DEFINITIONS FOR BIOGRAPHIC DATA SHEET
LEGAL OR VOTING RESIDENCE (Item 12)
Give address, city and state which you claim as a legal or voting residence. If you have a voting
residence this may be your legal residence for Federal employment purposes regardless of where you
live.
Legal residence is generally the place where a person has a home, church or other community affiliations.
Absence from the community affiliations. Absence from the community to work in the Federal
Government does not affect legal residence if you intend to return to the community. A married woman
acquires her husband's legal residence. She need not have resided in the State claimed.
Legal residence is used in the Foreign Service when nominations are submitted to the President for
promotion of a Foreign Service Office or Foreign Service Information Officer, when a Title or a
Commission is granted and in certain cases when nominations are submitted for appointment.
Legal residence is of interest to the Civil Service to assure a geographic balance of Federal employment.
RESIDENCE AT TIME OF APPOINTMENT
If such residence was of a temporary nature, for example for college, give the residence which you
consider your actual place of residence.
HOME LEAVE RESIDENCE
Give city and State where you intend to spend your home leave. This is used in the Foreign Service for
travel reimbursement purposes.
RESIDENCE FOR SERVICE SEPARATION
Give city and State to which you wish transportation and shipment of your effects on separating from the
Service. This designation is also used for reimbursement if death occurs while abroad or in travel status.
DEPENDENTS
DS-1031A
03-2015
Children (including step and adopted children) unmarried and under 21 years of age or regardless of
age incapable of self-support
Parents (including step and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or of the spouse when such
parents are at least 51% dependent on the employee for support
Sisters and brothers (including step or adoptive sisters and brothers of the employee or of the spouse)
when such sisters or brothers are at least 51% dependent on the employee for support, unmarried and
under 21 years of age, or, regardless of age incapable of self-support
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