More Detail on Select Frequently Asked Questions

1. Geocode applications from outside the United States
2. Geocode application process

Geocode Agreements from Outside the United States

More about the Geocode Process

In the application, researchers are asked to describe, in a few paragraphs, the research objectives of their project. They also are asked to provide information about the physical and electronic security measures in place at their institution. If their application is approved, a Letter of Agreement will be sent to the dean or other high-ranking official authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the university or institution. (Researchers provide the name and address of this official in the application.) Enclosed with the Letter of Agreement will be copies of the BLS agency agreement to be signed by the researchers, their advisor/project coordinator, and anyone else named in their application who will have access to the NLS geocode data (such as a data archivist). Once NLS staff receive the signed Letter of Agreement and BLS agency agreement at BLS, we'll notify the researcher that he/she can order a geocode CD from our contractors at the Ohio State University Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR). NLS geocode Letters of Agreement last one year for students and three years for faculty members. (If the recipient leaves the university prior to the expiration date-- for example, because he or she graduated--the Letter of Agreement expires when the recipient leaves, and he or she is required to return the geocode CD to BLS immediately and destroy any backup files that may have been created.)

The geocode application document is available online at www.bls.gov/nls/geocodeapp.htm

Last Modified Date: March 10, 2005