I am still about two weeks about from learning my next post. This is not unusual, although this year's bidding season has been highly unorthodox.
You see, the State Department usually hands out posts at least partially on the basis of 'equity'. People who served in difficult, dangerous spots get nice spots on the next go-around as a form of compensation. Makes sense right?
Well, here's the catch. Consular Affairs is facing a huge staffing shortfall in the coming years as a result of having too much visa demand and too few entry level officers. They COULD hire more people, but that would require authorization from Congress, and....yeah.
So, in addition to a number of stopgap programs to allow non-FSOs to adjudicate visas, CA has decided to designate certain positions as 'high priority'. These will get filled before anything else does.
Those with low equity (the Parises and Torontos of the world) will not be affected, but those coming from danger spots who were hoping for something modern and cushy may be in for a nasty shock.
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