§3949 Limited appointments

Summary

Limited appointments in the Foreign Service cannot last more than 5 years and usually cannot be renewed. If the appointment is for 1 year or less, it is called a temporary appointment. Some limited appointments can be extended for continued service in certain situations: serving as a consular agent; under the rule in section 3951(a); as a career candidate to fix a grievance under subchapter XI or if the person is serving in the uniformed services (as defined in section 4303 of title 38) when the appointment ends; as a career employee detailed from another agency; as a foreign national employee; or in special cases when the Secretary allows an extension (up to 1 year for noncareer appointments, or for the minimum time needed to resolve a grievance, claim, investigation, or complaint for a career candidate). Noncareer employees who have served 5 consecutive years under a limited appointment can only be reappointed to another noncareer limited appointment after at least a 1-year break in service, unless the Secretary waives that break because of a special need.