[Decision Concerning Navy Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement of Travel Expenses]

The Navy requested an advance decision as to whether it should reimburse an employee for travel expenses he incurred in obtaining a visa for official travel abroad. GAO held that: (1) time constraints prevented the employee from procuring a visa through normal channels; (2) federal travel regulations authorized reimbursement for miscellaneous expenses associated with official travel; and (3) the visa was necessary for the performance of official business. Accordingly, the Navy should reimburse the employee for the travel expenses he incurred in obtaining the visa.