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I need additional time in the US for fund-raising, recruiting or other ministry needs. 

Trips to the US which are taken for ministry purposes are reimbursable.  The purpose of furlough (according to policies) is visiting supporters, raising funds, expanding vision for the ministry among partners and donors and recruiting.  With supervisor approval these activities can be pursued in trips to the US that are additional to a worker's normal furlough. Typically these sorts of trips are necessary for team leaders and field leadership.  First term workers should not seek a trip of this nature unless requested by their local leadership. 

Travel forms are required, as with all travel away from your resident location. 

Typically these trips do not include family members, so additional documentation for International and the Reimbursements team may be needed if you are seeking reimbursement for associate spouses or children.  In other words, their travel is not reimbursable unless their presence fulfills a specific ministry function. 

My furlough is combined with a wedding or another personal or family event. 

It’s also normal among our international workers that they line up family and personal ministry events (like weddings) with ministry fund-raising, recruiting, or partnership trips. 

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We bless that, as multiple experiences of jet-lag is not productive for the person or ministry.  As with any sort of leave, the details need to be approved by your local supervisor. 

In order for the trip to be considered a Ministry Expense (reimbursable) the guideline is that either

  • a) the majority of time is spent on business purposes or
  • b) the date was set to meet ministry objectives and personal time was added later.

My trip to the US is for a family or personal event

We affirm that importance of being present with family for key events.  We also affirm that sometimes we just want to be at home.  After completing the first term of international service, an international worker may seek their supervisor's approval to use PTO for personal time in the US.  All travel and jet-lag needs to be included in PTO in these cases.  Personal is personal, so it's not reimbursable, sorry.  A hardship bonus would only be provided for an emergency among immediate family members (like critical illness, funeral, and the like). 

My presence in the US may extend beyond three months.  How will that affect my taxes and healthcare? 


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Taxes

Some people on extended furloughs have the right maintain their Foreign tax status, and continue to file form 2555, even when they are in the US more that Reliant’s standard furlough of three months.  However, the IRS guidelines are very specific, and there are many possible scenarios to consider. Therefore, if you will be in the US longer than 3 months on your furlough we suggest you contact Barb Seckler from our Employment Services team to consult on your tax status

If you have a furlough longer than 3 months and do maintain your foreign status, please let us know the following:

  1. Locations of your stays in the US (with approximate timing).
  2. What you will be doing while in the US.
  3. Your expected maximum stay (at this time).
  4. Where your major household belongings will be during your extended furlough. 

Also, please understand we are assuming that our international missionaries want to maintain those statuses.  If you wish to move your tax location to a US location during your stay, we can do that.  We would report your taxes according to the state in which you live/work, and pay local and US taxes based on that location.  It may be that you have a tax adviser encouraging you to make that change, and we will follow your wishes, if that is your leaning. Just email international@reliant.org to let us know.

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Healthcare/Insurance

Reliant's international healthcare plan with Global Benefits Group (GBG) covers our missionaries for up to 90 days of furlough in the US. In the event of an extended furlough (lasting longer than 90 days) there are a couple of options for how you can sustain healthcare insurance:

  1. Stay with GBG (International Insurance): 
    • GBG can continue to cover you while in the US, with a standard pricing rule of an 85% premium surcharge on your rates.

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    • If your stay exceeds 90 days when for normal furlough activities, Reliant will cover the cost of the premium surcharge for the fourth through the sixth months.  After the sixth month, the surcharge will be covered by your MTD account. Once you return to your international country the premium will be adjusted to the current premium. There is the possibility that GBG will offer a lower premium surcharge, if there is a history of good claims - but this is at the discretion of GBG.
  1. Temporarily change to Guidestone (US insurance): 
    • You have the right to change your plan with GBG at any time while you are in the US and enroll in our US insurances. This option can incur multiple deductibles for the respective year and could potentially mean an increase in out of pocket expenses. 
    • Also keep in mind, the GBG plan offers medical, dental and vision. If you choose to discontinue this plan while on extended furlough and wish to maintain dental and vision coverage, you will need to enroll separately in dental and vision coverage in addition to medical coverage with Guidestone.
    • Once returning to your international location, you must also change back to international coverage with GBG.