FAQ - E-TIF

Travel information Form (E-TIF)

What does ETIF stand for?
Travel Information Form. Since pre-trip paperwork is not required, we developed the ETIF as a mechanism to receive pertinent information - parking permit request, travel advance requests and notification of air purchased through a contracted travel agency.

When a traveler does not need to book a ticket through a contracted agency, does not need a permit to park at Bradley, and will not be requesting an advance, do they still need to submit the TIF form to the Travel Office to cover the traveler's trip?
No.  A TIF does not need to be filled out.  Travel within the contiguous US does not require written approval and no prior paperwork will need to be sent to the Travel Office.  The TIF is only sent in to provide information about a ticket booked through a contracted agency, to request a parking permit at Bradley Airport, or to request an advance.

Does the contiguous United States includes Hawaii and Alaska?
No.  The contiguous US only includes the continental US, or the 48 states.  Hawaii and Alaska are not part of the contiguous US.  Therefore, travel to either of those two states will require a Travel Authorization.

When a contracted agency is used for travel within the contiguous US, should a TIF form be used and on should the contracted agency name be selected?
Yes.  Please select, on the form, the name of the agency used.  Provide the requested information so the air line ticket will be correctly charged.

Is the TIF form submitted electronically?
Yes. Hit the submit button and the information comes to a travel database.

When a traveler is using the TIF form in order to give the Travel Office information about an air ticket booked through a contracted agency and/or in order to receive a permit to park at Bradley Airport, is a signature required?
No.  The traveler's signature on the TIF email confirmatin sheet is only necessary when the traveler is requesting an advance.  The promissory note appears on the bottom of the TIF email confirmation.  The signature is needed only for that note.

When a traveler has booked his/her own ticket with a personal credit card, should a TIF form be filled out?
No.  If an employee purchases his/her own ticket, he/she will only need to send in a reimbursement with the receipt attached.  Written prior approval is not required to be sent to travel.

Does a traveler who would like to have an advance, fill out a TIF if the trip is within the continental US?
Yes.  A form for travel within the contiguous US is only needed to give information about an air ticket, a parking permit or an advance.  So, when requesting an advance, the TIF should be filled out.  The signature for the promissory note in the bottom left hand corner of the form is required.

Is the sub code for travel within the contiguous US, but not in the state of CT, is always 2620?
Yes.  Out of state travel is coded to the sub code 2620.  Instate travel is coded to the sub code 2610. 
Foreign travel is subcode 2621,  Puerto Rico and Canada are sub code 2620 but must be submitted on a Travel Authorization.

A traveler taking a trip and will not need to book an air ticket, will not need a parking permit for Bradley, and does not want an advance, do they need to do a TIF?
No.  Travel within the contiguous US does not require prior written approval by the Travel Office.  The traveler need only to submit a reimbursement with attached receipts to the Travel Office upon returning from his/her trip.

When traveling within the continental US, using a ticket booked from a contracted agency, using funds awarded by the Research Foundation to pay for the cost of the ticket, should a TIF form be sent to the Travel Office with back up paperwork (award letter, air itinerary) attached?
No.  No back up is required for the TIF form.  Only the coding information on the form is necessary.  All back up paperwork, including award letters and air itineraries should be attached to the reimbursement.  However, a TIF form does need to be filled out and submitted to the Travel Office.

Accounts on the TIF form, are they encumbered?
Sometimes.     When an advance is requested on a TIF form, the amount of the "all other costs" will be encumbered.  Air tickets booked through Worldtek will also be encumbered.  Air tickets purchased through Orbitz or SWABIZ will be charged off within the week the ticket is booked.

Should TIF forms should always be faxed to the Travel Office?
No.  The TIF email confirmation sheet is faxed to us only in cases where an advance has been requested. For all other scenarios, you are done until the trip is over.

Does the TIF form require an approval signature from the Dean, Director or Department Head?
This can be confusing .  The TIF is only a means to provide information to the Travel Office.  Prior written approval is no longer required in the Travel Office for travel within the contiguous US, however, the department should have some form of prior approval in their own office; perhaps an email. In addition, when filling out the TIF, you are required to select YES for department approval. This is our way of saying to you that departments must be sure their travelers are seaking approval within their own departments.