3 FAM 3900
Incentive pay
3 FAM 3910
Language Incentive Pay (LIP)
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(Office of Origin: HR/CDA)
3 FAM 3911 THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE
3 FAM 3911.1 General Information
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
Foreign language proficiency is a hallmark of the
professional Foreign Service employee. It enhances a members ability to
improve the U.S. national image abroad, advocate foreign policy objectives, and
engage foreign audiences in discourse on a broad range of subjects. For this
reason, foreign language proficiency is integrated into the Foreign Service
Career Development Program as a requirement for tenure and entry into the
Senior Foreign Service. Section 702 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended, 22 U.S.C 4022 et seq., provides that "the Secretary shall
establish foreign language proficiency requirements for members of the Service
who are to be assigned abroad in order that Foreign Service posts abroad will
be staffed by individuals having a useful knowledge of the language or dialect
common to the country in which the post is located." Bureaus designate
which positions require proficiency in a local language and at what level. To
increase the number of qualified candidates available to fill language
designated positions (LDPs), the Department instituted the Recruitment Language
Program and language incentive pay.
3 FAM 3911.2 Definitions
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service)
Asymmetric Language Incentive Pay
(ASLIP): A pilot incentive program under which eligible employees are
compensated for asymmetric speaking and reading proficiency (e.g., for an
S-3/R-1) in a small number of languages.
Asymmetric Language Incentive Pay
(ASLIP) Language: A language that appears on the list of ASLIP
incentive languages under 3 FAH-1
H-3911.2.
Bonus/Bump-Up Points:
Beginning with the June 2012 FSOT cohort, generalist candidates can receive 17
bonus points for all languages listed here if
they pass the telephone language test at a speaking level 3 after passing the
Oral Assessment. Candidates testing in the eight languages eligible for higher
bonus points need only a level 2 speaking ability (as measured on the telephone
test) to obtain the 17 language bonus points. Only the following eight
languages are eligible for higher bonus points: Arabic; Chinese (Mandarin);
Hindi; Persian (Dari); Persian (Farsi); Pashto; Urdu; and Korean.
Foreign Service Generalist: A
Foreign Service generalist is a Foreign Service officer as defined in 3 FAM 2234.1,
paragraph a.
Foreign Service Specialist: A
Foreign Service specialist is a member of the Foreign Service as defined in 3 FAM 2234.1,
paragraph b.
Language Categories: The
Department uses the following groupings to distinguish language difficulty and
normal course of study:
Category I Languages (World Languages)
French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch,
Norwegian and Swedish
Category II Languages (Difficult World
Languages)
German, Indonesian, Malay, and Swahili
Category III Languages (Hard Languages)
Most non-Romance/Germanic except Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and
Mandarin,) Japanese and Korean
Category IV Languages (Super Hard
Languages)
Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Japanese and Korean
Language-Designated Position (LDP): A
language-designated position (LDP) is a position officially designated by the
Department as requiring a specified level of language competence on the part of
the incumbent.
Language Incentive Pay (LIP): A
monetary incentive program for proficiency in designated hard and super-hard
languages. Except as noted in 3 FAM 3913.1,
3 FAM 3914,
or where otherwise differentiated, LIP shall be read to include pay under the
ASLIP program as well as under LIP.
Language Incentive Pay (LIP) Language:
A language that appears on the list of LIP-incentive languages under 3 FAH-1
H-3911.2.
Language Incentive Payment: A
monetary payment made to a qualifying member under the LIP or ASLIP program.
Except as noted in 3 FAM 3913.1,
3 FAM 3914,
or where otherwise differentiated, language-incentive payments shall be read to
include payments under the ASLIP program as well as under LIP.
Language-Preferred Position (LPP): A
position that bears a language designation of 0/0 is language preferred.
Member: A member of the Service
as defined in section 103(1) through section 103(5) of the Foreign Service Act
of 1980; 1980-096-0465, as amended.
Normal Course of Study: The
length generally required to attain the required proficiency.
Category I Languages (World Languages)
S-3/R-3 Objective:
24 Weeks - Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch,
Norwegian and Swedish
30 Weeks French
S-2/R-2 Objective: 16-20 weeks
Category II Languages (Difficult World
Languages)
S-3/R-3 Objective:
36 weeks German, Indonesian, Malay and Swahili
Category III Languages (Hard Languages)
S-3/R-3 Objective:
44 weeks - Most non-Romance/Germanic except Arabic, Chinese
(Cantonese and Mandarin,) Japanese and Korean
S-2/R-2 Objective: 28-32 weeks
Category IV Languages (Super Hard
Languages)
S-3/R-3 Objective:
88 Weeks - Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Japanese and
Korean
S-2/R-2 Objective: 44 weeks
S-2/R-1 Objective: 32-36 weeks (for Arabic and Chinese)
S-2/R-0 Objective: 32-36 weeks (for Korean and Japanese 30-32
weeks)
Primary Language(s): A primary
language is the official national language of the area or a language which that
may be used officially on a coequal basis, either nationally or regionally, or
a language that is used officially or widely by the government in conducting
internal/foreign affairs and by educated circles.
3 FAM 3912 GENERAL INFORMATION
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service)
The Department offers these incentives under Section 704
(b)(3) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (the Act) (22 U.S.C.
4024(b)(3)).
3 FAM 3912.1 Purpose
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
To foster the development and use of foreign language
skills deemed critical to its mission, the Department provides monetary
incentives for proficiency in designated hard and super hard languages
identified in this subchapter as incentive languages. The list of incentive
languages may be revised from time to time to reflect the changing needs of
the Department. Except as provided in 3 FAH-1 H-3914,
the provisions of 3
FAM 3910 supersede all other language incentive pay rules and regulations.
For a list of the incentive languages that are eligible for LIP by post, please
see the following link: LIP by post.
3 FAM 3912.2 Authority
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
The Department offers these incentives under Section 704
(b)(3) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (the Act) (22 U.S.C.
4024(b)(3)).
3 FAM 3913 PAYMENT FOR INITIAL TOUR,
EXTENSION OF TOUR, AND REPEAT TOUR AND END-OF-TOUR BONUS
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. LANGUAGE INCENTIVE PAY OCTOBER 1,
1999 - NOVEMBER 1, 2014
(1) The amount of an eligible members language
incentive pay shall reflect the value to the Department of enhanced language
proficiency gained through initial tours, extensions of tours, and repeat tours
according to the formula applicable to each type of tour.
(2) Amounts shall be paid biweekly through the
Departments payroll system and shall be subject to the applicable taxes and
withholdings.
(3) NEW BENEFITS: Effective November 1, 2014, the
Department implemented new benefits for those who attain the required level of
proficiency at post and for those who attain S-4/R-4 proficiency at post. For
detailed descriptions, please see 3 FAM 3913.6
to 3 FAM
3913.7.
b. GRANDFATHER CLAUSE
(1) On January 14, 2013, the Department approved the
elimination of the extension of tour, repeat tour and end-of-tour bonuses from
the LIP program.
(2) Extension of tour language incentive pay benefits
will no longer be available to both LIP and ASLIP recipients as of November 1,
2014. Extension of tour language incentive pay benefits will be available to
those who applied for an extension prior to November 1, 2014.
(3) Repeat tour language incentive pay benefits will
no longer be available to LIP and ASLIP recipients as of November 1, 2014. All
recipients receiving such benefits or paneled before November 1, 2014, will
continue to receive such benefits as outlined below.
(4) End of tour language incentive pay benefits will
cease for LIP and ASLIP recipients as of November 1, 2014. Members who arrived
at post or were paneled before November 1, 2014 will be eligible to receive the
end of tour benefits outlined below. Please see alternate program concerning
LIP benefits for those who attain S-4/R-4 proficiency at post under 3 FAM 3913.7.
3 FAM 3913.1 Payment for Initial
Tour
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member of the Foreign Service who qualifies for language
incentive pay under 3 FAM 3914 and who is serving on an initial tour shall
receive the language proficiency payment described in 3 FAM 3916.
3 FAM 3913.2 Payment for
Extensions of Tour
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member of the Foreign Service who qualifies for language
incentive pay under 3 FAM 3914 for
22 months and who has been extended for longer than 9 months beyond the normal
tour of duty shall receive 150 percent of the language proficiency payment
described in 3
FAM 3916 for the period of that extension, effective at the beginning of
the first full pay period in the last month of the member's original tour of
duty. For the purposes of this section, extensions made at the time of initial
assignment/paneling will be considered to be an extension of the tour.
3 FAM 3913.3 Payment for Repeat
Tour
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member of the Foreign Service who qualifies for language
incentive pay under 3 FAM 3914 and
who has completed at least 22 months of service on a previous tour while
qualifying for language incentive pay may qualify for increased benefits if the
member is serving a second or subsequent tour in a country where that same
language is a primary language or in a language-designated position requiring
that same language. The member shall qualify for 150 percent of the language
proficiency payment for his or her current qualifying rating (as defined in 3 FAM 3916) if,
in preparation for this repeat tour, the member:
(1) Received full-time language training to brush up
on a previous language score not to exceed 25 percent of the normal course of
study required for a beginner to achieve an S-3/R-3 (for generalists and
specialists) or S-2/R-2 (for specialists only) in that language, as defined by
FSI (FSI-issued DS-651, End of Training Report, constitutes proof of training
record.
(2) Was selected for and received pre-tour advanced
("beyond S-3/R-3") full-time language training not to exceed 44
weeks. Such study will be limited to those with a qualifying score of S-3/R-3
that is no older than 5 years of the date of the start of the training
assignment. The repeat tour does not have to be served in the same country as
the first tour in which the member initially qualified for benefits.
3 FAM 3913.4 Payment for
End-of-Tour Bonus
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. A member of the Foreign Service who has received
language incentive pay under the provisions of 3 FAM 3910 and
who, within 2 months following the completion of his or her qualifying service,
receives for the first time an FSI-certified language test score of S-4/R-4 or
better, shall receive a lump-sum payment of $5,000. Payment shall be made
through the Departments payroll system and shall be subject to the applicable
taxes and withholdings during the period in which it is paid. Any member who
previously has qualified for language incentive pay at the S-4/R-4 level or
better at any point during his or her qualifying service shall not be eligible
for this end-of-tour bonus.
b. A member of the Foreign Service who is receiving
language incentive pay under the provisions of 3 FAM 3910 and
who, within the final 6 months prior to his or her transfer eligibility date
(TED), receives an FSI-certified language test score of S-4/R-4 or better for
the first time in that language shall have the option of choosing either to:
(1) Change his or her level of at-post language
incentive pay to the S-4/R-4 level; or
(2) Forego the increase of at-post benefits in favor
of a $5,000 cash bonus. The member shall provide supporting documentation to
his or her post or bureau administrative/executive office establishing his or
her qualification for this bonus election. The members post or bureau shall
notify the appropriate payroll office in accordance with 3 FAM 3919.
Such documentation shall include copies of the current language test score and
a signed memorandum or telegram from the member documenting his or her
election.
c. The effective date of any change to a members
language incentive pay as a result of the election made under 3 FAM 3913.4,
subparagraph b(1), shall be the beginning of the pay period after the test
during which the member achieved the higher score required to support such an
election, provided that date is within the final 6 months of the members tour
of duty, as defined by the members TED.
3 FAM 3913.5 Language Proficiency
Payment
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member of the Foreign Service who qualifies for language
incentive pay under 3 FAM 3914
shall receive the language proficiency payment described in 3 FAM 3916.
3 FAM 3913.6 Payment for Those who
Attain the Required Proficiency at Post
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member who arrives at post without the required level of
language proficiency and subsequently attains the required level of proficiency
will be paid a bonus equivalent to the amount of money the employee would have
received if s/he had received LIP from arrival at post up until the time the
employee attained the required proficiency level. To be eligible the member
must be serving in a qualifying position and attain the target proficiency
level in both speaking and reading by an FSI exam within the first half of the
employees original tour length. This incentive does not apply to ASLIP.
3 FAM 3913.7 Payment for Those who
Attain a S-4/R-4 at Post
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member who qualifies for LIP and subsequently attains
the 4/4 level in that language while at post, will be paid the increased level
of LIP for the 4/4 level for the entire time the member has been at post. To
be eligible the member must be serving in a qualifying position and attain the
target proficiency in both speaking and reading by an FSI exam during the first
half of the original tour length. This benefit applies to all tours,
regardless of length.
3 FAM 3913.8 Periods During Which
Language Incentive Payments Are Effective
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
The provisions of 3 FAM 3910,
Language Incentive Pay, became effective on the first day of the first pay
period following October 1, 1999. The provisions of 3 FAM 3914
paragraph b, regarding asymmetric LIP, became effective on the first day of the
first pay period following November 12, 2009 (or following July 3, 2013 for
Korean). There is a toolkit to assist in determining an employees eligibility
for language incentive pay, LIP toolkit.
3 FAM 3914 ELIGIBILITY FOR LANGUAGE
INCENTIVE PAY
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. In order to be eligible for language incentive pay
(other than asymmetric language incentive pay), an employee must meet the
following criteria:
(1) Be a member of the Foreign Service as defined in
section 103(1) through 103(5) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended;
(2) Except as provided in 3 FAM 3916,
paragraph b, have a valid proficiency of S-3/R-3 or better if a Foreign Service
generalist, or, if a Foreign Service specialist, has a proficiency of S-2/R-2
or better; and
(3) Be serving in any position (either
language-designated or non-language designated) at a post abroad where a
language currently on the list of incentive languages is a primary language, or
in any language-designated position (LDP) that requires an incentive language
(see 3 FAH-1
H-3911).
(i) Primary language(s): A primary language is the
official national language of the area or a language that may be used
officially on a coequal basis, either nationally or regionally, or a language
that is used officially or widely by the government in conducting
internal/foreign affairs, and by educated circles.
(ii) LIP-supported posts and languages:
NOTE 1: Language-designated
positions may be established in non-primary languages in countries where those
languages are deemed essential to the individual member's responsibilities,
such as Persian- Farsi LDPs in Turkey and Abu Dhabi. Language incentive pay
shall not be paid for non-primary languages at these posts other than to
employees assigned to such specific LDPs;
NOTE 2: Members of the
Foreign Service who are on extended detail or TDY for more than 30 days to a
Priority Staffing Post (PSP) as designated by the Department and possess a PSP
language skill that appears on the list of incentive languages at certain
levels are eligible to receive LIP in accordance with the procedures outlined
in 3 FAM 3914.
Employees who receive LIP at their post of assignment are not eligible for LIP
related to their post of assignment while TDY at a PSP; and
NOTE 3: When a member
departs post pursuant to ordered or authorized departure, language incentive
pay shall terminate and resume on the date the member commences return to
post. (See Section 600 of the Department of State Standardized Regulations [DSSR].
When a member is away from post for continuous periods of 30 calendar days or
less, including temporary duty travel, medical evacuation or combinations of
annual leave, sick leave, and leave without pay, such periods will be included
as continuing presence at post. Language incentive pay shall terminate on the
31st day away from post and resume on the date the member commences return to
post. Post must notify the payroll servicing office via cable of the above.
(4) Possess a valid FSI-certified speaking and reading
language test score to document a qualifying proficiency level or meet the
proficiency requirements described in 3 FAM 3914(2).
For the purposes of this program, certified test scores are valid for a maximum
of five years. The latest score is the valid score. For further details, see 3 FAM 3917 --
Periods during which Language-Incentive Payments are effective. A LIP toolkit
to assist in determining an employees eligibility for language incentive pay,
LIP toolkit.
b. To be eligible for asymmetric language incentive pay
(ASLIP), an employee must meet the following criteria:
(1) Be a member of the Foreign Service as defined in
section 103(1) through 103(5) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended;
(2) Have an eligible ASLIP score, as defined in 3 FAM 3916;
(3) Be serving in any position (either
language-designated or non-language designated) at a post abroad where a
language currently on the list of incentive languages is a primary language, or
in any language-designated position (LDP) requiring an incentive language (see 3 FAH-1 H-3912);
and
(4) Possess a FSI-certified speaking and reading
language test score, valid on November 12, 2009 or as of July 3, 2013 for
Korean or at the beginning of eligible assignments subsequent to that date to
document a qualifying proficiency level or meet the proficiency requirements
described in 3
FAM 3915. For the purposes of this program, certified test scores are
valid for a maximum of 5 years. The latest score is the valid score. For
further details, see 3 FAM 3917.
(i) Primary language(s): A primary language is the
official national language of the area or a language that may be used
officially on a coequal basis, either nationally or regionally, or a language
that is used officially or widely by the government in conducting
internal/foreign affairs, and by educated circles.
(ii) LIP-supported posts and languages.
NOTE 1: Language-designated
positions may be established in non-primary languages in countries where those
languages are deemed essential to the individual member's responsibilities,
such as Persian- Farsi LDPs in Turkey and Abu Dhabi. Language incentive pay shall
not be paid for non-primary languages at these posts other than to employees
assigned to such specific LDPs;
NOTE 2: Members of the
Foreign Service who are on extended detail or TDY for more than 30 days to a
Priority Staffing Post (PSP) as designated by the Department and possess a PSP
language skill that appears on the list of incentive languages at certain
levels are eligible to receive LIP in accordance with the procedures outlined
in 3 FAM 3914.
Employees who receive LIP at their post of assignment are not eligible for LIP
related to their post of assignment while TDY at a PSP;
NOTE 3: When a member
departs post pursuant to ordered or authorized departure, language incentive
pay shall terminate and resume on the date the member commences return to
post. (See Section 600 of the Department of State Standardized Regulations [DSSR].
When a member is away from post for continuous periods of 30 calendar days or
less, including temporary duty travel, medical evacuation or combinations of
annual leave, sick leave, and leave without pay, such periods will be included
as continuing presence at post. Language incentive pay shall terminate on the
31st day away from post and resume on the date the member commences return to
post. Post must notify the payroll servicing office via cable of the above.
Asymmetric language incentive pay toolkit.
3 FAM 3915 ESTABLISHING LANGUAGE
PROFICIENCY AT THE S-4/R-4 LEVEL
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. For the purpose of establishing eligibility for
language incentive pay, a member who previously has tested at the S-4/R-4 level
of proficiency is deemed to have at least an S-3/R-3 proficiency level
indefinitely unless the member later tests below S-4/R-4. A supervisor may
request that the proficiency level be recertified.
b. For the purpose of establishing eligibility for
language incentive pay, a member who receives two test scores of S-4/R-4 at
least 4 years apart, or one test score of S-5/R-5, is deemed to have at least
S-4/R-4 proficiency indefinitely. A supervisor may request that the
proficiency level be recertified.
c. Language incentive pay shall not be granted for
proficiency in a language if that proficiency was a condition of the members
initial employment with the Foreign Service, e.g. the Consular Adjudicator
Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) Program. It does not apply to the
Recruitment Language Program, the Diplomatic Security Protective Security
Specialist LNA Program, or the Career Civil Service LNA Program (with the
exception of language translators and interpreters).
3 FAM 3916 MONETARY PAYMENT LEVELS
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. The language proficiency payment for eligible
members shall be calculated as follows:
(1) For a Foreign Service specialist (or employee
serving in a limited non-career appointment in a specialist position abroad)
with a qualifying rating of S-2/R-2 in an incentive language (see 3 FAH-1 H-3911),
the language proficiency payment is five percent of the base salary abroad of
an FS-01/step 1 member of the Foreign Service, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)
and adjusted annually according to 5 U.S.C. 5303(a).
(a) This provision does not apply to the Consular
Adjudicator LNA Program; and
(b) Does apply to the Recruitment Language Program, the
Diplomatic Security Protective Security Specialist LNA Program, or the Career
Civil Service LNA Program (with the exception of language translators and
interpreters).
(2) For any member with a qualifying rating of S-3/R-3
in an incentive language(see 3 FAH-1 H-3911),
the language proficiency payment is 10 percent of the base salary abroad of an
FS-01/step 1 member of the Foreign Service, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1) and
adjusted annually according to 5 U.S.C. 5303(a); and
(3) For any member with a qualifying rating of S-4/R-4
or better in an incentive language, the language proficiency payment is 15
percent of the base salary abroad of an FS-01/step 1 member, as defined in 5
U.S.C. 5302(1) and adjusted annually according to 5 U.S.C. 5303(a).
b. Under a pilot program, the Department offers
asymmetric language incentive pay (ASLIP) for demonstrated proficiency in
several strategically important incentive languages (see 3 FAH-1
H-3911.2). Under ASLIP, both generalists and specialists who have
proficiency in the incentive languages (see 3 FAH-1 H-3911)
will be compensated for scores other than S-2/R-2, S-3/R-3, or S-4/R-4. ASLIP
scores will be compensated as a percent of the base salary abroad of an
FS-01/step 1 member of the Foreign Service, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1) and
adjusted annually according to 5 U.S.C. 5303(a) as follows:
S-2/R-2 5 percent
S-3/R-1 5 percent
S-3/R-2 7.5 percent
S-3/R-3 10 percent
S-4/R-2 10 percent
S-4/R-3 12.5 percent
S-4/R-4 and above 15 percent
c. Effective March 20,
2017, an employee with a score of S-3+/R-2 or S-3+/R-2+ in a super hard
language (Arabic, Chinese-Cantonese, Chinese-Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean) may
receive LIP at the S-3/R-3 level. Also effective March 20, 2017, employees
with S-3+/R-2 or S-3+/R-2+ scores who are already receiving ASLIP in super-hard
languages at the S-3/R-2 rate are eligible to receive LIP at the S-3/R-3 level,
and should notify their management officer at post of their eligibility so that
post may promptly authorize the appropriate payroll office to adjust the rate
of the employee's incentive payment. At this time, making a score of S-3+/R-2
or S-3+/R2+ equivalent to an S-3/R-3 in super-hard languages only applies to LIP
and bidding. All other language-related policies remain unchanged.
d. The basic FS
pay scale is published annually under an
executive order.
3 FAM 3917 PERIODS DURING WHICH
LANGUAGE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. The provisions of 3 FAM 3910,
Language Incentive Pay, became effective on the first day of the first pay
period following October 1, 1999. The provisions of 3 FAM 3914,
paragraph b, regarding asymmetric LIP, shall become effective on the first day
of the first pay period following November 12, 2009 (or following July 3, 2013
for Korean).
b. In all provisions, Language Incentive Pay shall
terminate at the end of the pay period during which the member permanently
departs the post or position or departs the post or position on a long-term
temporary duty assignment (TDY) of thirty-one days or longer or if the member
tests again in the language during the qualifying assignment and receives a
score which makes him/her no longer eligible for Language Incentive Pay.
NOTE: 3 FAH-1 H-3914
contains provisions concerning the implementation of this program.
c. Members of the Foreign Service who are on extended
detail or TDY for more than 30 days to a Priority Staffing Post (PSP) as
designated by the Department and possess a PSP language skill that appears on
the list of incentive languages at certain levels are eligible to receive LIP
or ASLIP in accordance with the procedures outlined in 3 FAM 3914.
Employees sent TDY from a current post of assignment where they are receiving
LIP or ASLIP in a non-PSP incentive language will not be eligible for that LIP
or ASLIP while TDY at a PSP.
d. Periods during which language incentive payments are
effective include the following:
(1) For a member eligible prior to arrival at post,
language incentive pay shall be effective at the beginning of the first full
pay period after the members arrival at post and shall continue for the
duration of the tour of duty.
(2) When a member receives a qualifying language test
score during the first half of his/her original tour length, language incentive
pay be effective at the beginning of the first full pay period after the member
passes the test at the required level as certified by FSI. S/he will receive a
bonus equivalent to the amount of money s/he would have received if s/he had
arrived at post LIP qualified until s/he attained the required proficiency
level.
(3) When a member receives a qualifying language test
score during the second half of his/her original tour length, language
incentive pay shall be effective at the beginning of the first full pay period
after the member passes the test at the required level as certified by FSI.
Language incentive pay shall be paid for the remainder of the tour of duty.
(4) When a language is added to the incentive language
list (3
FAH-1 H-3911) after a members arrival at post and if the member is
otherwise eligible, language incentive pay shall be effective at the beginning
of the first full pay period after that language is added to the incentive
language list and shall continue for the duration of the tour.
(5) GRANDFATHER CLAUSE: When
a member qualifies for increased payments for an extension under the provisions
of 3 FAM
3913.2, the increase in language incentive pay shall be effective at the
beginning of the first full pay period in the last month of the member's
original tour of duty.
(6) If a language is removed from either the LIP or
ASLIP incentive language list (3 FAH-1
H-3911.1 and 3 FAH-1 H-3911.2),
language-incentive pay shall not be terminated for any otherwise qualifying
member during service at the post or in the position for which the original
incentive payment was awarded.
(7) When the member departs post pursuant to ordered
or authorized departure, language incentive pay shall terminate and resume on
the date the member commences return to post. (See Section 600 of the
Department of State Standardized Regulations [DSSR]). When the member is away
from post for continuous periods of 30 calendar days or less, including
temporary duty travel, medical evacuation or combinations of annual leave, sick
leave, and leave without pay, such periods will be included as continuing
presence at post. Language incentive pay shall terminate on the 31st day away
from post and resume on the date the member commences return to post. Post
must notify the payroll servicing office via cable of the above
3 FAM 3918 TESTING FOR LANGUAGE
INCENTIVE PAY
3 FAM 3918.1 Member Responsibility
for Scheduling Tests
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. A member is entitled to, and is responsible for
arranging, a test at FSI before going to post. The member should notify the
FSI Testing Unit at least three weeks before the desired test date. FSI shall
attempt to schedule tests as close to the requested dates as possible. A
member who does not pass both the reading and speaking components of the FSI
language test may request a retest no sooner than six months after the test in
question or after 100 hours of additional intensive training provided by the
Department.
b. A member who has passed one component of the FSI
language test (reading or speaking) while scoring one-half point lower than
required on the other component may retest after four weeks and within six
months, upon request, in just the component in which the proficiency was not
met. The second score will be the score of record and will be combined with
the other components original score. The test date will reflect retest date.
c. FSI testers or examiners may periodically visit
posts abroad or communicate with posts via Digital Video Conference. Posts are
notified, in advance, of such opportunities during which an FSI representative
may be available to give a limited number of tests. Members who believe they
have the necessary proficiency level to qualify for language incentive pay
should arrange for testing through the post language officer. Only
FSI-certified examiners may score tests.
3 FAM 3918.2 Disputes Concerning
Eligibility for Language Incentive Pay
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
A member of the Foreign Service may appeal a dispute
concerning qualifications under the regulations for language incentive pay to
the Director, Office of Career Development and Assignments, Bureau of Human
Resources (HR/CDA).
3 FAM 3919 RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
NOTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY
3 FAM 3919.1 General
(CT:PER-783; 09-16-2015)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
Responsibilities for notification of eligibility are as
follows:
(1) A member of the Foreign Service is responsible for
promptly notifying the posts management officer of possible eligibility for
language incentive pay; (A printout of a members employee profile constitutes
notification of test scores); and
(2) The members post is responsible for promptly
authorizing the appropriate payroll office to make the language incentive
payment to the qualified member. The post authorization shall include:
(a) Members name and payroll number;
(b) A statement that the member meets the eligibility
criteria outlined in 3 FAM 3914; and
(c) A statement from the member attesting that his or
her competency in the language was not a condition of initial employment.
NOTE: This provision applies
to the Consular Adjudicator Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) Program. It
does not apply to the Recruitment Language Program, the Diplomatic Security
Protective Security Specialist LNA Program, or the Career Civil Service LNA
Program (with the exception of language translators and interpreters);
(d) The proper monetary payment level as outlined in 3 FAM 3916 or 3 FAH-1
H-3914.4, indicating the members qualifying level of language proficiency
and the percentage of language proficiency payment for which the member
qualifies; and
(e) The effective date of the language incentive payment
as outlined in 3
FAM 3917. The post shall also follow any special notification procedure
issued by the appropriate payroll office. If sufficient information, other
than FSI test score data is unavailable for the post to make a determination,
post should request such information from HR/CDA; and
(f) Should a member take a language test while
receiving LIP and score a LIP-enhancing, lowering or disqualifying score, it is
the responsibility for the member to immediately notify post. Post must follow
up with the appropriate payroll office.
(4) The appropriate payroll office is responsible for
promptly processing the approved language incentive pay.
3 FAM 3919.2 Notification to
Terminate
(CT:PER-863; 08-07-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service employees)
a. The post or, in the case of a domestic assignment
(e.g., NRRC), the employing bureau is responsible for promptly notifying the
appropriate payroll office of the loss/termination of eligibility and the date
of loss/termination. (See 3 FAM 3914).
b. The official departure from post message (known as
Travel Message Five or TMFIVE) on a member receiving language incentive pay who
transfers or separates (including resignation or retirement), must contain the
following statement: Stop language incentive pay as of the end of the pay
period in which the actual time of departure (ATD) falls.
c. Upon receipt of such notification, the members
payroll office shall stop language incentive pay as of the end of the pay
period in which the termination date falls.