PCS Moves: Overseas to Stateside
A permanent change of station move from an overseas base to a stateside assignment has unique challenges. Some arrive at their overseas duty station without a pet or a vehicle, for example, but may wish to return to the USA with one or both. Bringing pets, cars, and household goods back to the United States is a process, and there are many aspects to an overseas-to-stateside PCS move you’ll learn about as you get closer to your final outprocessing date.
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about PCSing back to the U.S. from an overseas military base.
Is a PCS move back to the States from an overseas base easier than the move going over?
Not necessarily. The return journey has its own unique set of complex challenges. A successful Permanent Change of Station (PCS) from an overseas location back to the U.S. requires just as much planning as the move going over, with specific hurdles involving U.S. customs, major financial adjustments, and coordinating multiple property shipments.
What does “out-processing” an overseas base involve?
Out-processing is the formal procedure for leaving your assigned installation, and it’s often more extensive overseas. You’ll receive a detailed checklist requiring signatures from dozens of base agencies. This process ensures you have no outstanding local debts or obligations. You’ll have to clear base housing or terminate a lease under host-nation law, settle all foreign utility bills, close local bank accounts, and get a final sign-off from each office before you can schedule your flight home.
How does shipping my property back to the U.S. work?
You’ll coordinate with the overseas transportation office to arrange for several shipments. Your main Household Goods (HHG) will travel by sea and take several weeks or months to arrive. A smaller, faster shipment of essentials, called Unaccompanied Baggage (UB), will be sent by air.
A big step is also arranging for the delivery of your belongings from Non-Temporary Storage (NTS)—the items you left in a U.S. storage facility. This is a separate shipment that you must coordinate for delivery to your new home once you are stateside. Inspect your household goods carefully upon arrival. Note any signs that you have damaged household goods in your shipment.
Are there special customs rules for belongings shipped from overseas?
Yes. Everything you ship back to the U.S. is subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You must complete specific customs forms to declare all your items. There are strict rules prohibiting the import of certain items, such as counterfeit goods, foreign soil, and many agricultural products, including plants and seeds. Any firearms you own must be properly declared and meet all federal and state laws to be imported legally.
What is the process for shipping a car back to the U.S.?
Do you need to ship a privately owned vehicle back to the United States? Schedule an appointment to drop your vehicle off at the overseas Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). After preparing the car and providing the required paperwork, you will turn it in for its long journey by sea. Once it arrives in the United States, you’ll pick it up from a designated U.S. VPC.
You must also register or verify the vehicle in your new state of residence. This typically involves getting new insurance, passing state-mandated safety and emissions inspections, and paying fees to get new license plates.
How will my pay change when I return to the United States?
You should prepare for adjustments to your monthly pay. The special allowances you received overseas will stop. The most notable is the Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (OCOLA), and losing it can feel like a major pay cut.
Your lodging benefits also change upon arrival in the U.S. You will go from the overseas Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), which covers actual daily lodging costs during your PCS, to the stateside Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE), a more restrictive reimbursement that is capped and limited to a maximum of 10 days.
What do I need to do to bring my pet back into the United States?
Bringing a pet back into the country is regulated by the CDC and USDA to prevent the spread of disease. All animals must appear healthy on arrival. The rules are particularly strict for dogs coming from countries considered high-risk for rabies.
You will need to provide proof of a valid rabies vaccination and may also require other specific permits, depending on the situation. It is essential to consult the official government websites for the most up-to-date regulations. Your final destination state may also have its own animal import requirements.
What’s different if my move from overseas is my final one for retirement or separation?
If this is your final move out of the military, the rules are different. Instead of moving to a new duty station, you are authorized a final move to your Home of Record (HOR) or, for retirees, a Home of Selection (HOS) within the United States. You generally have one year from your official separation or retirement date to complete this move. Work closely with your base transition and transportation offices to understand the specific entitlements and timelines that apply to you.
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About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
