National Park Service International Travel

Policies and Procedures

 

Policies:
  1. The National Park Service’s (NPS) Office of International Affairs (OIA) is the officially designated NPS office to ensure implementation of the Federal, Department of the Interior (DOI), and NPS international travel procedures and regulations.
  2. NPS employees must comply with U.S. law and DOI Foreign Travel Regulations located in the Departmental Manual, Part 347, Chapters 7 and 8; as well as NPS regulations when traveling internationally on government business.
  3. No approval is required for NPS employees traveling internationally on vacation or attending international conferences, etc. at their own expense.
  4. NPS employees cannot represent the Service in any capacity internationally if they are in "Leave without Pay", "Administrative Leave", or "Annual Leave" status.
  5. Official approval is needed for NPS employees traveling internationally if the NPS contributes to any costs, including salary and benefits, while the employee is in travel status (e.g. Albright-Wirth or other grant recipients).
  6. Approval for foreign travel must be granted before NPS employees can officially accept invitations to attend meetings or address peers at professional conferences in other countries.
  7. All appropriate paperwork must be completed and approval granted from NPS, DOI, and the State Department before international travel for U.S. Government business is initiated.
  8. NPS employees cannot accept honoraria (cash or check) from sources other than the U.S. government for international travel activities. In-kind donations for lodging, meals, etc. can be accepted but an ethics form must be completed and approved prior to international travel.
  9. All international travel vouchers, except those for cross-border travel that is exempt from DI-1175 requirements, must be processed by the Service’s Accounting Operations Center (AOC). AOC does not process any international travel voucher unless an approved DI-1175 is attached.
  10. Consistent with DOI policy, the number of travelers and the number and length of trips to foreign countries are to be held to the absolute minimum necessary for the conduct of essential business and to accomplish established NPS objectives.

 

Procedures:

Learning about international travel opportunities:

1. How can I learn about international projects, conferences, travel, etc.?

  1. Openings will be announced on the OIA website.
  2. You, through your professional contacts and networks, may also learn about international opportunities, especially meetings, conferences, and speaking engagements. You are encouraged to notify OIA about these opportunities so that they can be posted Servicewide. Sharing this information should increase your peers’ knowledge about collaboration and cooperation opportunities and therefore strengthen the Service’s ability to accomplish its mission and enhance its reputation internationally.
  3. If you receive numerous requests from your international peers to speak at conferences and/or provide technical assistance, OIA encourages you to limit your acceptance of these invitations so that other highly skilled NPS employees interested in traveling internationally may learn from their peers in other countries. The Service has a large number of employees with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and experiences who are eager to work with their international counterparts.

2. How can I indicate my interest in participating in international assignments?

  1. You are encouraged to indicate your interest and skills in the electronic Skills Roster. The Skills Roster was developed in partnership with the Service’s Interpretive Services Division. (Note: Unfortunately, information stored in OIA’s old hard copy files and in earlier electronic versions can not be transferred into the new electronic skills roster. You will need to re-file if your information was submitted prior to 2/2000. Because the Skills Roster is on the NPS Intranet, the information can only be entered from an NPS-linked computer.)

b. You are also encouraged to apply for each posted announcement you are interested in by submitting the requested paperwork to the listed selecting official. (OIA also posts announcements for other agencies and usually they, not OIA, are the selecting agencies.)

 

Required paperwork and documentation for international travel:

NOTE: The single most important component of the NPS international travel procedures is getting your paperwork in on time.

First, you must notify your Regional or WASO travel coordinator (and submit the Congressional Review Form) of any planned foreign travel for the 2nd Quarter of FY2006 by November 18, 2005, for the 3rd Quarter by February 18, 2006, and for the 4th Quarter by May 20, 2006 (the only exemption to this is "cross-border" as defined below).

Next, you must also prepare and submit the following forms to OIA as soon as possible, but no later than 5 and 1/2 weeks before the anticipated departure date:
  1. Foreign Travel Certification [DI-1175] form---Fill in this form as accurately and completely as possible, especially the section identifying costs. Because the costs that you list on the DI-1175 are used to calculate the amount spent by the Service on international travel, it is important to be as accurate as possible. Be sure that all costs are listed in U.S. dollars.
      1. List all cities and countries to be visited with dates for official travel to each city.
      2. Purpose of travel: Please identify the appropriate purpose. "Other" category includes workshops, collaborations, working group meetings, scoping trips, etc. which should be typed/written in the space provided.
      3. Provide a brief justification for travel for each official stop. A more detailed justification memo should also be attached (see below).
      4. To compute your salary costs, divide your per annum salary by 2087. Multiply this number by 8 and then multiple this by the number of WORKDAYS that you will be away from your duty station.
      5. As with domestic travel, there are established U.S. government foreign per diem rates. See http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/. The amounts listed are in U.S. dollars.
      6. To be able to convert foreign lodging rates to dollars to determine if the lodging is within per diem, there are several currency converters available on the web. Note: conversion rates may differ slightly from site to site. Two sites are: http://www.oanda.com and http://www.xe.net/ucc/.
      7. Meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) for the travel days to and from the U.S. should be based upon 3/4 of the M&IE rate of the international city traveled to (and where you spend the first night in official travel status) and 3/4 of the M&IE rate at the international location where you spend the last night in official travel status before returning home to U.S.
      8. Estimated transportation costs can be provided by your official government contract travel agency. You are encouraged to make tentative travel arrangements for transportation and lodging (pending approved travel authorization number) when you call the travel office. This will reserve your space and can always be cancelled, if needed. Do not wait for the DI-1175 to be completely approved before initiating the reservations process.
      9. Other costs: For miscellaneous expenses such as taxi fares, registration, etc. Approximately $100 usually will suffice unless known expenses exceed that amount.
      10. If any of your expenses are paid or donated by agencies or organizations other than the Service, they must be identified on the DI-1175. If the source is not the U.S. government, you must also complete an ethics form (See below).
      11. Annual leave of more than one day must be noted on the DI-1175. Although it is not required, it would be helpful if a 24-hour contact number during the annual leave is provided for emergency purposes.
    1. Justification memo---A memo justifying your international travel must be forwarded to and signed by your regional director or WASO Associate Director and attached to your DI-1175.
      1. All international travel (with the exception of "cross-border" travel) must be reviewed by the Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. See a Sample Memo
      2. If other NPS employees are traveling to the same location for the same purpose, a single package containing all DI-1175 forms with one justification memo should be submitted to OIA for review and approval. The memo should identify objective(s) of the trip, the benefits of the trip to the Service, and the consequences if the travel does not occur. It should also emphasize why each particular employee needs to travel, his/her unique skills, and role or function during the trip.
    1. Passport request form---This form must be completed and submitted with your DI-1175 to obtain your official government passport.
    2. Telephone/fax contact numbers---List in-country emergency contact information. (The phone/fax numbers of the primary contact person in the host country or a 24-hour phone and/or fax number such as hotel will suffice.)
    3. Ethics form [DI-2000]--If you anticipate receiving any in-kind donations (e.g. plane ticket, hotel accommodations, or meals) for costs related to your international travel from a source other than the U.S. government, you must indicate this on your travel authorization and DI-1175 and complete an ethics form [DI-2000] to be submitted along with the DI-1175. The ethics form must be signed by your park, region, or WASO ethics counselor. (See Appendix A)
    4. If your lodging and/or meals will be provided at no charge, your voucher should indicate $0/day for lodging and $2/day for M&IE (You are still entitled to $2/per day for incidentals.) A note explaining that lodging and/or meals were provided by the donor should be noted in the "Remarks" section
    5. Extended travel---When official foreign travel requires you to be away from your duty station for more than 30 days, you must provide a statement with your DI-1175 detailing the effects, if any, such an extended absence might have on the accomplishment of your duties.
    6. Travel Into Next Fiscal Year---If at all possible, you should avoid international travel that overlaps from one fiscal year into the next fiscal year. If Congress has not yet approved DOI’s budget when you prepare your DI-1175, you must include the following statement: "Pending enactment of DOI FY’__ appropriations or continuing resolution." If neither occurs and the government is shut down, ALL government employees on international travel must return to the U.S. immediately, NO EXCEPTIONS.
    7. Amendments---If any information provided in the original DI-1175 changes (i.e. travel dates changed, postponed, or canceled; staff substitution; funding) you must file an amendment. If the travel dates or persons traveling change, OIA must to send a revised cable to the appropriate U.S. embassy. As with the original dates, you can not travel until embassy clearance is obtained. Notify OIA as soon as you know that changes are needed.
    8. Travel Authorization---As with domestic travel, you will need to prepare a standard travel authorization to be signed by your immediate supervisor. As of March 5, 2004, all NPS international travel requests must include a signed Travel Authorization before they can be considered for clearance by the NPS Deputy Director and Department of the Interior.

    1. Where can I obtain the necessary travel approval forms and assistance in completing them?
    1. If you are not traveling at the request of OIA, you are responsible for making your own travel arrangements, (flights, hotel, etc.) and providing OIA with a copy of your travel itinerary.
    2. All international travel forms are available from OIA via e-mail or fax. They must be returned to OIA as a complete package for processing. If you have any questions, please contact OIA.
    3. If you are traveling at the request of OIA, we will complete the necessary paperwork for you, but you will need to provide necessary personal information such as social security number, grade, passport number, etc. in order to process the travel authorization and DI-1175.

    3. What is the deadline for submitting the paperwork?

    1. You must submit all required paperwork to OIA no later than five and one half weeks (37 calendar or 27 business days) before the proposed travel. This deadline is needed so that all appropriate approval signatures can be obtained (in the Service and DOI) and Embassy clearance prior to your departure date.
    2. In order to meet this deadline, you may fax or e-mail the necessary paperwork to OIA with the original to follow.
    3. Failure to meet this deadline will seriously jeopardize your chances of obtaining clearance to travel.

    4. What steps must be completed to obtain approval to travel internationally for the Service?
    1. When you receive an invitation to travel internationally, either to attend a conference/meeting or provide technical assistance, you must obtain approval from your immediate supervisor.
      1. Your supervisor should advise you whether or not the trip is consistent with NPS program priorities and your unit’s strategic planning goals, a cost-effective means of accomplishing the NPS mission, and scheduled in a fiscally responsible manner.
      2. Your supervisor must determine if the unit can absorb the travel and per diem expenses, as well as salary and benefit costs not covered by the agency or organization requesting your travel.
      3. Your supervisor should also weigh the impact of your time away from the unit vs. the personal and professional growth you will receive during the international travel.
    1. Upon receiving approval from your supervisor, you should request and complete the paperwork listed in Section #5 and forward it to your Regional Director or WASO Associate Director for signature of the justification memo. When the memo is signed, the entire package should be sent to OIA.
    2. OIA will review your paperwork to ensure completeness and validity and forward the forms to the Service’s Deputy Director, DOI’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, and DOI’s Office of International Affairs for approval.
    3. When your DI-1175 has been approved by NPS and DOI officials, OIA will request approval from the appropriate U.S. Embassy (via cable) and will notify you when your trip has been cleared.

     

    5. What about official travel into Canada and Mexico?

    1. Current DOI policy is that all international travel (with the exception of "cross-border" travel) must be reviewed by the Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildife and Parks. To qualify as cross-border, travel (and the traveler) must originate from a U.S. border park, be less than 8 hours in duration, cannot include an overnight stay, and cannot be more than 60 miles from the border (several NPS sites on the Canadian border have received permission to include overnight stays under the cross-border exception. Contact OIA for details). All other travel must go through the normal clearance process.
    2. When you travel into Canada you are not currently required to present a valid passport but you must be prepared to show proof of U.S. citizenship (e.g. photo identification and original birth certificate or passport [current or expired]). NPS travelers going to Canada on official business are nonetheless strongly encouraged to bring their passport, preferably an official one.
    3. The U.S. State Department’s policy is that all cross-border travel by U.S. Government employees into Mexico (including day trips and trips for strictly local cross-border matters) must be pre-cleared by the embassy prior to the travel date. This is due to recent violence and crime in the border area and the resulting safety and security concerns for American citizens traveling there.

     

    6. What is "blanket travel" authority or "annual foreign travel clearance"?

    1. If you anticipate traveling more than once during a fiscal year to another country and know the dates, locations, and anticipated expenses of those additional trips, you may be able to submit one DI-1175 requesting blanket travel authority for that year.
    2. Blanket travel authority cannot be issued if you do not know the specific dates, etc. of your proposed travel. There are several reasons for this requirement; the most important reason is that the U.S. Embassy must know your travel dates and locations before granting you clearance to enter the country. If you do not know this information, you will be required to send a DI-1175 to OIA for every proposed trip.
    3. If blanket approval is granted and any changes occur in the dates and locations, OIA must be notified before the travel occurs so that the U.S. Embassy can also be notified.
    4. According to the Departmental Manual (See Chapter 8, Section C.3), you can obtain annual foreign travel clearance for travel to the six Mexican border states. However, these procedures only apply to review of your DI-1175 by DOI International Affairs and will shorten the entire review process by only a few days. Unless you can provide specific travel dates and locations for the entire year, you are still required to send to OIA a DI-1175 for each trip to be reviewed by the appropriate authorities in the Service, other DOI offices, and the Department of State.
    5. Additionally, the DOI annual foreign travel clearance process does not apply to cases where five or more Departmental (including NPS) employees are traveling to attend the same meeting or event.
    6. If you decide to submit an annual DI-1175 for DOI International Affairs approval for travel to the Mexican border region, the following information should be included in a cover memo: 1) a general description of the purpose of the proposed travel; 2) whether or not the travel will be reimbursed by another agency or party; and 3) approximately how many trips will be taken during the fiscal year and the typical length of the trips. This memo should be submitted through the Chief of the NPS Office of International Affairs.

    7. What about work-related travel on annual leave?

      If you intend to take annual leave to attend a work-related meeting, conference, workshop or any other activity taking place abroad, please first consult with OIA and the Deputy Ethics Official in the WASO Human Resources Office. This is to help the Service avoid any potential situations where your attendance or participation may be misconstrued as representing official NPS or U.S. Government policy or positions.

      8. Can NPS funds be used to pay for an international official visitor's travel?

        NPS invitational travel - where NPS funds are used to pay for the travel of international visitors - is treated similarly to NPS international travel. NPS sites interested in providing such assistance must submit a justification memo and DI-1175 to OIA for review by NPS and DOI.

        9. What documents or information do I need to enter another country?

        1. Valid Passport---You must have a valid passport to travel internationally---with the exception of cross border travel into Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries. (See section on Canada and Mexico). When traveling on official U.S. government business you should use an official passport instead of a personal passport. If emergency travel does not allow enough time for you to obtain a government passport, you can travel on your personal passport. However, this is discouraged. (See resources section)
        2. Visas and Immunizations---Some countries require visas and proof of immunizations in addition to a valid passport. The DOI Branch of Travel Services will obtain the visa for you if you are traveling on an official passport. It will contact you if photos are needed for the visas and also if you need any immunizations. (This information on required visas and immunizations may also be found at: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html.)
        3. Customs forms---If you are carrying expensive equipment such as cameras, computers, etc. it would be helpful to complete a U.S. Customs form prior to leaving the U.S. to verify that you did not purchase them overseas and you may be charged duty. (See resources section)
        4. Travel Advisories---The State Department issues travel advisories when it is aware of conditions that are dangerous to Americans traveling abroad. You can find these advisories at the State Department's website. OIA will also notify you if there are pending advisories for the countries you plan to travel to or through.
        5. International Driver’s License ---If you intend to drive a vehicle overseas, check with the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate to learn if you will need an international driver's license, road permit, and/or additional auto insurance. If you need an international driver's license, check with the American Automobile Association (AAA) or other motor clubs about obtaining one in the U.S. before you leave. Some countries may allow you to use your U.S. license.
        6. Automobile Insurance---When traveling internationally, be aware that you are not automatically covered for car insurance as you are when driving a vehicle while on government business in the U.S. If you MUST rent a car and your personal car insurance policy does not cover rental cars overseas, it is U.S. government policy that you purchase the minimum amount of insurance required. This additional expense is reimbursable on your travel voucher.
        7. Contact Information---Leave copies of your foreign travel itinerary and 24-hour contact number(s) with your family and immediate supervisor.

         

        10. How do I obtain an official government passport and necessary visas?

        1. DOI’s Branch of Travel Services (202-208-5292) obtains government passports, which are valid for five years, and all visas for NPS employees. It normally takes one month to obtain an official government passport.
        2. You must complete the Passport Request Form for every international trip and send it to OIA with your DI-1175 and other paperwork. OIA will forward the form to DOI’s Branch of Travel Services. Its staff will advise you about the next steps in processing your request for the passport and any necessary visas. All costs incurred to obtain your government passport and visas, may be charged to the benefiting account. Costs for the photos should be reimbursable via your travel voucher.
        3. After every international trip, you must return your government passport to the DOI Branch of Travel Services. It will send your government passport, with the necessary visa(s), to you whenever it receives another approved DI-1175 for you.
        4. If you lose your official government passport, you should report the loss to OIA and DOI’s Branch of Travel Services immediately.

        11. What about any necessary immunizations or physicals?

        1. NPS WASO personnel can obtain all immunizations needed for international travel from the Department of State’s Immunization Clinic, 2401 E Street, Room 201. Because its hours vary during the week, you should call (202-663-1705) the clinic before leaving your office. You will be required to show your government identification and travel orders to obtain the immunizations. If you have a record of past immunizations, that will be helpful, but not mandatory.
        2. If you are an NPS field employee, you may obtain immunizations from your private physician or local health department and be reimbursed via your travel voucher.
        3. If immunizations are required, you must carry proof of your immunizations with your passport when you travel. You may need to present it at immigration checkpoints.
        4. If you are in international travel status for more than 60 calendar days, a physical is required before departure from your duty station. The cost is charged to your office.

         

        In-country advice and procedures:

        1. What am I expected to do when overseas?

        a. Attendance at conferences and seminars:
        1. You are strongly encouraged to complete a trip report about the conference (see a sample Conference Trip Report) so that it might be shared with other NPS staff.
        2. Team technical assistance and scoping projects:
          1. Your project leader is the lead NPS staff member responsible for ensuring that the purpose and objectives of the trip are met; however, you are expected to be an active participant in the team’s work and efforts.
          2. In addition to your technical expertise, the team leader may request that you assist the team in any assignments that need to be completed. This may include, but not limited to, identifying issues/problems, collecting data, conducting meetings, identifying solutions and next steps, implementing actions, preparing written or oral reports, and/or evaluating the success of the trip. These assignments may be requested for completion before, during, or after the trip.
          3. The project leader is responsible for the assembly of all materials produced during the trip. He/she may call upon you to write portions of the final report, supply clarification, or provide additional materials. OIA recommends that as much of the report as possible be written in-country because you will have other, pressing duties when you return to your duty station.

        3. Single traveler providing technical assistance or conducting scoping project:

        1. a. You have all of the responsibilities listed above.

        2. How can I contact the office or my family when on international travel?

        1. You are allowed to place a brief call home every three days when you are on international travel.
        2. You are encouraged to use the least expensive means possible. If you have an NPS phone card, please use it.
        3. Before dialing, always check the hotel’s rate for calls to the U.S. and if the hotel adds additional surcharges. Some rates and surcharges can be exorbitant.
        4. Because of time differences and costs of international calls, it may be best to fax or e-mail information instead of calling.
        5. If your park needs to send you a fax (official business that must be handled before your return) and does not have international fax capabilities, it can send the document to OIA and it will be forwarded as soon as possible.

        3. What do I do if there is an emergency when I am overseas?

        1. a. If you have a medical, legal, or financial emergency contact the U.S. U.S. embassy or nearest consulate in the country you are located. (An emergency is a serious incident such as a grave illness, assault, or injury in which you need to contact or be contacted by family members to ensure the safety of loved ones in times of crisis.)
        2. b. If your family or co-workers need to reach you due to an emergency in the U.S., they should try to contact you via the 24-hour contact numbers you left with them. If unsuccessful, they should contact the State Department’s Office of Overseas Citizens’ Services 202-647-5226 (Monday-Friday 8am-10pm and Saturday 9am-3pm, EST). At all other times they should call the State Department’s Operations Center at 202-647-1512 and its staff will try to reach you in-country.
        3. c. You should contact your travel agency or office via the emergency number on your itinerary if issues and problems arise such as missed flights or lost hotel reservations.

        4. Any other international travel tips, especially for first-time travelers?

        1. Research the culture you will be visiting and learn its customs so that you will feel more comfortable and not inadvertently offend your host. At a minimum, OIA has Culturegrams (4-page information sheets) for every country that can be faxed to you upon request. (See resources section for various Internet sites.)
        2. If you do not know the language of the country you are traveling to, it is advisable to learn at least a few words and phrases such as "hello, how are you, good day, good-bye, please, thank you, etc." This small effort will be greatly appreciated by your international peers. See http://travlang.com/languages/ for language assistance.
        3. Dress appropriately---business dress for meetings and appropriate field trip attire. Discretion should be used in wearing NPS uniform. Some cultures react negatively to any uniform. Firearms are not to be transported unless absolutely necessary and prior approval justifying the need to do so has been given.
        4. You are requested to act professionally at all times. Even though you are in another country, your actions are being observed by your peers and will reflect on the Service’s reputation. In the past OIA has received comments concerning inappropriate behavior by NPS staff that disappointed host counterparts.
        5. When in a foreign country as a representative of the Service (and, therefore, the United States Government), you must not express your personal opinions about U.S. foreign policy.
        6. There are simple techniques that you can use to ensure your success and increase the reputation of the Service internationally:
          1. LISTEN to your international colleagues and their issues/concerns.
          2. UNDERSTAND existing cultural differences and how they may affect the project and your effectiveness.
          3. FACILITATE development of potential solutions by host country counterparts. Although the Service has an excellent reputation, its solutions do not work in all cases---especially with technology, economic, and ecosystem differences.
        1. Although they are not required, small gifts (NPS books or pins, etc.) are nice to present to your hosts. Most likely they will reciprocate (esp. books) so leave some space in your suitcase.
        2. If a family member or friend travels with you, do not impose them upon your host. Although the host will probably not tell you, an additional person may cause logistical and/or financial challenges.
        3. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are becoming popular worldwide, however they may be scarce in some rural areas or lesser-developed countries. Contact Bank of America about ATMs in the cities you are traveling so that you can use your government MasterCard to withdraw cash (You will need to have your PIN). Exchange rates at ATMs are usually more favorable than at other sources and the printed receipt may include the exchange rate to put on your voucher. Since it is sometimes illegal to take foreign currency out of a country, and because you lose additional money when converting back to U.S. dollars, try to convert only what you will spend.
        4. If at all possible, you are encouraged, when requested to do so, to brief the U.S. U.S. embassy staff about your activities.

         

        Post-trip requirements:

        1. What paperwork is required after returning to my duty station?

        1. A trip report is due to OIA within 10 days of your return. (See a sample Trip Report). OIA encourages you to share your trip report with your supervisor and Regional (or WASO Program) Director. Failure to submit a trip report could jeopardize subsequent approval of your proposed future foreign travel. Appropriate trip reports will be posted on OIA’s bulletin board and website as well as distributed as background material for future travelers.
        2. If you are in a group that prepares a written trip report, you are not required to also develop a personal trip report; however, you may wish to do so.
        3. Follow-up as soon as possible with any proposed materials or information that you promised your international colleagues.
        4. You may also want to write a thank you note to your international colleagues for the courtesies that they extended to you.

        2. How do I deal with currency conversion in filing my travel voucher?

        1. Your travel voucher must be filed in U.S. dollars instead of foreign currencies. Two currency converter web sites are: http://www.oanda.com and http://www.xe.net/ucc/.
        2. On any receipts calculated in foreign currency, you should indicate the actual dollar amount as well as conversion rate used. Money changing fees are a reimbursable travel expense.
        3. Be aware that any amount charged to your credit card will most probably reflect the exchange rate the day the credit card company received your charges rather than the day the transaction occurred.
        4. To ensure 100% accuracy in converting currency amounts for your voucher you should note the date and exchange rate for all cash transactions.
        5. If you do not want to wait until you have received your credit card statement to file your voucher and the dollar is stable in the country you visited, you can calculate the conversion based on the rate on the day you incurred the charges. There should be very little difference in actual vs. reimbursed amounts. If there is a significant difference, you can file an amended voucher.
        6. It is possible to postpone filing your voucher until you receive your credit card statement with your charges posted to ensure you are using the rate when the charges were posted.
        7. Currency in Canada and some other countries are also termed "dollar", however their value are not equal to the U.S. dollar. Be sure the amount claimed on your voucher reflects U.S. dollars.

        REFERENCES
        1. Where can I find official regulations that pertain to my international travel?

        1. DOI Departmental Manual, Part 347, Travel and Transportation of Employees, Chapter 7, Foreign Travel Purposes and Policies, and Chapter 8, Foreign Travel Procedures.

        B. Where can I find useful information to help me prepare for my international trip?
        1. The worldwide web provides a wealth of information. Most of it can be found on the State Department’s web site. The homepage for the State Department is http://www.state.gov. After typing in that address you can browse the site for information or you can type in the specific addresses for the topics listed below. (Note Please keep in mind that if there is a space between words in the address, you should type an underline "_" between them:
          1. Foreign per diem rates: http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/l
          2. Passport and Visa Information: hhttp://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html and http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html.
          3. Travel warnings (health, safety, U.S. embassy and consulate locations): http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
          4. Background notes on countries: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/

        2. Other helpful web sites:
          1. CIA World Factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
          2. Library of Congress: Country Studies http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
          3. Country web sites: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/foreign.html or do a search based on individual country.
          4. Currency converters: http://www.onanda.com and http://www.xe.net/ucc/
          5. Customs information: http://www.customs.gov/travel/travel.htm
          6. Foreign language phrases: http://www.travlang.com/languages/
          7. Health information including required immunizations: http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/travel/travelinfo/9503travelinfo.html (scroll to the end of the document for individual countries info) or http://www.cdc.gov/travel.