Ambassador "Waiting at x": is he working?

[Grotius]

I've assigned ambassadors to various alien worlds, and once they arrive, they always just say they are "waiting at" whatever location they're assigned to. Does this mean they are working? Or do I have to give them a mission to conduct diplomacy? I do see them develop skills and traits, so I think their presence may be doing something, but it's hard to tell what. Thanks in advance.

[zgrssd]

Not having a Ambassador assigned, has a quickly growing Relations Penalty.

Once they combatted that, they are mostly useless. Aside from maybe skills.

[Grotius]

Thanks for your reply. Just so I’m clear: if I transfer an Ambassador to an alien world and he arrives, and the. Says he’s “waiting”, he’s “assigned?”

[zgrssd]

Thanks for your reply. Just so I’m clear: if I transfer an Ambassador to an alien world and he arrives, and the. Says he’s “waiting”, he’s “assigned?”

Personally I run them on Automatic.
It is hard to say, because all my 3 Ambassadors are currently at the Capitol - send there by said automation.

And no empire has that "you do not send a ambassador" penalty. So I asume they worked their magic?