---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2735"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2735"
heading: "Foreign relations exchange programs"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2735"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Department of State"
---

# §2735. Foreign relations exchange programs

- (a) **Authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) may establish exchange [programs](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) under which officers or [employees](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of the Department of State, including individuals appointed under [title 5](/usc/5.md) and members of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service (as defined in [section 3903 of this title](/usc/22/3903.md)), may be assigned, for not more than 1 year, to a position with any [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) government or international entity that permits an [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) to be assigned to a position with the Department of State.
- (b) **Salary and benefits—**
  - (1) **Members of Foreign Service—** During a period in which a member of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service is participating in an exchange [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) authorized pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), such member shall be entitled to the salary and benefits to which such member would receive but for the assignment under this section.
  - (2) **Non-Foreign Service employees of Department—** An [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of the Department of State other than a member of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service participating in an exchange [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) authorized pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall be treated in all respects as if detailed to an [international organization](/usc/22/4316.md?p=e-2) pursuant to [section 3343(c) of title 5](/usc/5/3343.md?p=c).
  - (3) **Foreign participants—** The salary and benefits of an [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of a [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) government or international entity participating in an exchange [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) authorized pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall be paid by such government or entity during the period in which such [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) is participating in such [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6), and shall not be reimbursed by the Department of State.
- (c) **Non-reciprocal assignment—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) may authorize a non-reciprocal assignment of personnel pursuant to this section, with or without reimbursement from the [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) government or international entity for all or part of the salary and other expenses payable during such assignment, if such is in the interests of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1).
- (d) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the appointment as an officer or [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) of—
  - (1) an individual whose allegiance is to any country, government, or [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) or international entity other than to the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1); or
  - (2) an individual who has not met the requirements of sections [3331](/usc/5/3331.md), [3332](/usc/5/3332.md), [3333](/usc/5/3333.md), and [7311](/usc/5/7311.md) of title 5 or any other provision of law concerning eligibility for appointment as, and continuation of employment as, an officer or [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1).

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 63, as added Pub. L. 114–323, title VII, § 701(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1939.)