Bidding, Travel, and Moving

Diplomats’ Resources: Assignment, Protocol, Acronyms, Prepare Your Move, and Apps

• Download PDF guides and phone apps to help you throughout your career, including magazines to help your teens feel comfortable and resilient: https://www.state.gov/fsitc-publications-and-online-resources/

BIDDING

• Hardship Differential Posts
• Post Info to Go (PITG): Research tool specifically designed to assist foreign affairs employees and their family members in the bidding and assignment process. Managed by the Overseas Briefing Center. Here’s how to access it: – If you have an OpenNet account, PITG is available online on the OBC OpenNet and GO Browser . – If you don’t have access to OpenNet, email PostInfotoGoExternal@state.gov to request access to Post Info To Go-External, a password-protected website for family members and FSOs.
• Tales from a Small Planet: Anonymous “Real Post Reports” and “Real School Reports” from cities all over the world, mainly written by Foreign Service community members.

RESEARCHING OVERSEAS SCHOOLS

• AFSA School Lists and Education Articles Archive
• Education Allowances
• International Schools Review
• Office of Overseas Schools (OOS)
• Regional Education Officers
• Tales from a Small Planet Real School Reports

RESEARCHING HEALTH OVERSEAS

• Center for Disease Control Traveler's Health
• Information on MED

MOVING

GENERAL

• Book: Realities of Foreign Service Life Vol. 1
• Book: Realities of Foreign Service Life Vol. 2
• Book: The Foreign Service Companion: Moving Your Household Without Losing Your Mind
• HHE & UAB Allowances
• Packing to Go Guide: How to pack a bag to go or stay.
• PCS Advice and Links from the U.S. military community
• State Department - It's Your Move
• State Department Office of Logistics Management
• Transition Center (TC), Foreign Service Institute

CONSUMABLES

• General Information on Consumables
• Posts with Consumables Allowance

ALLOWANCES

• Allowances for Transition
• Office of Allowances
• Shopping and Shipping Consumables
• Tips from Hardship Homemaking blog

MOVING INSURANCE

• AFSA Insurance Plans
• Clements Insurance
• USAA Permanent Change of Station

MOVING WITH PETS

• AFSA List of Pet Resources (members only)
• Hardship Homemaking blog Pets Posts
• OBC Post Info to Go Resources on Moving with Pets
• Pet Certification Requirements
• Pet Shipping Tips
• Pets and International Travel

NOTE: Airline requirements are constantly changing; contact the Overseas Briefing Center at fsiobcinfocenter@state.gov for updated information.

TRAVEL

• FAM Regulations
• Hardship Homemaking blog Travel Tips
• It's Your Move
• View a pdf of the current “It’s Your Move” pdf.
• Per Diem Regulations
• State Department Travel Advisories

UNACCOMPANIED TOUR RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

• FAQs for ISMA
• Foreign Service Youth Foundation (FSYF) Unaccompanied Tour Info

GENERAL EXPAT RESOURCES

• Career in Your Suitcase: Books and information for expats, especially spouses/partners.
• Families in Global Transition" Yearly conferences and information sharing for expat families and those who serve them.
• Interchange Institute: Non-profit researching expat issues and offering cross-cultural training.
• Permits Foundation" A non-profit working to improve work permit opportunities for expat spouses/partners, including a list of  permit info by country.
• Reports on Family Member Employment and Childcare by Post: Check OpenNet (employees) or email the Overseas Briefing Center at FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov
• State Department Country Information and Bidding Resources