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When traveling abroad for
official government travel you
must abide by all rules and
regulation set by the Federal
Travel Regulations (FTR’s), the
Agricultural Travel Regulations
(ATR’s) and any specific
directives of your agency.
Please follow the link below to
familiarize yourself with these
Federal and Agricultural Travel
Regulations.
Agency Directives
Contact your Agency Travel
Coordinator for agency specific
directives. FAS directives
related to travel are listed
below. You may contact the
International Travel Section
(ITS) for questions about FAS
specific travel directives.
Regulatory Compliance Do’s and
Don’ts for International Travel
DO’s
- Do provide sufficient details in
your travel authorization to
determine a valid trip purpose.
- Do provide cost estimates in
your travel authorization so you
can be authorized.
- Do pay attention to per diem
rates based on your TDY location
and the different countries
while on official duty.
- Follow your Agency policy on the
use of the CBA Account for the
payment of your international
ticket. Use your government
issued travel card for all other
expenses incurred during the
trip. Refer to the Travel Card
Do’s and Don’ts for more
information.
- Do use an electronic ticket when
possible, paper tickets should
only be granted when an
electronic ticket cannot be
obtained.
- Do carry your hardcopy approved
travel authorization and country
clearance with you for the
duration of your trip.
- Do scan all travel documents
including authorizations,
vouchers and supporting
documentation into GovTrip. If
not, you are expected to retain
them for a period of six years
nine months.
- Do keep all receipts for a
smooth vouchering process.
- Do file your travel
reimbursement claim (vouchering
out) within five days after
returning from your trip.
- Do return your official passport
to ITS (Room 1069, South
Building, Washington, DC) within
5 working days after returning
from your official trip.
- Do contact SATO for any travel
changes in your itinerary while
on trip (Phone Number:
1-877-698-2472, After Hours:
1-866-576-4635)
- Do contact your supervisor for
any travel changes that incur
additional costs.
- Do contact the embassy for any
problems with your visa.
DON’T’s
- Don’t fly premium class unless
you have authorization and
sufficient justification. You
must have approval from the
Under Secretary to fly premium
class.
- Don’t leave the USA without a
hardcopy approved country
clearance.
- Don’t travel on your personal
passport when traveling for
official government business
(unless you are visiting
Taiwan).
- Mixing official travel with
personal travel MUST be approved
by your supervisor. Clearly
identify the dates and locations
of mixed personal travel within
the comments section in GovTrip.
- Don’t go over the per diem rate
unless actual subsistence has
been approved.
- Don’t use non-contract carriers
when contract carriers are
available. You must have
justification and approval if
you are flying non-contract
(i.e. you must take a non
contract carrier in order to
reach your destination in time
for a meeting, the
departure/arrival time is too
early or too late and requires
you to be at the airport at an
unreasonable time, no space on
the contract carrier to reach
your meeting in time, etc.).
- Don’t fly on a non-American
carrier (Foreign Flag). You are
required by the Fly America Act
to use U.S. flag air carrier
service for all air travel
funded by the US Government. You
must fly as far as possible to
your final destination on the
American carrier. You must have
justification and approval if
you are flying on a foreign flag
carrier (i.e. there are no
American carrier’s between your
destinations, the layover on the
American carrier is too long
(four or more hours
internationally), taking an
American carrier requires you to
have two additional stops
overseas, etc.).
- For more information
about use of premium class,
non-contract or Fly America Act
please refer to pages 57-60 of
the FTR’s and Part 301-18 of the
Agriculture Travel Regulation
(ATR). FAS Travelers please also
refer to the Premium Class and
Actual Subsistence Directives.
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