Working on the Local Economy Overseas

Many Foreign Service family members have professional skills that lend themselves to working on the local economy of a country. While dealing with different workplace norms, host country holiday schedules, and cultural differences can be an adjustment at first, working on the local economy provides challenges and skills development that some family members may not find within the Mission environment. Depending on the country, salaries may be lower than compensation for similar work in the United States. To assist family members with a job search on the local economy, FLO provides the following information.   FLO also provides employment advising.  To schedule an appojntment or talk/email with an employment specialist, contact the Family Liaison Office. 

Checklist for Overseas Employment

Strategic Networking Assistance Program (SNAP) - The Family Liaison Office's Strategic Networking Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to help spouses identify work opportunities on the local economy. SNAP is delivering services in Almaty, Amman, Baku, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Cairo, Frankfurt, Geneva, La Paz, London, Mexico City, Montreal, New Delhi, Prague, Pretoria, San Jose, San Salvador, Seoul, Singapore, and Warsaw.  If you are the spouse of a USG employee relocating to a U.S. embassy or consulate in one of these locations, and desire to work on the local economy of that country, this program is for you!  Also visit our SNAP Job Search Assistance Web Tool for an indication of the companies (and the types of positions) looking to hire people in a given region/country.

Global Employment Strategy, a new family member employment initiative.

Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members - this publication provides information about Employment Abroad, Portable Careers and Skills, Interviews and Job Offers, and Job Resources, and much more.

Resumes - Sample resumes are available on this site. Guidelines for Describing Volunteer Activities

Visit the Career-in-Your-Suitcase web site. The creator of this web site, Jo Parfitt, spoke with FLO employment staff members and SNAP Local Employment Advisors (LEAs) via DVC from London in April, 2002.

Bilateral Work Agreements and de facto Work Arrangements – Check to see if your post has a bilateral work agreement or de facto work arrangement. To increase the opportunities for employment of family members on the local economy, work agreements and arrangements are established between the United States and an individual country. They enable spouses of U.S. Government employees assigned to official duty at an Embassy or Consulate in one of these countries to obtain a work permit. 

Information about the local Chamber of Commerce – The local American Chamber of Commerce is an excellent resource for job leads and business contacts with American companies operating in the host country. An alphabetical listing, by country, of American Chambers of Commerce overseas.

The Family Liaison Office Employment Program Specialist can provide family members with a listing of firms operating in any given host country. The Family Liaison Office also maintains a listing of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) doing business in countries overseas.

Global Employment Connections - FLO's quarterly employment newsletter for family members looking for job opportunities on the local economy is a useful tool for gathering general information about the local economy job search process.  Subscribe

Overseas Employment Outside the U.S. Mission - The Family Liaison Office's brochure, Overseas Employment Outside the U.S. Mission, explains job hunting for work possibilities outside the U.S. Mission.

Using the Internet to Assist Family Members with a Local Employment Search - The variety of information available on the Internet today is making international job searching faster and easier. The Family Liaison Office's resource paper, Using the Internet to Assist Family Members with a Local Employment Search, outlines the process. Popular International Job Search and ExPat Web Sites.

Check the Post Newsletter - Local employment opportunities are often advertised in the post newsletter. Contact the post directly for current information or the Overseas Briefing Center for a copy of a post's newsletter.

Teaching Overseas - For family members who are educators, local schools (primary, secondary and college/University levels) can provide a wealth of job opportunities. The Family Liaison Office's resource paper, Overseas Employment Information for Teachers, lists organizations and information to help family members interested in teaching overseas. The paper also provides contact information for the FAST-TRAIN Teacher Training Project offered to Foreign Service spouses through George Mason University. The Office of Overseas Schools provides information on teaching overseas and links to programs that recruit teachers for the international positions.  To make direct contact with a local school, link to a list of international schools and contact information provided by the Office of Overseas Schools. For a complete listing of international schools overseas, consult the The ISS Directory of International Schools, available for purchase.  

Telecommuting - Some family members are maintaining careers by telecommuting with their U.S. employer from overseas. For more information on this possibility, contact the FLO Employment Program Specialist.

Home-based Businesses - For family members who have skills that are best utilized in a home-based business setting, a revision to the 6 FAM 725.7 governing the use of government housing allows family members to work out of USG-leased or owned properties. Conducting a business normally requires that a bilateral or de facto work arrangement is in place. Also, any local business is subject to local tax laws. State cable 004193, dated January 2000, outlines use of USG-leased or owned properties for home-based businesses. Family members will need to know local regulations governing "home-based business" laws and can obtain this information from the post Human Resources Officer.  Family members should also be familiar with FAM guidelines (see bottom of page).

Salary Negotiation - Negotiating a Salary Package

The United Nations and Other International Organizations - The Department of State's Bureau of International Organizations maintains fact sheets which provide information about the United Nations and Other International Organizations. Fact sheets include Employment Opportunities With the United Nations and Other International Organizations.

Tax Implications of Working Overseas - Foreign Service family members who choose to work on the local economy must consider the tax implications.  Some initial questions answered.

Social Security (bilateral Social Security agreements) - The United States has bilateral Social Security Agreements with 19 countries.  According to the Social Security Administration, "the agreements eliminate dual Social Security coverage and taxes for multinational companies and expatriate workers. They also improve benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the United States and another country."  Foreign Service family members working on the local economy overseas are encouraged to continue to make payments to their Social Security account in the United States.  More information from the Office of International Programs, Social Security Administration. 

When moving from one location to another - Don't forget to handcarry employment records.  A list of papers and computer disks to handcarry: Don't leave home without them!

Articles of Interest - Job Searching in the 21st Century, Negotiating a Salary Package.  Also check the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) web site for articles written by Foreign Service spouses about overseas employment.

FAM Regulations Pertaining to Spouses Working on the Local Economy

Spouses and family members of USG employees assigned to a US Mission overseas should be aware of the FAM regulations regarding acceptance of employment on the local economy of the host country.  Specifically, read:

3FAM 4123 - Restrictions on Employment and Outside Activities

3FAM 4125 - Outside Employment and Activities by Spouses and Family Members Abroad 

6 FAM 725.7 - Housing Abroad Policy: Using Residential Space - Businesses   

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
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