3 FAH-1 H-3721.2
Criteria for R&R Travel Designation and Relief Area Designation
a. Conditions of life at the post that present distinct and significant difficulties of sufficient severity to justify temporary relief for an employee and employees eligible family members during a period of assignment. These conditions include but are not limited to such factors as:
(1) Climate;
(2) Isolation;
(3) Inadequate transportation within the country;
(4) Lack of adequate recreation facilities;
(5) Housing conditions;
(6) Unsanitary conditions;
(7) Lack of essential services;
(8) Lack of adequate medical or dental care;
(9) Prevalence of communicable diseases;
(10) Unusual personal hazards, and
(11) Excessive cost of transportation from the post to a suitable relief area.
b. To be designated as a relief point, a location must have a climate, altitude, or environment sufficiently different from that at post.
c. In selecting a suitable relief point, an important factor is the cost of travel to the nearest point that will provide the necessary change from post.
If an employee exercises the option of travel under 3 FAM 3725.3-2 to a point in the United States (the 50 States and the District of Columbia) or its territories including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the granting of leave is subject to 3 FAM 3410 and home leave eligibility is delayed in accordance with 3 FAH-1 H-3431.2-1. (For USAID, see ADS 480.)
a. U.S. citizen Foreign Service employees are eligible for R&R if:
(1) They are assigned to a designated R&R post abroad and they serve at such a post for a period of at least 2 years unbroken by home leave
R&R is limited to:
1) One round trip during any continuous 2-year period of service unbroken by home leave; and
(2) Two round trips during any continuous 3-year period of service unbroken by home leave.
