It goes by lots of names... Furlough, Stateside Service, Home Assignment. Whatever term you or your ministry may use for the time you spent away from your field ministry and in the United States, -and you may hear us use various terms! - it is an incredibly important part of the life and work of the cross-cultural Goer. The purposes are :

Strengthen ministry financial support with individuals and churches by visiting and casting vision to ministry partners.
Promote international ministry needs.
Spend time with family, and reconnect with American culture.
Take intentional time for your own physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation.

Our guiding principle is that workers should take approximately 6 weeks of furlough per year overseas.

1 year overseas*	2 years overseas	3 years overseas	4 years overseas
6 weeks stateside	3 months stateside	4.5 months stateside	6 months stateside

*Reliant recommends staying overseas 18-24 months during your first term before coming back. Returning within the first year may disrupt your transition and make it more difficult to acclimate to your host country.

We recommend you start planning about six months before you plan to come stateside. Below is a workbook specifically designed to help you think and plan through various aspects. You can make a copy in Google sheets and use it to the extent that it is helpful in your situation.

These timeframes are meant to provide a framework for healthy rhythms. We understand every ministry and missionary's needs are different and entrust you and your ministry to come to an agreement on the frequency and duration of being in the U.S. Some determining factors may include yearly work rhythms, size of your family, educational needs for children, etc.

Please notify Reliant as soon as you begin planning for Home Assignment:

Furlough Request form - Once you know your approximate timeframe.
Travel Notification form - Once you have bought your plane tickets.

We've put together some great resources for all of your furlough questions. See the pages below.

Planning Timeline	Review this timeline for a list of ways to prepare, in the areas of logistics, MTD and personally. It's broken down month-by-month, starting with 6 months out from your return to the US.
Furlough Request Form	Notify Reliant of your upcoming home assignment by filling out this quick Google form.
Debrief and Retreat	You don't have to wait until you are returning stateside permanently to attend a debrief. Review a list of recommended options in the US and abroad.
MTD for Home Assignment	Whether you need to raise new monthly giving or are raising funds for a new ministry project, home assignment is a great time to meet face-to-face with partners and communicate your vision.
Finances, Insurance, and Taxes	Please review important information on how your time in the US could impact your finances, insurance, and taxes. Includes information on how and what you can reimburse during your home assignment.
Extended US Stays (6+ Months)	There may be a few extra things to consider or plan for if your stay in the US will be greater than six months.
Reliant Debrief	Home Assignment is a great time to touch base with the International Team. We love hearing updates on your ministry happenings and receiving feedback from your term and your experience with Reliant as a whole.
Tips for a Healthy Home Assignment	Furlough should be a space where you are encouraged and prepared for your next term of service. Here are some tips to help you avoid burnout when it is time to return to the field.
Parenting during Home Assignment	Home Assignment involves the whole family! This certainly comes with challenges. If you have children of any age, check out some great resources for shepherding your children through this transition.

It is incredibly important to understand how furlough, or any time in the United States, affects your insurance coverage. If you are enrolled in the Aetna plan, your coverage will continue uninterrupted. However, while you are not subject to a deductible overseas, you will have to meet a deductible for any medical expenses incurred within the United States. Additionally, Aetna has different rates of coverage for in-network and out-of-network expenses. Please confirm with Aetna and/or your medical provider that they are in-network before receiving treatment. If you decide to use an out-of-network provider, make sure to understand the costs upfront. You can review the details of the Aetna plan here.

Because medical treatment may be more expensive in the US than overseas, if you plan to have a major medical procedure while in the U.S., it is best practice to notify Aetna ahead of time for approval, even if pre-approval is not explicitly stated or required.

If you are not covered under the Aetna plan, but have a national plan through your country of service, you are responsible for knowing what your plan covers while you are in the US and obtaining additional insurances as necessary.

See also: Travel Assistance insurance for ACE International Travel Assistance information

If you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you will need to report any days that you spend in the US when filing Form 2555. For a standard 3-month furlough, you may not see a noticeable impact on your taxes. However, if your furlough extends beyond three months, we strongly recommend talking to a tax professional to understand your tax obligations correctly. See also Extended Furloughs (6+ Months).

Most states base taxation on residency in the state, and generally exempt income if it would qualify for the federal foreign earned income exclusion. When residing and working in the United States for longer than 3 months, please seek counsel from the International Program team regarding your ministry role and location, to determine if it's appropriate to withhold state taxes for a portion of your time in the US. We also advise that you consult your tax advisor regarding applicable tax laws in your home state.

Are you a part of a country that has a totalization agreement? If you are a missionary in one of the countries listed in the Furlough Request, you may need to plan a 6-month exit from the host country every 5 years to comply with the agreement, Please contact international@reliant.org if you have questions.