Following the termination of evacuation, may an employees EFMs remain at their safehaven on voluntary SMA and then return to post later?
Following termination of an authorized or ordered departure an employee may be elect voluntary SMA at the official safehaven for the EFMs previously eligible for SEA payments and for whom round-trip travel expenses have already been authorized, per DSSR 262.2. However, an EFM who has been living in an official overseas safehaven and wishes to remain there must reaffirm that this location meets Department of State security standards. The employee may be permitted to terminate this voluntary SMA and EFMs may be permitted to return to post provided return travel to post does not occur during the employees final 90 days at post, per DSSR 264.2(2). This SMA is not to be considered the one change of option during a tour of duty.
Related Questions
- If an employees spouse or domestic partner is in Washington, D.C. on voluntary SMA and the employee is evacuated from post to the safehaven site of Washington, D.C., is SMA terminated?
- After a period of time, if an unaccompanied post is declared accompanied and the employees EFMs want to return to post, what allowances may be granted the employee?
- Following the termination of evacuation, may an employees EFMs remain at their safehaven on voluntary SMA and then return to post later?
