Planning ahead essential when moving overseas

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  There has recently been a rise in Airmen or family members PCSing or deploying to overseas locations without passports or VISAs, as required.

Several recent cases have caused families to be held at the port when attempting to board their flight or being deported after arriving in a foreign country because they were not able to obtain requirements within the allotted time.

"If you have a PCS assignment overseas you cannot begin the passport and VISA process too early," said Steve Tupeck, Military Personnel Section chief. "Country clearances have steadily become more stringent. What our Airmen have to remember is once the MPS receives your official passport, the Airman has to sign it and then we send it back out for the VISA; these processes are not accomplished at the same time."

Military Personnel Sections are no longer allowed to let Airmen and their family members outprocess and depart without the proper clearance documents. MPS relocation technicians will reference the specific country entry requirements from the Foreign Clearance Guide and as indicated by any Personnel Processing Code and advise Airmen of the required action. These guides can change daily and must be reviewed frequently for updates. Passport and VISA requirements must be initiated within 15 days after completing the Initial Assignment Briefing.

Each MPS will verify that Airmen and family members have the required passports and VISAs in hand prior to their final outprocessing and will initiate a reporting of delay action if the requirement is not completed prior to the final outprocessing date.

"It's important for everyone in the PCS process, including the Airman who is going overseas, to read the Foreign Clearance Guide so all understand the entry requirements into the country the member is being assigned," said Tupeck.

Foreign Clearance Guides are located online at https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil. The automated guides allow easy access to locate requirements pertaining to the member's projected country. Additionally, PPCs annotated on a member's assignment may have separate requirements for a passport or VISA that must be reviewed and complied with in its entirety.

"Nobody wants to leave the country without their dependents," Tupeck said. "Make sure to plan for possible delays and there should be no reason why any Airmen should find themselves in that situation."