Title 22 › CHAPTER 52 — FOREIGN SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER XI — GRIEVANCES › § 4139
If a person asks for the same matter to be decided under another law, regulation, or Executive order before filing a grievance with the Board (but not under section 1214 or 1221 of title 5), and that other process has either been finally decided on the merits or is still pending, the person may not file the same grievance with the Board. If the person is not barred that way, they may file with the Board even if the matter could also be handled under chapter 12 of title 5 or another rule or Executive order. Once the Board accepts the case, that choice is final. Subsection (a) does not apply to grievances covered by subsection (b). If the grievance involves a law, rule, regulation, or policy named in section 4131(a)(1)(H), the person must pick one route only: either file under this subchapter with the Board, or start a written proceeding under another law, regulation, or Executive order that can give relief — but not both. The choice is made as soon as the person timely files one of those options.
Full Legal Text
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 4139
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110