Family Liaison Office

Welcome to the Family Liaison Office (FLO). Our office serves USG employees assigned to, serving at, or returning from a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad and their family members and Members of Household (MOH). FLO's mission is to improve the quality of life for Foreign Service employees and family members by identifying issues and advocating for programs and solutions, providing a variety of client services, and extending services to overseas communities by managing the worldwide Community Liaison Office (CLO) program. Our major areas of interest are Unaccompanied Tours, Family Member Employment, Education and Youth, and Crisis Management and Support Services which includes Post Evacuation and help for those experiencing a personal crisis. Please contact us directly if you need additional help. We also encourage you to read FS Direct which has our latest news and information for the Foreign Service community.

Weekly News Update

Are you leaving post this summer? FLO highly recommends that you hand carry many of your most important documents during your move. Consider scanning and saving your documents to a disc or memory stick. Or save everything on your laptop and carry it with you. Read more for a comprehensive list of documents to hand carry.

Checked Luggage Reimbursement Most major U.S. carriers have now modified their checked baggage policies by limiting the number of free checked bags to one and charging additional fees for anything exceeding the free baggage allowance. Effective May 5, 2008, all USG travelers on official orders may be reimbursed for the fee charged by an airline for checking in a second piece of luggage (STATE 04280, 4/23/08). The additional charges on a second checked bag fee can be itemized and reimbursed per 14 FAM 562.2(3). Please note, the weight and dimensions of the free checked bag and the chargeable second bag have not changed and may be viewed at the respective U.S carrier web sites. The cable also discusses details related to luggage in connection with cost construct or indirect travel and when receipts are required.

NOTE: This material is specific to Foreign Service employees and their families. Our materials are in the public domain. We ask that you credit our office if you use them.