coordinator (CLO) and at some posts, a team of CLOs.