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DE RUEHC #8518/01 1822120
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 012058Z JUL 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 8136

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 068518 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ATRN AMGT AFIN KSEP
SUBJECT: Travel and Transportation Guidance for Same-Sex 
Domestic Partners 
 
REFERENCE:  09 State 066740 
 
¶1.  Effective June 26, 2009, the Department of State extended 
transfer entitlements to same-sex domestic partners and their 
children.  Travel authorizations (TA) that include same-sex 
domestic partners and other Eligible Family Members (EFMs) 
will allow for transportation entitlements that include travel 
and shipment of unaccompanied air baggage (UAB).  This cable 
provides travel and transportation guidance for managing the 
transition to the new policy.  It is important to note that to 
obtain these benefits for your same-sex domestic partner, the 
first step is to file the affidavit of eligibility for 
benefits and obligations (see reftel). 
 
------------------- 
Airline Tickets 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  You should submit a copy of your TA to your Travel 
Management Center (TMC) for purchasing an airline ticket for 
your same-sex domestic partner and other EFMs.  If your same- 
sex domestic partner and other EFMs were not included on the 
order at the time it was issued, you must have the TA amended 
before tickets can be issued against it.  If you purchased 
tickets with personal funds, and travel commenced on or after 
June 26, 2009, then you may request reimbursement up to the 
amount that would have been paid by the Department providing 
the ticket was purchased in accordance with the provisions of 
the Fly America Act (14 FAM 545.2).  Tickets purchased with 
travel performed prior to June 26, 2009 - the effective date 
of the new policy - are not reimbursable. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Unaccompanied Air Baggage 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  Your same-sex domestic partner, as an EFM, is entitled to 
200 pounds of unaccompanied air baggage, as per 14 FAM 613.3- 
¶1. 
If you shipped UAB for your same-sex domestic partner using 
personal funds prior to June 26, 2009, you will not be 
reimbursed.  If your UAB shipped on or after the effective 
date, but prior to your orders being amended, you may request 
reimbursement for the cost up to the weight entitlements.  If 
you ship your family's UAB using your amended travel order, 
the shipping services will be purchased by the Transportation 
Division and reimbursements should not be necessary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Consumables, Household Effects and POVs 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4.  Entitlements for shipments of consumables, household 
effects, and personally owned vehicles are not affected by 
this change in policy as those entitlements are the same 
regardless of the number of EFMs on your orders. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
The following FAQs are provided as guidance: 
 
¶5.  Q:  My same-sex domestic partner is already with me at 
post and my travel authorization is still valid because I have 
not been at post more than one year.  Once I have my travel 
order amended to add my same-sex domestic partner, can I then 
ship 200 pounds of UAB for my partner? 
 
A:  No. Your same-sex domestic partner is already at post with 
you and the intent of the UAB is to provide items needed while 
enroute and immediately upon arrival.   See 14 FAM 613.3-1(c). 
Your same-sex domestic partner will, however, be authorized 
shipment of 200 pounds of UAB from your current post to your 
next assignment when s/he is included on your Travel 
Authorization. 
 
¶6.  Q:  My same-sex domestic partner has items in a house in 
the U.S. that I would like placed into storage.  Can I do 
that? 
 
A:  Yes.  When you have your travel order amended to indicate 
that you have acquired a same-sex domestic partner, the items 
may be placed in storage under your travel order, provided you 
have a sufficient amount of HHE weight entitlement remaining. 
For example, if you are at a limited shipment (7,200 lbs.) 
post and have already utilized 4,000 lbs. of that allowance, 
 
STATE 00068518  002 OF 002 
 
 
you can ship up to the remaining 3,200 lbs.  The shipment may 
be sent to post and/or to storage. 
 
¶7.  Q:  I already booked the flight for my same-sex domestic 
partner and paid for the ticket in anticipation of my upcoming 
transfer.  Will I be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket? 
 
A:  It depends upon the date of travel.  If the travel did not 
occur prior to June 26, 2009, the effective date of the change 
in entitlements, you may submit a request for the use of 
personal funds to purchase an official ticket, to the Chief of 
Transportation (Edward J. Brennan), along with your amended 
travel order.  He will review the expenditures and authorize 
the use of the personal funds up to what the USG would have 
paid and you may then request reimbursement on your travel 
voucher.  Important Note:  The ticket must have been purchased 
in accordance with the Fly America Act (see 14 FAM 581.4). 
Travel commencing before the effective date is not 
reimbursable. 
 
¶8.  Please send your questions regarding travel and 
transportation issues related to this policy to 
Transportationquery@State.gov. 
 
 
¶9.  Minimized considered. 
CLINTON