Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC)

USAJOBS
USAJOBS

Posted on Oct 15, 2026
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Summary

The Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC) is a non-pay program. The FSFRC was created to improve the efficiency of the hiring process for Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFMs) at overseas posts. Family members who meet the eligibility requirements and are accepted into the FSFRC will be appointed to a position without compensation or benefits. FSFRC members will then compete for available positions at their sponsoring employee's post overseas.

Major Duties

There are no major duties associated with this vacancy announcement as it is not associated with any one job series code. Duties will be determined when an AEFM applies and is selected for a local position at post. If selected, they will be appointed to the local position and will receive a salary based on the grade of the position and benefits (if applicable) when they begin working. Family members who join the FSFRC will be permitted to remain in the FSFRC as long as they continue to meet program eligibility requirements, respond to recertification requests, and reinvestigation requests from Diplomatic Security. The FSFRC, in and of itself, will not create additional employment opportunities or positions overseas, nor will it provide an independent pathway to gain a security clearance. Being a member of the FSFRC does not guarantee employment. FSFRC applicants without a clearance will be required to submit an SF-85 upon acceptance of their application. Once they receive a Low Risk/Non-Sensitive (LRNS) determination they will be appointed into the FSFRC. If they are selected for an overseas position that requires access to classified information, they will be required to obtain the required security clearance prior to being appointed to that position. Members will remain in the FSFRC in an unpaid reserve status when they are not working in a local position at post.

Key Requirements

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a low risk non-sensitive determination.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.

Education

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Requirements

An individual who meets all the following criteria is eligible to apply for membership in the FSFRC: 1. Is a U.S. citizen; and 2. Is the spouse or domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) of a sponsoring employee (i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member); and 3. Is either: a). Listed on an approved OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report (or Foreign Affairs Agency equivalent), of a sponsoring employee; or b). Listed on the current travel orders (TMFOUR or agency equivalent) of a sponsoring employee for a post abroad at a U.S. mission under Chief of Mission authority including an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT); or c). Has a letter from the sponsoring employee's agency's executive office stating that you are their spouse or domestic partner, that the sponsoring employee is expected to serve at an overseas post under Chief of Mission authority including an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) within the next 12 months, and that you will accompany the sponsoring employee. NOTE: The Chief of Mission is in charge of all Executive Branch activities and operations and is fully responsible for the direction, coordination, and supervision of all U.S. Executive Branch employees, regardless of their employment categories or location, except those under command of a U.S. area military commander or on the staff of an international organization. Family Members whose sponsoring employee is under the command of a U.S. area military commander are not eligible for the FSFRC. 4. Does not receive a U.S. Government retirement annuity or pension from a career in the U.S. Foreign Service or Civil Service; and 5. Is not a Foreign Service Officer in Leave Without Pay (LWOP) status. NOTE: Currently, eligible family members currently employed on a Personal Services Agreement (PSA) will be unable to apply for membership due to limitations of the current pay system. 6. Is not a Civil Service employee with re-employment rights to their agency or bureau. NOTE: U.S. citizen spouses/domestic partners who are on approved Voluntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (VSMA) or Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) and are temporarily residing apart from the sponsoring employee are also eligible to join the FSFRC in non-paid status. However, they may begin working in a local assignment only when they resume residing with the sponsoring employee.

Evaluations

Family members who meet the eligibility requirements stated above will be able to apply for FSFRC membership. Family members who join the FSFRC will have their FSFRC membership category verified by Diplomatic Security (DS) and will be appointed by Talent Services (HR/TS) to one of three categories based on their current or most recent security clearance: Category One for those with a current Top Secret clearance or those eligible for reciprocity consideration for a recent Top Secret clearance; Category Two for those with a current Secret clearance or those eligible for reciprocity consideration for a recent Secret clearance; or Category Three for those with a Low Risk/Non-Sensitive (LRNS), Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT), or High Risk Public Trust (HRPT) determination -- members in this category do not hold a valid security clearance or are not eligible for reciprocity consideration for a previous clearance. This includes those who are not currently employed by the Department or those who are working in non-sensitive positions. Regardless of category, FSFRC members will be eligible to apply for local assignments overseas where the sponsoring employee is assigned. If selected for a local assignment that requires access to classified information, FSFRC members who do not already hold the required level of clearance will begin the security clearance process. Important Notice: As a member of the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC), you are considered an active State Department employee even while not employed at post. As an active security clearance holder, you are subject to Continuous Vetting (CV), which means that you are subject to real-time monitoring by Diplomatic Security. CV is a process that involves regularly reviewing a cleared individual's background to ensure they continue to meet security clearance requirements and should continue to hold positions of trust. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

How to Apply

Complete applications (to include all required documents) must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Online" button to the right. Candidates have until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting the online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section. Candidates are encouraged to complete their applications well before the application deadline to ensure they receive consideration. Should candidates be missing any of the required documents, they will be disqualified for consideration of employment. Please carefully read all of the instructions before you begin the application process. To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a resume, required supporting documentation, and an online application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of State's Gateway to State Automated Application System. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the following three-step application process: STEP 1: Select the "Apply Online" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS. STEP 2: Answer the FSFRC assessment questions online through the Gateway to State automated application system. These questions will be used to evaluate your eligibility to join the FSFRC. Please read these questions carefully before responding. STEP 3: Submit all required documentation, applicable to you, listed in the Required Documents section of this job opportunity to the Department's automated application system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement. For instructions on how to view the status of your supporting documentation, please click here. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET. ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

What to Expect Next

After all application packages have been received, we will review your resume and supporting documents to ensure you meet the program eligibility requirements. After we review and evaluate all applications, qualified applicants will receive a tentative offer letter. Applicants who are determined to have met all eligibility requirements will be required to fill out an SF-85 “Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions” via the e-APP system. If the determination is granted, applicants will be notified and provided with additional instructions on completing mandatory entry on duty paperwork. You will be notified up to four times via USAJOBS during the hiring process: Upon receipt of your application. Upon determination if you have met minimum program eligibility requirements. After the certificate is issued. After final selection is made. For instructions on how to view the status of your application, please click here .

Required Documents

Resume AND Approved OF-126-Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report or your sponsor's Agency equivalent for non-DoS employees OR Current Travel Authorization (TMFOUR or Agency equivalent) of Sponsoring Employee (TMOne Assignment Notifications do not meet this requirement). Note to EFMs whose sponsoring employee is either a U.S. Department of State civil service employee or is not employed by Department of State: If you are unable to provide a travel authorization clearly reflecting an upcoming future tour at a U.S. Mission overseas under Chief of Mission authority, including to an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), you will need to provide written certification (official letter or memo) from your sponsoring employee's Agency's executive office affirming there is an expectation to serve future tours at U.S. Missions overseas under Chief of Mission authority (see Requirements section for additional information) within the next 12 months. Documentation will need to clearly reflect that you are listed as an eligible dependent expected to accompany your sponsoring employee. As noted above, assignment notifications do not meet this requirement.

Benefits

While in reserve status, you are not eligible to enroll in benefits, such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Time spent in reserve status is NOT considered creditable for retirement, leave accrual, or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) vesting purposes. You will be eligible to enroll in these programs once you have been selected for and begin working in a local position at a post abroad that confers benefits eligibility. If you have prior civil service or military service, please submit documentation of the prior service along with your Entry On Duty (EOD) documents to ensure that we update your records accordingly.

Other Information

For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at OAA@state.gov. GCLO and Talent Services have created an informative website with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide additional information about the FSFRC program. You can access the website at: https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/family-member-employment-in-the-d-c-area/foreign-service-family-reserve-corps/. EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – U.S. law requires organizations to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States - either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee's information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated. NOTE: Former federal employees currently receiving severance pay will have those payments suspended for the duration of this unpaid appointment.
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