Family Members of Overseas Employees

Eligibility doesn't guarantee a job; you must still meet qualifications, complete the selection process, and fulfill additional requirements like a background investigation.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, you must have lived overseas with a family member officially assigned to an overseas duty station and meet these criteria:

1. Relationship: You must be the family member's spouse, domestic partner, or unmarried child younger than 23.
2. Work Experience: You should have worked at least 52 weeks in an appropriated fund position under a local hire appointment.
3. Performance: You must have received a successful or equivalent performance rating while on the job.
4. Return: You should have returned to the United States to resume residence less than three (3) years ago.

Requesting Waivers and Extensions

You can request a waiver for up to 26 weeks of the 52-week service requirement if you have a valid reason, such as a disaster, conflict, or military deployment. Personal reasons like ill health don't qualify. NIH decides each waiver request on a case-by-case basis.

You can also request a time extension beyond the three-year limit if:

• You had no significant job opportunities while accompanying a sponsor on an official assignment in the United States.
• You were incapacitated for employment.

NIH considers time extension requests on a case-by-case basis.

Required Documentation

To verify your eligibility, you must submit:

1. A copy of your Notification of Personnel Action (Standard Form 50 or SF-50).
2. A copy of your latest performance appraisal.
3. Any additional justification documents described above.

Submit all required documents with your application package by the announcement's closing date.

Additional Resources

For more information, review the USAJOBS Former Overseas Employees resources.