(a) The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) is the formal written document for recording, maintaining, and issuing Department of State (Department) directives that address personnel and other matters. It is the primary authority for appointment of current Department employees to the Foreign Service. This part is the primary authority for the appointment of non-employees to the Foreign Service. The FAM provides Department procedures and policies that are not repeated in this part. It is an important resource for understanding the provisions of this part.
(b) The two FAM volumes relevant to this part are Volume 3, Personnel, and Volume 16, Medical. FAM provisions are cited by volume followed by chapter or subchapter - for example, Chapter 210 of Volume 16 would be cited 16 FAM 210. All of the relevant FAM provisions are on the Department's public Web site. The links for the relevant FAM provisions are as follows:
| 3 FAM 2215 | http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84854.pdf. |
| 3 FAM 2216.2 | |
| 3 FAM 2216.3 | |
| 3 FAM 2217 | |
| 3 FAM 2218 | |
| 3 FAM 2245 | http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84851.pdf. |
| 3 FAM 2250 | http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84850.pdf. |
| 3 FAM 2251.3 | |
| 3 FAM 2290 | http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84846.pdf. |
| 16 FAM 210 | http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/89692.pdf. |