Travel Expenses To Washington DC

[Deleted]

Question for the folks on the prior register, how much did lodging cost in DC for a night related to the WD and SI? Also, if you are one of the lucky folks to get interviewed by SSA in Falls Church because you made the register with a high enough score---is that also on your dime?

[aljkeb123]

Exjag:

Hotels in the District can be quite pricey. I encourage you to secure a hotel in Virginia or Maryland just outside DC. The travel for an interview with SSA once you make a cert (after being placed on the Register) is reimbursed by SSA.

[71stretch]

You are reimbursed for travel for an SSA cert list interview up to the amount of federal per diem, which in 2010 was around 225/ day, if I recall correctly. Because I had to stay two nights due to the length of the flight and the timing of the interview, I found something much cheaper (but perfectly fine) at a Best Western that i think was in FC and got two nights for less than one night would have cost elsewhere. I didn't want to front more $$ than necessary.

For the SI interview and WD, I got a good deal on something close (and very nice) at a Hyatt in Arlington (i think) on Hotwire or Priceline.

[cafeta]

May 13, 2013 1:09:47 GMT -5 71stretch said:

You are reimbursed up to the amount of federal per diem, which in 2010 was around 225/ day, if I recall correctly. Because I had to stay two nights due to the length of the flight and the timing of the interview, I found something much cheaper (but perfectly fine) and got two nights for less than one night would have cost elsewhere. For the SI interview, I got a good deal on something close (and very nice) on Hotwire or Priceline.

That would be great news, but my understanding is that while you may receive admin time for your time absent for the testing, all travel costs, air, hotel, etc., are on your dime. No? So per diem would not be relevant. Please tell me I am wrong, that would be preferable!

[71stretch]

For an interview with SSA if you are on a cert list, you are reimbursed hotel, taxi, etc. -- the processing is different if you are already a fed employee, which I am not. The time off part, if you are a fed, I know nothing about.

Travel for testing to get on the register is entirely on your dime, unfortunately. But there are cheaper options out there. The testing was NOT in FC, but in DC and Alexandria- it's OPM's call on that.

[cafeta]

May 13, 2013 2:08:12 GMT -5 71stretch said:

For an interview with SSA if you are on a cert list, you are reimbursed hotel, taxi, etc. -- the processing is different if you are already a fed employee, which I am not. The time off part, if you are a fed, I know nothing about.

Travel for testing to get on the register is entirely on your dime, unfortunately. But there are cheaper options out there. The testing was NOT in FC, but in DC and Alexandria- it's OPM's call on that.

Ok, agreed, the register testing, our dime, the SSA testing, I haven't a clue, so I defer.

[srattorney]

Most government offices in DC, at least for purposes of this thing, are on the METRO Line. If you want/need to stay on the outskirts of town, you can save some cash and simply Metro in for your event. Ironically, the least Metro accessible office may be the SSA in Falls Church. Not sure of the precise address. The two "Falls Church" Stations are in the middle of I-66 and not really near an any particular cluster of government offices. However, as many a homeowner in the area can tell you, a "Falls Church" address, for example, can be a pretty flexible concept.

[Deleted]

Thank you all for the responses and tips, very enlightning. I hope to at least make the cut for WD and Logic Based Test. Anything after that is gravy.