General information
OCONUS Veterans publishes general information for U.S. veterans, military retirees and their families living overseas. We research carefully and link to official sources such as VA.gov, U.S. embassies, the Department of Defense and foreign immigration offices.
Not affiliated with the VA, DoD or any government
OCONUS Veterans is an independent community operated by One Big Media Company, LLC. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, any branch of the military, the Department of State, the Social Security Administration, or any foreign government. We cannot file claims for you, speed up a decision, or speak for any agency.
Not legal, tax, financial, immigration or medical advice
Nothing on this Site, in our courses, newsletter or Community is professional advice. For VA claims, use a free VA-accredited representative. For visas, contact the embassy or a licensed immigration lawyer. For taxes, use a qualified expat tax professional. For health decisions, talk to a licensed doctor.
Accuracy and changes
Visa rules, benefit programs, fees, exchange rates, advisory levels and safety conditions change often, sometimes overnight. Each guide shows when it was last reviewed. Always confirm with the official source before you make plans, sign anything or spend money. We are not responsible for losses from relying on information that has changed or that we got wrong.
Health and crisis
This Site is not an emergency service. If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, call your local emergency number or the Veterans Crisis Line: Europe +1 844-702-5495, Asia-Pacific +1 844-702-5493, Latin America +1 866-989-9599, Middle East +1 855-422-7719, Africa +1 888-482-6054, or chat online.
No endorsements
Mentioning a hospital, clinic, business, organization or service is not an endorsement, and we receive no payment for mentions. Check any provider against official lists, such as VA's Foreign Medical Program alerts, before you use it.
Member content
Posts and comments in the Community reflect the views of the members who wrote them, not OCONUS Veterans. Members share experiences, which may not apply to your situation.
Examples and scenarios
Some pages include short examples to show how a benefit works. Unless a source is linked, these are labeled as composite scenarios: illustrations, not real people. We don't publish invented testimonials.
Photos
Many photos are stock images from Unsplash used under the Unsplash license. Some are public-domain U.S. government photos, credited to the photographer where shown. They illustrate a topic and don't show our members or the specific places described, unless stated.
Corrections
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us with a link to the official source and we'll fix it.
