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Post by luckylady2 on Apr 20, 2016 18:08:46 GMT -5
Me, too - I went in a couple of days early to not be so jet-lagged. The airfare was the same. I picked up the extra lodging, transport, and meal costs.
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Post by Serious, J. on Apr 21, 2016 6:42:41 GMT -5
Thanks, don. Best wishes and safe travels to you, too -- and to all the folks headed to FC in a few weeks.
I decided to stay at a hotel near the airport. I will have to take a taxi to SSA, but taxi fare from the airport to the interview and back is reimbursed (I believe) and the hotel has a shuttle to/from the airport. Cost was a big factor. Hotels in the DC area are not cheap! I have been trying to use some hotel points I've accumulated over the years, and this was the time to do so.
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Post by Pixie on Apr 21, 2016 7:44:43 GMT -5
People, please read and heed. When you want to quote a poster, it is not necessary to quote her in one post and then make another entirely different post to make you point. It can, and should, be done in the same post. You may quote and type your response in the same message. It makes it easier reading for everyone, especially me, and I don't have to delete the extraneous post. Pixie.
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Post by raylan on Apr 21, 2016 8:03:51 GMT -5
At what point should we expect to receive our TAN? It's been a week since I got the call for the interview. Should I be concerned?
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Post by catspaw on Apr 21, 2016 8:19:53 GMT -5
I received mine yesterday afternoon late.
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Post by luckylady2 on Apr 21, 2016 9:24:07 GMT -5
BTW folks, going for an SSA interview you qualify for the government rate & can book it yourself. Most of the DC/Northern VA hotels charge exactly the GSA area maximum per night, making them all about equal. The Homewood and the Hampton across the street from the interview site both offer the govt rate.
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ducky
Full Member
Blowing in the wind
Posts: 107
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Post by ducky on Apr 21, 2016 13:24:47 GMT -5
So, I will be a same day traveler. A long day it will be! Anyone know a good place close enough to the office to walk to kill a couple of hours???
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Post by Gaidin on Apr 21, 2016 13:29:21 GMT -5
So, I will be a same day traveler. A long day it will be! Anyone know a good place close enough to the office to walk to kill a couple of hours??? There is a Panera across the street. Its a very wide street and its probably a 1/4 mile walk so that may not work in May like it did in November because of the heat. But they have free wifi, you can charge your phone, and they are used to people getting a drink and a bagel and sitting all day.
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Post by Judicially Imployed on Apr 21, 2016 13:38:40 GMT -5
Just a heads up. If you are interviewing the first week, they are also doing 1 year alj training that week. So lots of newer ALJs will be running around FC in the evenings.
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Post by february on Apr 21, 2016 13:53:36 GMT -5
So, I will be a same day traveler. A long day it will be! Anyone know a good place close enough to the office to walk to kill a couple of hours??? There is a Panera across the street. Its a very wide street and its probably a 1/4 mile walk so that may not work in May like it did in November because of the heat. But they have free wifi, you can charge your phone, and they are used to people getting a drink and a bagel and sitting all day. I was coming over here to ask exactly the same question! Was trying to decide whether to just hang out at the airport for a while, but this sounds like a much better option. 1/4 mile walk shouldn't be a problem regardless of weather.
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Post by Maljic on Apr 21, 2016 16:36:46 GMT -5
There is a Panera across the street. Its a very wide street and its probably a 1/4 mile walk so that may not work in May like it did in November because of the heat. But they have free wifi, you can charge your phone, and they are used to people getting a drink and a bagel and sitting all day. I was coming over here to ask exactly the same question! Was trying to decide whether to just hang out at the airport for a while, but this sounds like a much better option. 1/4 mile walk shouldn't be a problem regardless of weather. We could also have interviewees volunteer their Hampton or Homewood rooms for a daily-designated "social" suite, with rolling attendees and evening festivities. bac? Didn't you say that wherever you are, it's happy hour? Or something like that.
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Post by arkstfan on Apr 21, 2016 16:57:06 GMT -5
Does anyone know if I can extend extra days as long as it's not more expensive? I have friends/family in the area. A quick search showed its actually cheaper to fly home 3 days later. Print the page showing flying out earlier is more expensive to document that you are saving them money. I traveled to Baltimore then went to Philadelphia for a few days before flying back and only sought reimbursement for the hotel and per diem in Baltimore. Documented that flying out later was cheaper, sailed through.
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Post by bac on Apr 21, 2016 17:15:36 GMT -5
Something like that...
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Post by catspaw on Apr 21, 2016 18:55:59 GMT -5
Can you get out of DC to FC in the morning - or is that too risky -- and is there parking there? I'm going to be driving
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Post by luckylady2 on Apr 21, 2016 23:07:05 GMT -5
There is parking, but it's a little tricky to find. Take a look at Google Maps. The entrance is not on Leesburg Pike, it's on the cross-street (name escaping me) and there's a couple of ramps - you want the ramp going up and to the right. There's a little parking attendant shack & a gate. SSA will reimburse the parking - get a receipt.
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Post by mamaru on Apr 22, 2016 6:53:58 GMT -5
I think that will be perfectly alright. Just ask them. I have done it before. Pixie. Thank you!!! I interviewed on Friday and spent the weekend with my daughter. Not a problem.
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Post by mamaru on Apr 22, 2016 11:57:14 GMT -5
Does anyone know if I can extend extra days as long as it's not more expensive? I have friends/family in the area. A quick search showed its actually cheaper to fly home 3 days later. Print the page showing flying out earlier is more expensive to document that you are saving them money. I traveled to Baltimore then went to Philadelphia for a few days before flying back and only sought reimbursement for the hotel and per diem in Baltimore. Documented that flying out later was cheaper, sailed through. I didn't have to provide documentation, but the travel arrangements were made by my office.
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Post by upperwolfjaw on Apr 22, 2016 13:58:13 GMT -5
If you are not going to use their travel folks or seek reimbursement for any part of the trip, do you need to let the travel agent or Falls Church know?
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Post by Pixie on Apr 22, 2016 15:02:29 GMT -5
If you are not going to use their travel folks or seek reimbursement for any part of the trip, do you need to let the travel agent or Falls Church know? Might be a good idea so they don't think you have gotten lost, but probably not necessary. Pixie.
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Post by rogo49 on Apr 28, 2016 23:07:02 GMT -5
I'm taking this as a Devine sign, but my office was destroyed Tuesday by a tornado. All my ALJ application info, including information on location of up coming FC interview on the 4th is gone.....anyone know who I could contact to at least get the proper interview address as I WILL BE THERE!
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