B-180967, NOV 14, 1974
Highlights
GAO WILL NOT OBJECT TO PAYMENT FOR MOVEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF A UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE WHO HAS DECLARED INTENTION OF RELINQUISHING UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP IF EMPLOYEE IS STILL A CITIZEN AT TIME OF MOVE AND PAYMENT IS OTHERWISE PROPER. IS IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES SECTION. WHICH IS STAFFED BY MEMBERS OF THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE IJC WHO ARE EMPLOYED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE. STAFF MEMBERS IN THE UNITED STATES SECTION ARE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANTS EMPLOYED THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE SERVICE. APPLIED FOR A POSITION AS CHEMIST WITH THE IJC AND WAS SELECTED. BRATZEL WAS TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
B-180967, NOV 14, 1974
GAO WILL NOT OBJECT TO PAYMENT FOR MOVEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF A UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE WHO HAS DECLARED INTENTION OF RELINQUISHING UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP IF EMPLOYEE IS STILL A CITIZEN AT TIME OF MOVE AND PAYMENT IS OTHERWISE PROPER.
DR. MARTIN P. BRATZEL, JR. - MOVEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF EMPLOYEE WHO HAS DECLARED INTENTION OF RELINQUISHING CITIZENSHIP:
THIS DECISION TO THE CHAIRMAN, UNITED STATES SECTION, INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION (IJC), UNITED STATES AND CANADA, IS IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES SECTION. HE REQUESTED OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES FOR MOVING THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF DR. MARTIN P. BRATZEL, JR., AN EMPLOYEE OF THE IJC.
THE IJC ESTABLISHED A REGIONAL OFFICE IN WINDSOR, ONTARIO, WHICH IS STAFFED BY MEMBERS OF THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE IJC WHO ARE EMPLOYED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE. STAFF MEMBERS IN THE UNITED STATES SECTION ARE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANTS EMPLOYED THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE SERVICE. DR. MARTIN P. BRATZEL, JR., A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE TIME EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, APPLIED FOR A POSITION AS CHEMIST WITH THE IJC AND WAS SELECTED. BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS AT THE TIME, DR. BRATZEL WAS TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, DETAILED TO THE IJC OFFICE IN WINDSOR, AND FINALLY TRANSFERRED THERE ON JANUARY 20, 1974. A TRAVEL ORDER WAS ISSUED JANUARY 24, 1974, AUTHORIZING TRANSPORTATION OF 11,000 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS. A GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING WAS ISSUED THE SAME DAY AUTHORIZING THE MOVEMENT OF DR. BRATZEL'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM HIS FORMER RESIDENCE IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, TO WINDSOR, ONTARIO, AND THE MOVE WAS COMPLETED FEBRUARY 19, 1974. DURING THIS PERIOD DR. BRATZEL APPLIED FOR AND, ON JANUARY 3, 1974, WAS AWARDED "LANDED IMMIGRANT STATUS" IN CANADA. "LANDED IMMIGRANT STATUS" MEANS THAT A PERSON HAS BEEN LAWFULLY ADMITTED TO CANADA FOR THE PURPOSE OF BECOMING A PERMANENT RESIDENT. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO OBTAIN CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP. HE MUST WAIT AT LEAST 5 YEARS TO ACHIEVE THAT CITIZENSHIP BUT DURING THAT PERIOD HIS UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP IS UNAFFECTED.
THE SECRETARY QUESTIONS THE PROPRIETY OF THE PAYMENT OF DR. BRATZEL'S MOVEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN LIGHT OF HIS EVIDENCED INTENTION TO ACQUIRE CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP AND ULTIMATELY RELINQUISH HIS UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP.
THIS OFFICE IS NOT REQUIRED TO RAISE OBJECTION TO AN OTHERWISE PROPER PAYMENT. DR. BRATZEL WAS A CITIZEN AT THE TIME OF THE MOVE AND A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, WITH THE SAME ENTITLEMENTS OF OTHER SUCH EMPLOYEES. HIS PRESENT INTENTIONS TO RELINQUISH CITIZENSHIP 5 YEARS IN THE FUTURE CANNOT OPERATE TO DEPRIVE HIM OF THE RIGHT TO BE PAID FOR THE MOVEMENT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS. SEE 24 COMP. GEN. 384 (1944); 18 COMP. GEN. 346 (1938).