PCS Moves: Stateside Vs. Overseas Permanent Change of Station Moves
A stateside military move is mostly a logistical challenge—getting your family and belongings from one U.S. location to another. An overseas move is more complex. It involves mandatory personal screenings and medical approvals that must be secured before the first box is ever packed.
What are the differences between a stateside-to-stateside PCS and a stateside-to-overseas PCS? What types of allowances and other benefits are offered? We examine some key questions below.
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What’s different about getting overseas orders?
Unlike a stateside move, overseas orders require you and any accompanying family members to have passports, immunizations, and screenings. You can’t just schedule movers and go.
For starters, your family must be officially approved by the gaining command to accompany you. Without this, it’s an “unaccompanied” tour, and your family doesn’t move with you at government expense.
Some assignments allow the family to join you, some do not. If your family isn’t approved to join you in the overseas location, it can be challenging to bring them over for extended stays beyond a typical vacation. Don’t assume your family members are allowed to accompany you overseas until you have confirmed you have an “accompanied” overseas tour.
What should I know about PCSing overseas with my family?
Every family member must pass a detailed medical, dental, and educational screening. This ensures the new overseas duty station has the resources to support any special needs your family may have. A denial of this screening can halt the family’s move.
You’ll need to get no-fee government passports for official travel. Depending on the country, you may also need special visas or Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) stamps to legally reside there.
When PCSing stateside to stateside, family members have more flexibility with the move. Some can stay behind to finish school semesters before catching up with the rest of the family at a later date. Overseas moves are more firmly scheduled and with less flexibility in this area.
How does shipping your belongings differ for an overseas move?
When you move stateside, your household goods are typically packed into a single shipment and trucked to your new home.
An overseas move may involve more, including a multi-stage shipping process because of long transit times and smaller homes abroad.
- Household Goods: This is your main shipment of furniture and other large items. It travels by sea and can take two to three months to arrive.
- Unaccompanied Baggage: This is a smaller, faster shipment sent by air. It includes essentials you’ll need right away, like uniforms, linens, kitchen items, and some clothes.
- Non-Temporary Storage: The government will store belongings you don’t want to take overseas in a secure facility for the duration of your tour.
All of these shipments must also clear customs, meaning they are subject to inspection and the host nation’s import laws.
What’s involved in moving a personal vehicle overseas versus stateside?
Moving a car stateside is simple: you drive it to your new home and get reimbursed for mileage. Moving a car overseas is a formal, regulated process. The government typically pays to ship one privately owned vehicle (POV), but not all military bases overseas allow POVs to be shipped there.
The process, when you are permitted to ship a vehicle, involves taking your car to a designated Vehicle Processing Center (VPC).
The car must be thoroughly cleaned and have a near-empty gas tank. Additionally, you must have paperwork, including your orders and title. You may also need to obtain a permission letter from your bank if you have a car loan. The entire transit can take up to 90 days, leaving you without that vehicle for months.
Are the benefits different for an overseas PCS?
Yes, some benefits are designed to address the unique costs of an international move.
- Stateside (TLE): You may qualify for a Temporary Lodging Expense reimbursement. It’s a capped rate that covers up to 10 days of temporary housing.
- Overseas (TLA): You may be authorized a Temporary Lodging Allowance. This is a more flexible allowance that covers the actual cost of lodging while you’re waiting for permanent housing overseas and can last for 30, 60, or even 90 days.
Additionally, service members at qualifying overseas locations receive an Overseas Cost of Living Allowance, which is a non-taxable payment to help offset the higher price of goods and services in foreign countries.
PCSing stateside means having the option of opting for a Do-It-Yourself move or a “personally procured move”, where the servicemember is reimbursed for the expenses of hiring the moving van and relocating to the new base. This is typically not possible for stateside-to-overseas PCS moves.
What are the challenges of moving a pet overseas with the military?
Moving a pet stateside can be as simple as putting them in the car. Moving a pet overseas is more of a logistical and financial challenge. Every country has its own strict import rules, and there are a few exceptions to them. The process often starts six to 12 months before the move and can include:
- An approved pet microchip.
- A timeline of rabies vaccinations.
- A blood test to prove the vaccine is working.
- A detailed health certificate from a veterinarian.
Mistakes in this process can lead to your pet being denied entry or forced into a long and expensive quarantine. Furthermore, space for pets on military flights is extremely limited and not guaranteed, often forcing families to pay thousands of dollars for commercial pet shipping services.
RELATED:
- PCS Moves: Overseas to Stateside
- Some Overseas Military Base Access Restricted for Military Retirees
- DoD Expands Military Spouse Employment Options Overseas
- PCSing with Pets Overseas: DoD Policy Changes
- Overseas Cost of Living Allowance Cuts
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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.
