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 Form (DI-1175).
2. Request for Passport/Visa. This form should be faxed to the Department of the Interior's Passport Office at (202) 208-4719. Their phone number is (202) 208-5292.
3. Justification Memo signed by the Regional Director or Associate Director, as appropriate.
4. Signed Travel Authorization.
5. Ethics Clearance Form (DI-2000). Optional Form.
6. 24-Hour Emergency contact number in the host country
The Justification Memo gives the concurrence from the Regional Director or Associate Director, as appropriate, for the upcoming trip. See a sample Justification Memo.
If you are accepting funds from a nongovernment source, you will need to complete the Ethics Form, DI-2000. After you have completed the form, it needs to be signed and approved by your supervisor and the ethics officer. If you do not have an ethics officer, have the form signed by the Deputy Ethics Official in the WASO Human Resources Office.
Finally, you will need to provide a 24-Hour emergency contact number in the host country. This can be the name and telephone number of the primary contact person in the host country and/or the name and telephone number of the hotel in which you will be staying.
After everything has been completed, the forms should be sent to OIA by fax at 202-371-1446 at least 5 and 1/2 weeks (37 calendar days or 27 business days) before the anticipated date of departure. The justification memo can be sent into OIA by the regional office, but still must arrive here within the same deadline as the rest of the package.
Official Passports/Visas
Questions related obtaining an official passports, visas or general inquiries about official passports should be address to Shealler Perry in the DOI Passport Office. Her telephone number is 202-208-5292; fax number 202-208-4719. Mailing address is Shealler Perry, Travel Coordinator MIB 1313, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Room 1419, Washington, DC 20240
While passports are not currently required for travel to Canada, it is strongly recommended that NPS employees traveling to Canada on official government business bring their passport, preferably an official passport.
Cross-Border Travel
All international travel must be submitted to the Department of the Interior's Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The only exception to this is "cross-border" travel--that is, travel of a NPS employee working in a border park who travels just across the border to meet with colleagues in the neighboring protected area. To qualify as cross border, the travel must not be of more than 8 hours in duration, cannot include an overnight stay, and must be within 60 miles of the U.S. border. For certain NPS sites along the Canadian border, overnight stays are authorized under the cross-border exceptions. Contact OIA for details.
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.
Certain restrictions apply to NPS employees conducting work-related business on annual leave. For more information, read this memorandum.
NPS Invitational Travel (Paying for International Visitors to the NPS)
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.
See Travel Policies for more details.
