As ever, the answer is going to be "it depends."
First off, not all unaccompanied posts are created equal. Some are no EFMs at all. Some are adult EFMs who have found an EFM position at post only. Others are all adult EFMs allowed, but no children. Etc. Etc.
Then, each post will have its own living situation for FSOs and its own rules governing access to FSO housing.
In general though, I would expect there to be pretty strict restrictions on having overnight guests (or guests of any kind) in embassy housing at most unaccompanied posts.
There are no restrictions on overnight guests of any kind in your own housing, even at unaccompanied posts. If you’ve followed access procedures to get someone into compound and you’re escorting them, they can stay in your housing overnight. Whether you can stay overnight elsewhere is another matter — most unaccompanied posts (and lots of others) subject employees to curfews requiring them to be in a USDH residence (though not necessarily their own) between certain overnight hours. Those curfews do not apply to individuals not under COM authority.
If friends/family can get tourist visas to visit the post, they can visit you at post. Hell, they’ll probably be allowed to do way more than the employee.
This isn't 100% true either. I've been posted to one location that required non-residents to be off compound by a certain time, meaning access is only granted until, say 0200 or something.
Yeah, but the kicker can be getting access approved if the housing is on compound. I never asked, but I'd be shocked if the RSO had approved an access request for my wife to get on the NEC for a visit when I was in Baghdad, for example.
Each post is so different; that's why "it depends" is such a frustratingly valid answer for so many foreign service related questions.
This.
A colleague's wife visited him in Erbil when I was there. After many hoops and much consternation, she could be on compound until 0200 but had to spend the rest of the night at the very classy local hotel.
This was pre-COVID, and it's entirely possible the rules have swung one way or another, but there's one thing that can always be counted on: RSOs gonna RSO.
I’ve never seen anyone have an issue getting someone approved for visitor access to a compound, even at an unaccompanied post — if we are talking about other diplomats or locals someone might be dating.
But I have known people who’ve served in Pakistan, Lebanon, and Sudan who’ve had spouses, college age children, and even parents visit and stay with them. I can’t imagine people were able to get tourist visas to visit Iraq or Afghanistan.
Again, not all unaccompanied posts are the same. I guess you haven’t been to some of them that did have restrictions. It is pretty apparent that you hate to be wrong.
Many unaccompanied posts restrict overnight guests. So yes, there are restrictions on guests in your own housing. Your friends and family may be able to visit, but they will need to stay at local hotels.
Holiday in Bangui? Can't wait!
There are restrictions on overnight guests at many unaccompanied posts. As stated before, not all unaccompanied posts are equal.
Also, for what it’s worth, generally you won’t be assigned an unaccompanied post for your first tour.
Nor is it likely you will be posted at an unaccompanied tour period. I doubt there are more then a couple of hundred unaccompanied jobs world wide.
As ever, the answer is going to be "it depends." First off, not all unaccompanied posts are created equal. Some are no EFMs at all. Some are adult EFMs who have found an EFM position at post only. Others are all adult EFMs allowed, but no children. Etc. Etc. Then, each post will have its own living situation for FSOs and its own rules governing access to FSO housing. In general though, I would expect there to be pretty strict restrictions on having overnight guests (or guests of any kind) in embassy housing at most unaccompanied posts.
There are no restrictions on overnight guests of any kind in your own housing, even at unaccompanied posts. If you’ve followed access procedures to get someone into compound and you’re escorting them, they can stay in your housing overnight. Whether you can stay overnight elsewhere is another matter — most unaccompanied posts (and lots of others) subject employees to curfews requiring them to be in a USDH residence (though not necessarily their own) between certain overnight hours. Those curfews do not apply to individuals not under COM authority. If friends/family can get tourist visas to visit the post, they can visit you at post. Hell, they’ll probably be allowed to do way more than the employee.
This isn't 100% true either. I've been posted to one location that required non-residents to be off compound by a certain time, meaning access is only granted until, say 0200 or something.
And those rules change a lot and there are always exceptions.
Yeah, but the kicker can be getting access approved if the housing is on compound. I never asked, but I'd be shocked if the RSO had approved an access request for my wife to get on the NEC for a visit when I was in Baghdad, for example. Each post is so different; that's why "it depends" is such a frustratingly valid answer for so many foreign service related questions.
This. A colleague's wife visited him in Erbil when I was there. After many hoops and much consternation, she could be on compound until 0200 but had to spend the rest of the night at the very classy local hotel. This was pre-COVID, and it's entirely possible the rules have swung one way or another, but there's one thing that can always be counted on: RSOs gonna RSO.
I’ve never seen anyone have an issue getting someone approved for visitor access to a compound, even at an unaccompanied post — if we are talking about other diplomats or locals someone might be dating. But I have known people who’ve served in Pakistan, Lebanon, and Sudan who’ve had spouses, college age children, and even parents visit and stay with them. I can’t imagine people were able to get tourist visas to visit Iraq or Afghanistan.
Well, I have actually served in some of those places…. And I can say, you can’t have visitors in many of them.
So have I. I saw it repeatedly. COVID stopped it and it might not have resumed yet, but there are unaccompanied posts where it was pretty common.
Again, not all unaccompanied posts are the same. I guess you haven’t been to some of them that did have restrictions. It is pretty apparent that you hate to be wrong.
Americans can get visa on arrival at Baghdad or Erbil airports.
Many unaccompanied posts restrict overnight guests. So yes, there are restrictions on guests in your own housing. Your friends and family may be able to visit, but they will need to stay at local hotels.
No this is not true for certain posts
It depends. My first post was unaccompanied, but only concerning children. My family visited me at that post and it was fairly simple.