SOP 107F

BUREAU OF GLOBAL TALENT MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF TALENT ACQUISITION

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) NOTICE NO. 107F

(This SOP replaces and supersedes SOP 49, 11/1/91, and all amended versions; and all prior versions of SOP 107, effective January 7, 2022.)

SUBJECT: POSTPONEMENT OF ENTRANCE ON DUTY (DEFERMENT) (ALL FS CANDIDATES)

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this SOP is to ensure consistent, equitable and fair procedures are followed in dealing with requests to postpone Entrance on Duty (Deferment) (all FS candidates)

In accordance with 3 FAM 2216.2-9, a candidate’s period of availability on the register for both Entry Level Officers and Specialists normally terminates eighteen months from the date of placement on the register. (See also 22 CFR 11.20 (i))

The Registrar may process a one-time deferment, not to exceed a maximum of 24 months, based on the criteria listed below. If a candidate is on more than one register, the deferment applies to all active register candidacies. Candidates are encouraged to work with the Registrar’s Office on the start of their deferral date.

A deferment may be granted to any candidate who:

  1. Is married to a Foreign Service employee currently assigned overseas;
  2.  Is a Peace Corps volunteer;
  3.  Is serving abroad on a Fulbright grant;
  4.  Is a U.S. federal government civilian employee serving abroad;
  5.  Will be absent from duty due to pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, or foster care;
  6.  Experiences a serious health condition (i.e., injury or illness that makes the candidate unavailable for a period of); or
  7. Is performing service in a uniformed service, consistent with the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

Requests for deferments on any other grounds will be considered on a case-by-case basis to be decided by the Director of the Office of Talent Acquisition in the Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM/TAC) or their designee.

Should the candidate decide to withdraw their candidacy, the candidate will inform the Registrar’s Office via e-mail (Registrar@state.gov) as soon as possible, including the reason for the withdrawal. Deferments must be requested in writing.

Deferments requested in conjunction with declining an invitation to join an entry-level orientation will still be logged as a declination. Supporting documentation is required for implementation of a deferment. Additional information about declinations is available in SOP 93.