U.S. citizens, when they travel internationally need to be handed specific policy and procedure so they understand what the company is providing vs. what their personal responsibilities are when they are traveling abroad on business.

An areas where companies do not do a good job surrounds the extension of a business trip with a personal sojourn. An executive may take the redeye flight to Rome and taxi to 3 meetings on Friday which is obviously a pure business exposure, but what happens when the executives girlfriend arrives that evening and they spend the weekend in Rome?

This situation is certainly not as clear.

International Policy Issues Pertaining to International Travelers, By Class of Traveler

When we say "type of international business traveler" we generally mean three classes of international business traveler. By business traveler we mean people spending less than 1 year away from their home country and normally, just a few weeks.

1. U.S. citizens leaving behind the U.S.
2. Foreign nationals coming to the U.S.
3. Non-U.S. citizens leaving their home country (but not coming to the U.S.)

The needs of each group can be quite different, and an organizations policy and procedures need to reflect this or there can be potential problems, holes in coverage, assumed liabilities, and ex-gratia payments.

Examining some of the issues that affect one class of international business traveler over another

Foreign nationals almost always have a form of national health insurance in their home country. Most don't truly understand the U.S. system. Foreign nationals that come into the U.S. but do not secure medical insurance for the duration of their trip are exposing their employer to a tremendous amount of liability.

What is your current international policy and procedure on inpats or foreign nationals coming into the U.S.? Do you require coverage? Do you provide coverage on a blanket basis whenever foreign nationals travel without the need to report trip by trip?

Every employer's situation is different. This ranges from a University inviting a foreign national into the U.S. for a semester to a multinational bringing a foreign national scientist into the U.S. for a six month project. The proper international policy on this group should either require that they prove coverage before entering the country or they should be provided medical coverage through a dedicated international plan, not the U.S. health insurance plan designed for U.S. citizens.

International Policy and Procedures Group helps employers construct expatriate employee handbooks and expatriate manuals to avoid and remove problems and liabilities.