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American Embassy London Administrative Notice DATE: December 30, 2003 SUBJECT: Member of Household (MOH) Program Ref: 00 STATE 242724 The Secretary of State's directive, as outlined in 00 State 242724, entitled “The War for Talent,” asked “each head of mission to ensure that State Department practices are fairly and equitably applied in a consistent manner to all members of the households (MOH) of State Department employees assigned to our missions abroad. Here I refer to those individuals who have accompanied the employee overseas and who the employee has declared to the Chief of Mission are part of his/her household and who will reside at post with the Employee.” This includes “not only spouses and dependent children but also unmarried partners, aging parents, other relatives or adult children who fall outside the Department's current legal and statutory definition of family members.” In order to responsibly implement the Secretary's directive, this policy outlines the procedures and criteria to allow permanent hire American employees to include their members of household, as defined by the Secretary, into the MOH program. The policy also outlines the services and access that will be afforded to members of household. This process is not required for those persons who are included on an employee's official orders.
The following categories of individuals are eligible for the program but must have “accompanied the employee to post and reside with the employee.” A. An employee's (or their spouse's) mother, father, sister,
brother, or children.
While the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) acknowledges that practice provides for the issuance of visas to members of household, the decision to issue or not issue the visa rests solely with the responsible UK Consulate or Embassy official reviewing the request. UK FCO is able to provide limited assistance in these cases. Employees whose MOHs encounter difficulties obtaining a visa should contact the London MGT/HRD Office.
In accordance with 00 State 242724, employees must begin the process by notifying the Chief of Mission that an individual is a member of their household by completing the attached form (See Attachment B). Approval by the Regional Security Officer, Management Minister Counselor and Ambassador is required for the individual to be covered by the provisions of the Mission's MOH program.
Members of household who qualify for this program will be provided access to the following services: A. Medical: Members of Household are not covered by the Department's
medical program. If the MOH is hired into an Embassy Locally Engaged (LE)
Staff position, the MOH will receive the same urgent care/first aid from
the Embassy Medical Unit as other LE Staff. All other medical care will
have to be obtained from local health care providers, not from the Embassy
Medical Unit. Employees are reminded that Medicare health insurance and
some U.S. based health insurance companies will not pay benefits overseas.
Likewise, coverage of medical evacuation costs is often not covered. Because
these costs can be substantial, employees are advised to consider purchasing
appropriate health/medical evacuation insurance for the MOH.
Any Member of Household (MOH) can use any of the services listed above when he/she is escorted by anyone holding a green, blue, or yellow Embassy badge. MOHs may qualify for unescorted access to the general working areas of the Embassy when the MOH is an American citizen or a qualified foreign national and appropriate security checks have been conducted. Some nationalities are restricted from inclusion in the MOH program. Qualified MOHs, who have been notified to the Ambassador (see section III) and who have undergone an RSO security check, will be provided with an ID badge. These badges will provide unescorted access into the facility after screening at the gate. MOHs will not have escort privileges. Note: All persons applying for a building pass under the MOH program must submit an “Authority for Release of Information” form to RSO (Attachment C).
In accordance with 3 FAM 629.2-1, “An employee intending to marry to a foreign national must inform his/her agency in writing at least 120 days prior to the expected date of marriage.” In an overseas setting, the employee will normally inform his/her section/agency head, Human Resources Officer and the RSO of his/her intention to marry a foreign national. Failure to properly notify appropriate supervisory and management personnel can result in suspension or loss of security clearance. Once reported, post will provide administrative guidance to the employee, along with certain forms to fill out. Contact the Human Resources and Development Office for guidance on how to report an intent to marry a foreign national. Cohabitation or a personal, romantic, or sexually intimate and continuing relationship with a foreign national must be reported by the employee to his/her section/agency head, the Human Resources Officer, and the RSO. The regulations treat cohabitation and continuing intimate relationships in much the same manner as marriage to a foreign national. As in the case of marriage, failure to report a relationship can result in suspension, or loss of security clearance. Employees are not required to report sporadic romantic or sexually intimate relationships with a foreign national until such time as an employee contemplates marriage, cohabitation, or a long-term relationship. Again, contact the HRD Office for guidance on how to report cohabitation or a continuing relationship with a foreign national. IMPORTANT: Regardless of the duration of the relationship, employees must report all contacts with individuals of any nationality whenever illegal or unauthorized access is sought to sensitive information, or the employee is concerned that he/she may be the target of exploitation. Relationships with nationals of countries known to be hostile to the United States should be avoided. Questions concerning these countries, and other related issues, should be directed to the Regional Security Office.
Any questions concerning this policy should be directed, as appropriate, either to the Management Officer or the Regional Security Officer.
A. UK Entry Clearance And Visa Issuance Information Sheet B. Member of Household Notification Memorandum C. Authority For Release Of Information For Member of Household (MOH) Program Applicants ATTACHMENT A UK ENTRY CLEARANCE AND VISA ISSUANCE INFORMATION A. MOH Unmarried Partners of Same and Opposite Sex: Under current U.K. practice, MOH partners may obtain entry clearance for the duration of the employee's posting and are able to take employment in the UK. In order to work over here, partners need to have the appropriate visa entry clearance before arriving in the UK. To apply for visa entry clearance, the MOH must complete both IM2A and IM2B application forms, which can be found on the UK Visas website, www.ukvisas.gov, under “application forms.” Once the forms are completed, the MOH needs to send them to the nearest British Visa issuing post, a list of which can be found on the UK Visas website, by going to “links” then “UK Overseas Missions”. The type of entry clearance required is as “settlement as a partner.” It is advisable for you to include the following information in your application: a) a cover letter explaining that you are applying for the visa so that you are able to work in the UK during the time that your partner is posted to the Mission; and b) a copy of the sponsoring employee's assignment notice and travel orders; and c) evidence of cohabitation such as bank statements and utility letters addressed to both parties at the same address for the same period. Couples often send holiday photographs and snaps taken at Christmas or birthdays along with cards and letters they have sent to each other over a period of time. UK Immigration likes to see that there has been a relationship for at least 2 years. Your passport should be stamped as "given leave exceptionally outside the rules." It will either last for 12 months and have to be renewed, or UK Immigration may stamp it to the end date of your partner's TOD. It is imperative that you get the entry clearance before you arrive in the UK. If you arrive without it you may be refused entry and even if you are allowed to enter as a visitor you will not be able to work and also will not be able to change your status or "switch" at a later stage. The UK Home Office cannot estimate how long this process takes as each case is different.
UK laws and practice govern the treatment of all other MOHs. The conditions
are those that apply to any U.S. citizen seeking entry to the U.K. and
permission to work. This category is not permitted to work on the local
economy, but can apply for a US Embassy 1) Must be related to a person present and settled in the United Kingdom
in one of the following ways: Note: This information was provided by UK authorities and is subject to change. The Embassy's Human Resources and Development Office will ask the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office to intervene on your behalf if you encounter difficulties with an MOH application. However, the decision to issue or deny the visa request rests solely with the UK Consulate or Embassy official reviewing the request. Any fees related charged by the UK authorities for issuance of a visa or entry clearance for an MOH will be the responsibility of the employee and the MOH.
UNCLASSIFIED A. General Information: B. If MOH is not a relative, please complete the following. Otherwise
skip to C: C. If MOH is a Foreign National, please complete the following. Otherwise,
skip to D: D. Security Related Information (ALL MOHs must complete): 1. Are you now, or have you ever been employed by or acted as a foreign
consultant or agent of a foreign government, firm, or agency? 2. Have you ever been charged or convicted with any criminal offense? 3. Have you ever knowingly engaged in any acts or activities designed
to overthrow the U.S. Government by force? 4. Have you ever been an officer or a member of an organization or made
a contribution to an organization dedicated to the violent overthrow of
the U.S. Government which engages in illegal activity to that end, knowing
that the organization engages in such activities with the specific intent
to further such activities? E. Reporting Cohabitation and Equivalent Bonds of Marriage (Employee must complete this section if MOH is their unmarried partner and a foreign national.) I have read, understand and have been provided a copy of the policies
concerning reporting requirements for cohabitation and equivalent bonds
of marriage. F. Certification: My statements on this form and any attachments to it are true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. I understand that a knowing and willful false statement on this form can be punished by fine and imprisonment or both (See sections 1001 of title 18, United States Code). Employee's MOH's G. Emergency Notification Information (optional): H. Do you want the MOH's name to appear in the Embassy phone directory? I. Decision on approval of MOH status for _________________________________:
ATTACHMENT C U. S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Please fill out the requested information in the appropriate spaces below. This information will be used to verify eligibility of the Member of Household (MOH) for unescorted access to general areas of the Chancery. If more space is needed, use an additional sheet of paper and attach it to this document. Give the completed form to MGT/HRD. MOH's Full Name: __________________________________________ Other Names Used: __________________________________________ Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy): __________________________________________ Place of Birth: __________________________________________ Citizen of (name of country): __________________________________________ Social Security Number (if applicable): __________________________________________
__________________________________________ Telephone: __________________________________________
__________________________________________
Employer's Telephone Number: __________________________________________ Employer's Address: __________________________________________
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