---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3272"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3272"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3272"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 212A — Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Over Certain Offenses"
---

# §3272. Definitions


As used in this chapter:

- (1) The term “employed by the Federal Government outside the United States” means—
  - (A) employed as a civilian employee of the Federal Government, as a Federal contractor (including a subcontractor at any tier), or as an employee of a Federal contractor (including a subcontractor at any tier);
  - (B) present or residing outside the United States in connection with such employment; and
  - (C) not a national of or ordinarily resident in the host nation.
- (2) The term “accompanying the Federal Government outside the United States” means—
  - (A) a dependant of—
    - (i) a civilian employee of the Federal Government; or
    - (ii) a Federal contractor (including a subcontractor at any tier) or an employee of a Federal contractor (including a subcontractor at any tier);
  - (B) residing with such civilian employee, contractor, or contractor employee outside the United States; and
  - (C) not a national of or ordinarily resident in the host nation.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–164, title I, § 103(a)(1), Jan. 10, 2006, 119 Stat. 3562.)