(a) An agency may determine which positions qualify for the payment of a new appointee's travel expenses to the first post of duty. Payment of travel and transportation expenses will be in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) (41 CFR chapters 301-304).

(b) An agency may determine which interviewees are eligible for payment of pre-employment interview travel expenses. Payment of these travel expenses will be in accordance with the FTR.

Payment of travel expenses for any individual candidate or appointee will be at the discretion of the employing agency. A decision by one agency that payment is appropriate for a particular position does not require a like determination by any other agency filling similar positions. A decision made in connection with one specific vacancy does not require a like decision in connection with future vacancies. In deciding to pay travel and transportation or interview expenses in filling any position, the agency should consider such factors as availability of funds as well as the desirability of conducting interviews for a particular job or offering a recruiting incentive to a particular candidate.

Each agency will maintain records of payments made under this authority and will make those records available to OPM on request.