Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

Table of Contents

Part I: The Fulbright Program ...... 3 1. Welcome ...... 4 2. The Fulbright Program ...... 5 3. Fulbright Program Administration and Funding ...... 5 Part II: Grant Provisions ...... 9 1. Grant Benefits ...... 10 2. Grant Payments ...... 12 3. Additional Grants and Sources of Funds ...... 14 4. Grant Dates and Terms and Conditions ...... 15 5. Grant Changes (Extension, Renewal, Early Departure, Termination, Revocation) ...... 15 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant ...... 17 1. Pre-Departure Timeline and Checklist ...... 18 2. Medical Clearance and Health Information ...... 19 3. Grantee Health Care Benefit Program: The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) ...... 20 4. Additional Health Coverage ...... 22 5. Additional Health Information ...... 22 6. Sources for Medical Information for Travel Abroad ...... 24 7. International Travel and Travel Documents ...... 24 8. Book Shipment and Diplomatic Pouch ...... 26 9. Dependents ...... 27 10. Planning to Arrive in the Host Country ...... 28 Part IV: During Your Grant ...... 31 1. When You Arrive ...... 32 2. Settling In ...... 32 3. Housing and Living Accommodations ...... 32 4. Money and Banking ...... 33 5. Safety and Security, Information and Resources ...... 34 6. Foreign Laws ...... 36 7. Cars and Driving ...... 37 8. Professional Enrichment Activities ...... 37 Table of Contents

Contents | 1

9. Community Involvement ...... 37 10. Travel Outside the Host Country ...... 38 11. Grantee Interim and Final Reports ...... 38 12. Tax Information for U.S. Fulbright Scholars ...... 39 13. Social Media, Press and Blogging Guidance ...... 39 Part V: Upon Completing Your Grant ...... 41 1. Return Travel ...... 42 2. Health Benefits After the Grant Period ...... 42 3. Final Report and Fulbright Certificate ...... 42 4. Publications Resulting from Grant ...... 43 Part VI: As Alumni of a Fulbright Grant ...... 44 1. Continuing Involvement ...... 45 2. Sharing your Fulbright Story ...... 46 3. Alumni Networking Opportunities ...... 47 GLOSSARY ...... 48

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Part I: The Fulbright Program

1. Welcome 2. The Fulbright Program 3. Fulbright Program Administration and Funding

Part I | 3 Part I: The Fulbright Program

1. Welcome

The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship. —Senator J. William Fulbright

Congratulations on your selection as a Fulbright Scholar!

Welcome to a community of nearly 370,000 participants from around the world who have been chosen, not only for their academic and professional excellence, but also for their leadership potential to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) collaborates with the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars (IIE/CIES) to administer the Fulbright Program for U.S. faculty, administrators and professionals.

The Guide for Fulbright U.S. Scholars and the IIE/CIES U.S. Grantee webpage (password: CIES_grantee!) will help you prepare for your grant and can serve as a reference guide during your stay abroad. We expect that you, as a Fulbright Scholar, have read and understood these guidelines. If the Guide does not answer your questions or you need further explanation prior to departure, contact the IIE/CIES program staff or the Fulbright agency in the host country of your Fulbright grant. The Guide will be helpful prior to your departure and while on your grant, so it is important that you periodically reference it.

During your stay in your host country, your primary contact should be either the Fulbright commission or, for countries without a commission, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy (post). We ask that you register with the U.S. Embassy in your host country. IIE/CIES program staff will be also available to assist you whenever possible. Please keep in mind that information and advice about academic and campus matters, in most cases, should be addressed to your faculty contacts first.

We wish you success in your professional and personal endeavors and trust that your experience will be rewarding.

Part I | 4 Part I: The Fulbright Program

2. The Fulbright Program

Shortly after World War II, Senator J. William Fulbright, from the state of Arkansas, sponsored the legislation that laid the foundation for the Fulbright Program. President Harry S. Truman signed it into law on August 1, 1946. Although subsequent laws have refined and expanded the program (primarily the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, also called the Fulbright-Hays Act), its basic objective has endured: to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Senator Fulbright believed that, through educational exchange, people would better understand citizens and cultures of other nations. This objective remains crucial more than half a century after the program’s inception.

In the over 70-year history of the program, more than 370,000 individuals representing approximately 155 countries have benefited from a Fulbright experience. Annual appropriations from the U.S. Congress to the Department of State, along with contributions from other governments, the private sector and host institutions, provide financial support for the program.

The Fulbright Program offers U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries grants for university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. The scholar component of the Fulbright Program provides opportunities for intellectual and cultural pursuits in an environment of academic freedom and binational cooperation.

Fulbright Scholars are selected in part for their demonstrated leadership potential. The success of your Fulbright grant depends on your initiative and input as well as taking advantage of the resources and program enrichment activities available to you. Beyond your academic and professional pursuits, we encourage you to live the goals of the Fulbright Program by learning about your host country—its society, customs, history and culture—and sharing knowledge about the U.S. with people of your host country. Your dedication to cultural exchange contributes to the ongoing realization of the Fulbright Program’s goal of mutual understanding.

3. Fulbright Program Administration and Funding

Program Administration

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) is responsible for supervision of the Fulbright Program, final selection of all participants, and policy and procedures for administration of the programs. The FFSB is composed of 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) directs the administration of the Fulbright Program under policy guidelines established by the FFSB and sets the Department’s Fulbright funding and program priorities. ECA collaborates with the binational commissions and foundations in 50 countries, U.S. embassies in approximately 100 other countries and a number of cooperating agencies in the U.S. in the administration of the program.

Commissions/Foundations (commissions) are binational autonomous entities established on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement to plan and manage the Fulbright Program in their country. A commission is run

Part I | 5 Part I: The Fulbright Program by a binational board, which usually includes representatives of the U.S. Embassy and the host government. In most cases, governments, as well as private organizations and host institutions, provide funding and other support. Commissions facilitate in-country grant matters and administer grants in their country.

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State Embassy or Consulate (post) is the supervisory agency for the Fulbright Program in a country with no commission. The post is responsible for all public affairs activities as well as speaker programs and press activities. The post monitors and supervises educational and cultural exchange programs, coordinates placement of grantees and provides support services to grantees in non-commission countries. In some countries the PAS may consist of one U.S. officer, the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) and Locally Employed Staff (LES), such as a Cultural Affairs Assistant. In others, there may be a Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO), an Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer (ACAO) or Assistant Public Affairs Officer (APAO).

Founded in 1919, the Institute of International Education (IIE) promotes educational exchange around the world through programs and services, including fellowship and scholarship management, higher education institutional development, emergency student and scholar assistance, leadership development and international development.

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), a division of IIE since 1996, administers the Fulbright Scholar Program on behalf of ECA through a cooperative agreement. CIES was founded in 1947 by the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils, a national body consisting of the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Academy of Sciences, the Social Science Research Council and the American Council of Education.

IIE/CIES recruits U.S. Scholar applicants, manages the application process and the U.S. peer review processes, and administers notification of selection status. After selected candidates are notified, most of the program administration and in-country grant matters, such as guidance on visas or residence permits, transition over to the commission/post overseas. However, you will need to submit a number of key documents to IIE/CIES before you leave.

Funding

The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions in many countries and in the U.S. also contribute financially through cost sharing, as well as indirect support such as tuition waivers, university housing and other benefits. Foreign governments also contribute to the Fulbright Program through their binational commissions.

Part I | 6 Part I: The Fulbright Program

Your Next Steps

IIE/CIES has posted timelines for planning for commission and post grants. The next steps are briefly explained here, and will be detailed in later sections of this Guide.

• Upon selection, you will be given access to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar IIE Participant Portal, where you will be able to review and update personal information, upload required documents for IIE/CIES to review and view documents uploaded by IIE/CIES for your review. All scholars will use the IIE Participant Portal, but requirements will be different for scholars to post countries versus scholars to commission countries.

• Prior to your departure, and within six months of the start of your grant, work with your physician to complete and submit (via the IIE Participant Portal) completed medical forms to IIE/CIES. IIE/CIES program staff will then forward the forms to the U.S. Department of State-designated physician for review and will notify you once clearance has been received.

• U.S. Citizenship is an eligibility requirement of the U.S. Fulbright Program, and so IIE is required to collect proof of U.S. Citizenship. Please scan and upload an image of the biographical pages of your U.S. Passport (containing your photo, name, signature, date of birth, place of birth, place of issue, etc.) to the IIE Participant Portal. If you do not have a U.S. Passport, please apply for one and complete this requirement as soon as possible. A U.S. passport which has expired within the last five years will be accepted as proof of citizenship.

• Before you leave the United States, you must also submit your travel itinerary via the IIE Participant Portal to IIE/CIES (See International Travel and Travel Documents). For post countries, IIE/CIES must approve your itinerary prior to purchase. For post countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and for all Global Scholar Award grantees (post and commission), travel must be booked through the IIE/CIES travel agency, HRG.

• For commission countries, once the commission has provided you with the grant terms and conditions and you have signed it, please remember to upload a signed copy to the IIE Participant Portal for IIE/CIES to review.

• For post countries and for certain regional awards, IIE/CIES will issue your grant terms and conditions and grant payments. In the months prior to your departure, IIE/CIES will upload your grant terms and conditions to the IIE Participant Portal and notify you of preparatory steps to ensure that you are set up in IIE’s financial payment system and have completed all pre-grant requirements.

• Global Scholar Award grantees should refer to guidance from IIE/CIES program staff due to the unique nature of multi-country grants.

• While on your Fulbright grant, your primary contact will be the commission/foundation or U.S. Embassy staff in your host country. IIE/CIES program staff members are also available to assist you whenever possible.

Part I | 7 Part I: The Fulbright Program

• Close to the end of your grant, IIE/CIES program staff will send a reminder for you to submit a final report online. Should your grant last six months or longer, you will also be required to submit an interim report online for the first half of your grant. The interim and final reports required by IIE/CIES may differ from those requested by the Fulbright commissions abroad.

If you have any questions regarding program policies, please contact the IIE/CIES program staff or explore the U.S. grantee website further.

Part I | 8

Part II: Grant Provisions

1. Grant Benefits 2. Grant Payments 3. Additional Grants and Sources of Funds 4. Grant Dates and Terms and Conditions 5. Grant Changes (Extension, Renewal, Early Departure, Termination, Revocation)

Part II | 9 Part II: Grant Provisions

1. Grant Benefits

The monetary amount of Fulbright grants is set by ECA in consultation with the post, or by the commission. Grant benefits policies are established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB). The policies on grant provisions are summarized in this section.

Basic Grant Package

Grantees to post countries receive the following basic grant package: round-trip transportation, a monthly base stipend, a living allowance and, in most cases, a provision for housing. The grant may also include an allowance for books and educational materials for teaching or an allowance for research, as well as other benefits required by local conditions.

Commissions develop grant packages for grantees to their countries.

Your grant benefits include enrollment in a limited health and accident benefits plan.

Dependents

A dependent is either (1) a spouse or (2) a relative (child, grandchild, parent or sibling) who is financially dependent on the grantee. Eligible accompanying dependents are those who spend at least 80 percent of the grant period with the grantee abroad.

If the number of accompanying dependents changes after the grantee signs the grant document, the grant may be amended to revise the benefits. Grantees must inform IIE/CIES promptly of any changes in accompanying dependents. You may view your dependents’ information (as was included in your application to the program) in the IIE Participant Portal.

Dependent grant benefits vary. In general, grantees to post countries whose grants are for at least one semester and who have eligible accompanying dependents may receive round-trip travel allowances for up to two accompanying dependents; additional monthly maintenance allowances for accompanying dependents; and an educational allowance for accompanying dependent children (kindergarten or grade one through grade 12, depending on the host country).

Commissions may provide some or no dependent allowances.

The office of Overseas Schools has information about K-12 schools for dependents at https://www.state.gov/m/a/os/.

Monthly Stipend

Stipends for grantees to post countries vary according to the type of grant and the academic rank or professional experience of the grantee. The four levels of stipends are for: 1. Scholars on research grants;

Part II | 10 Part II: Grant Provisions

2. Scholars on teaching or combined teaching/research grants at assistant professor level or below (or professional equivalent); 3. Scholars on teaching or combined teaching/research grants at associate professor level or above (or professional equivalent); and 4. Scholars for Distinguished Chair or Distinguished Lecturing grants.

For grantees to commission countries, stipends may consist of separate allowances or be offered as an all- inclusive flat monthly benefit. Stipend amounts may vary by type of award and rank or professional experience of the grantee.

Travel and Transportation

In addition to round-trip travel, grantees may receive an excess baggage allowance to transport materials to and from their host country, a relocation allowance and/or an in-transit allowance, depending on the country.

Housing Allowance

Grantees will receive assistance for their housing either through the all-inclusive flat monthly stipend, a housing allowance, or by provision of housing by the host country government or institution.

Living Allowance

Either the flat monthly stipend or a living allowance is designed to offset food and other local costs.

Other Allowances

Allowances for books and educational materials for teaching or research expenses related to the grantee's project may be provided. Nonexpendable items purchased by the grantee with such allowances should remain with the host institution upon completion of the grant, unless it is determined by the commission/post that such items are essential to the grantee for completion of the project after the grant has expired.

Dependent Education Allowance

An allowance may be provided to reimburse grantees for the cost of tuition and fees or homeschooling materials for school-aged dependents in kindergarten or grade one through grade 12, depending on the country. The maximum reimbursable amount is determined by ECA for grantees in post countries and by the commission for grantees in commission countries.

Grants to Two Members of Same Family

If two members of the same family receive grants, both will count as a single household abroad, then each family member will receive the stipend and allowances normally provided to a single grantee. Only one of the grantees will receive benefits for accompanying dependents.

Duration of Benefits, Stipends and Allowances

Part II | 11 Part II: Grant Provisions

If grantees arrive in a host country before the grant start date (as specified in the grant document), they will not be eligible for monthly allowances until the grant start date unless the commission/post and ECA approve. Stipends and allowances (other than for return travel and transportation) will end as of the grantee's departure from the host country or on completion of the project, whichever is earlier.

Travel for Grantees Remaining Abroad After Expiration of Grant

If a grantee requests and receives permission from a commission/post and ECA to remain abroad after the grant has expired, return transportation may be extended, but any increase in cost of travel after the initial period of the grant must be borne by the grantee. For more information, see Part II, Section 5: Grant Changes (Extension, Renewal, Early Departure, Termination, Revocation).

2. Grant Payments

For grantees to commission countries, allowances may be paid monthly or in periodic payments by the commission. The commission will calculate distribution and adjustments of grant benefits according to its policies.

For grantees to post countries, payments are made by IIE/CIES via IIePAY on a quarterly schedule as follows: 1st Payment • Issued one month prior to the grant start month (with timing options for January grant starts). • Grantee medical form must be cleared, proof of U.S. citizenship and grant terms and conditions must be signed and submitted to IIE/CIES via the IIE Participant Portal prior to 1st payment. • Payment includes stipend and other monthly allowances for months 1-2-3 depending on actual grant length, plus one-time allowances for travel and relocation, and for books and educational materials or research, if applicable. 2nd Payment • Issued at the end of third month of grant. • Payment includes stipend and other monthly allowances for months 4-5-6 depending on actual grant length. 3rd Payment • Issued at the end of sixth month of grant. • Payment includes stipend and other monthly allowances for months 7-8-9 depending on actual grant length. 4th Payment • Issued at the end of ninth month of grant. • Payment includes stipend and other monthly allowances for months 10-11-12 depending on actual grant length.

To sign up to receive payments through IIePAY, please see the next section. Quarterly scheduled payments do not include reimbursable allowances, if applicable.

Part II | 12 Part II: Grant Provisions

IIePAY: Receiving Your Stipend Payments

Your grant payments will be paid to you via IIePAY, IIE’s digital payment service. With IIePAY, money is transferred directly into your bank account within a few days of when the payment is ready. Your first grant payment will be sent to you via IIePay.

How to Register and Receive Your First Payment

IIePay is a service provided by Zelle. As soon as possible after receiving a Fulbright grant, grantees should contact their bank and ask if their bank accepts Zelle. If the grantee confirms that their bank accepts Zelle, they should also ask if there are any amount limitations (for instance, some banks only allow transfers up to $5,000). If your bank does not accept Zelle or if there are limitations on the transfer amount, please contact your IIE Advisor.

If your bank confirms that they accept Zelle with no transfer limits, please follow the below instructions:

1. Log into your bank account online and confirm that you can access it. Some banks may require you to reset your password the first time you log in. 2. Confirm the email address associated with your bank. The email address the grantee provided to IIE (usually through their initial application) must match the email address associated with the bank. a. If the email address does not match, see if you can change your primary address with your bank without charge or delay. If there is a charge or delay, please update your primary email address in the IIE Participant Portal. 3. Visit the Zelle website to register with IIePay. a. Find and click on your bank. If your bank is not listed, select “My bank is not listed.” b. Click the button that says “Go to (your bank)”. 4. This will bring you to your bank’s website. Log into your bank account and follow the bank’s instructions.You will receive an email from Bank of America ([email protected]) on or around a month before your program start date. This email indicates that your payment is ready for transfer. If you have correctly followed steps 1-4 above, you will receive your payment shortly after receiving the email.

• This email, and your first payment will arrive about one month before your grant start date, assuming that all of your required documents have been submitted. • If you fail to register for IIePAY within 14 days of receiving the email, your payment will be automatically canceled. • If your grant dates change or you need more time, please contact your IIE Advisor, so that we can make adjustments and have a new email sent. • If you do not receive the email within 5 days of your program start date, check your Spam/Junk folder; if you do not find it there, contact your IIE Advisor. Additional Resources regarding IIePAY:

IIePAY Customer Experience Details

IIE Pay Brochure Part II | 13 Part II: Grant Provisions

Grant Length

The grant terms and conditions may be amended to adjust the grant period, payment schedule and allowance amounts depending on time spent in the host country conducting grant activities.

For post countries, grant stipend and maintenance allowances are payable on the basis of half-month intervals. Eight to twenty days is considered one-half month, and twenty-one to thirty-one days is considered a full month. Monthly allowances are not provided for less than eight days in the host country. The half-month rule does not apply to Flex grants. For Flex grantees, stipend and maintenance allowances are payable on the basis of weekly intervals. Five to seven days is considered a full week.

Advance notification to the commission/post is required for a grantee to be out of the host country. Please inform the commission/post on how you can be contacted while out of the host country as well as throughout the grant period.

Returning Funds

In the case of overpayment due to a change to the grant (such as adjustments to grant dates or number of accompanying dependents) or an error, the commission or IIE/CIES is responsible for adjusting future grant payments and/or informing the grantee of funds owed. The grantee and commission or IIE/CIES are responsible for mutually arranging prompt repayment by the grantee. Payment should be received by the commission (for grantees to commission countries) or IIE/CIES (for grantees to post countries) within 30 days of notification. Any other timing for repayment must be agreed upon in writing by the grantee and commission or IIE/CIES, and completed according to the timeframe agreed upon.

3. Additional Grants and Sources of Funds

A grantee must report all scholarships, fellowships, grants and salaries from other sources, in dollars or in foreign currency, received by the grantee during or with respect to the grant period. This must be reported to the commission for grantees to commission countries or to IIE/CIES for grantees to post countries before the grant starts. Adjustments to the Fulbright grant terms and conditions may be made if benefits received from other sources duplicate benefits provided by the Fulbright grant.

Honoraria and Consulting or Other Fees Received Abroad

a. Any honoraria or other fees received abroad for special guest lectures or similar events during the grant may be accepted by the grantee, subject to the concurrence of the sponsoring commission/post. The grantee must inform the commission/post of any such offer. b. Grantees invited by commissions/posts to lecture or consult in other countries during the grant period may receive travel expenses and per diem, but not honoraria. c. Grantees may accept fees or other remuneration for work unrelated to the Fulbright grant during the grant period, provided such work does not conflict with the responsibilities under the grant or with the full-time nature of the grant. Part II | 14 Part II: Grant Provisions

4. Grant Dates and Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions will accompany your individualized grant benefits. Grant terms and conditions must be physically signed, but should be returned electronically via the IIE Participant Portal. You should review the grant terms and conditions to familiarize yourself with the terms of your grant. (Sample terms and conditions for grantees to post countries. Grantees to commission countries receive similar terms and conditions.)

IIE/CIES understands that circumstances may change, and you might need to request modification to your grant dates or length of stay. Please notify IIE/CIES program staff and your contact at the commission/post to discuss making these changes. If your home institution, host institution, address, contact information, accompanying dependents, availability or other details should change, please notify IIE/CIES program staff.

5. Grant Changes (Extension, Renewal, Early Departure, Termination, Revocation)

Extension of Grants

Grantees may be able to request an extension of their initial grant period. A grant may not be extended beyond a total length of 12 months.

Grantees in post countries should submit a detailed written request to the post and IIE/CIES, along with a letter of support from the host institution to request an increase in grant length. IIE/CIES will need to seek review and approval from ECA. Funds may not be available to consider an extension request.

Grantees in commission countries should contact the commission for guidance on requesting an increase in grant length. These instructions may also be detailed in the country handbook provided by the commission.

Renewal of Grants

A renewal grant is defined as a grant for a second year abroad in continuation of the initial grant. Grantees must submit a detailed, written request for a grant renewal to the post and IIE/CIES or the commission program contactalong with a letter of support from the host institution. For grantees in post countries, IIE/CIES will need to consult with ECA prior to approval. Funds may not be available to consider a renewal request.

Postponement of Grants

Part II | 15 Part II: Grant Provisions

Grantees may not postpone (defer) the grant from one academic year to the next. Candidates who are unable to accept the grant within the academic year for which it was awarded may reapply for the following year's competition.

Remaining Abroad After Grant Expiration

Approval of any additional period abroad is at the discretion of the commission/post and ECA and will be contingent upon compliance with visa regulations and any limitations imposed by the host country. A person remaining abroad after the expiration of the grant will no longer be considered a grantee and should not continue to represent him- or herself as such.

Temporary Country Program Suspension

Political instability or lack of personal safety may make it necessary to temporarily suspend all or part of a country program. Such circumstances may necessitate short- or long-term withdrawal of grantees. ECA, in consultation with the commission/post, is responsible for designing timely plans for such contingencies, providing guidelines to affected grantees, cooperating agencies and commissions/posts. ECA, in consultation with the commission/post, will consider and approve the course of action to be taken: whether return to the host country if deemed feasible to resume the grant; short-term continuation of stipends beyond departure date from host country; temporary relocation; U.S. resettlement allowance or reassignment. Factors affecting reassignment include qualification, time remaining in grant, timeliness of proposed host country, and clearance process.

Resignation from Grant

When serious and compelling reasons (such as illness, death of an immediate member of the family or other personal concerns) make it impossible for a grantee to complete the grant period, the grantee will be permitted to resign from the grant with the concurrence of the commission/post and ECA. The commission/post and ECA will determine any amendment to the grant terms and conditions and adjustment of grant benefits, including return travel benefits.

Early Completion of Project

Grantees may request early departure from the host country with return travel benefits upon satisfactory completion of their project or assignment. Approval from the commission/post and ECA is required, and they will determine any amendment to the grant terms and conditions and adjustment of grant benefits.

Revocation, Termination and Suspension of Grants

According to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies (section 638.1 b), “a grant may be revoked, terminated, or suspended. After a revocation, the grantee is considered as not having received the grant and will not be an alumnus or alumna of the Fulbright Program; after a termination, unless otherwise stated, the grant will be considered to have ended when the Board announces its decision to terminate; and after a suspension, the grant will be considered inoperative until a decision is made to reinstate, revoke or terminate the grant.”

Part II | 16

Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

1. Pre-Departure Timeline and Checklist 2. Medical Clearance and Health Information 3. Grantee Health Care Benefit Program: The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) 4. Additional Health Coverage 5. Additional Health Information 6. Sources for Medical Information for Travel Abroad 7. International Travel and Travel Documents 8. Book Shipment and Diplomatic Pouch 9. Dependents 10. Planning to Arrive in the Host Country

Part III | 17 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

1. Pre-Departure Timeline and Checklist

Please review the timelines for pre-departure planning for commission and post country grants.

This list is designed to help you organize your departure from the United States and your arrival in your host country. • Obtain or update passport for yourself and any accompanying dependents (See Part III, Section 7: International Travel and Travel Documents). • Submit an image of the biographical pages of your U.S. Passport (containing your photo, name, signature, date of birth, place of birth, place of issue, etc.) to the IIE Participant Portal. • Complete and submit your Medical History and Examination Form to IIE/CIES via the IIE Participant Portal (See Part III, Section 2: Medical Clearance and Health Information). • Sign and return your grant terms and conditions: o for post grantees, return this to IIE/CIES via the IIE Participant Portal; o for commission grantees, return this to commission as well as to IIE/CIES via the IIE Participant Portal (See Part II, Section 4: Grant Dates and Terms and Conditions). • Check with commission/post regarding visa regulations. Apply for visa for you and your dependents, if applicable (See Part III, Section 7: International Travel and Travel Documents). • Obtain international air tickets (See Part III, Section 7: Internatinal Travel and Travel Documents). • Review your insurance coverage and grantee accident and sickness benefits (See Part III, Section 2: Medical Clearance and Health Information). • Research, purchase health insurance for accompanying dependents, if applicable (See Part III, Section 8: Additional Health Coverage). • Contact your host institution to confirm arrival and grant dates (See Part III, Section 10: Planning to Arrive in the Host Country). • Research housing options to begin finalizing long-term housing arrangements. • Arrange for temporary accommodations, if needed. • Inform IIE/CIES and your Commission or Post if you need any special accommodations to carry out your grant. • Ship educational materials via diplomatic pouch, if applicable (See Part III, Section 8: Book Shipment and Diplomatic Pouch). • Review the What to Bring guide. In some cases, items may be completed online or downloaded from appropriate websites.

Please notify IIE/CIES (and commission) of the following circumstances in a timely manner: • Change of mailing address, work address, home institution (employer); the address information IIE/CIES currently has on file for you will be available for you to review in the IIE Participant Portal; • Change in name; • Change in job title (such as change from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor); • Change in number of accompanying dependents who qualify for dependent allowance; the dependents’ information IIE/CIES currently has on file for you will be available for you to review in the IIE Participant Portal; • Any important problems with your research or teaching program before or during the grant; • Any legal issues you may encounter, prior to or during your grant.

Part III | 18 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

2. Medical Clearance and Health Information

Timing Requirements for Medical History and Examination Form

All Fulbright Scholars (with the exception of short-term grantees) are required to pass a medical clearance prior to final grant confirmation. If your grant is longer than six weeks, your Fulbright award is contingent upon medical clearance. In order to meet this obligation, have your physician complete the Department of State Academic Exchanges Participant Medical History and Examination Form no sooner than six months and no later than two months prior to your grant start date and submit the form via the IIE Participant Portal to IIE/CIES. Medical clearance for accompanying dependents is not required.

A regular or primary care physician who is familiar with your health history will be best able to provide the information requested on the medical form. Before your exam, please read the directions for you and your physician, which are on the form. Be sure to include your (expected) grant dates, and your physician’s signature and title.

Country-Specific Medical Tests and Vaccinations

Your physician should carefully review the medical form instructions on testing to ensure that appropriate medical tests are performed. Apprise your physician of health requirements of your host country and host institution(s), and health-related conditions in your grant country, such as altitude, climate or air pollution so that she or he will be able to evaluate their impact on your current health. Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for specific vaccination information and other health information pertinent to the country of your Fulbright grant.

Additional Items for Physician to Note on Medical Form

In order to avoid medical problems while abroad, your physician should precisely note on your medical report any pre-existing conditions, special medications, physical care or health-related equipment that you require. Also include information on how you plan to access any medications or medical services while on your grant. Medical facilities in your host country may not be of the same level as major medical centers in the United States. When it is believed that facilities at the assigned location are inadequate for a grantee's medical condition, medical clearance will not be recommended.

Clearance and Return of Medical Form

Upon receipt of your medical report, IIE/CIES will review your form for completeness before forwarding it to the Department of State physician for review and clearance. You or your physician may be contacted with any questions or issues. Once any issues are resolved, IIE/CIES will send a notice of clearance to you via the IIE Participant Portal. Please bring the medical report on your grant to serve as a medical history, should you require care while abroad. Some commissions/posts may request a copy of your medical report from you directly.

Part III | 19 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

3. Grantee Health Care Benefit Program: The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE)

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program provides a health benefit plan (Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges or ASPE) for the duration of the program. ASPE does not provide comprehensive insurance coverage, and it does not cover pre-existing conditions or personal travel outside of the scholar’s country of assignment. ASPE is intended only to serve as supplemental coverage while in the country of assignment. You can review ASPE coverage here: http://usdos.sevencorners.com/

ASPE does not satisfy the minimum essential health coverage under the “individual shared responsibility” requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It is the scholar’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the PPACA. For more information and a complete list of exemptions, please visit www.healthcare.gov.

Though not required, it is strongly recommended that scholars have or purchase comprehensive health insurance with international coverage during the program. Not all PPACA-compliant health insurance policies provide international coverage.

For details about ASPE, please review the booklet entitled Your ASPE Guide to Health Care Coverage. Read the guide thoroughly before beginning your grant to familiarize yourself with ASPE procedures, benefits and exclusions, and review the health care provider information on the Seven Corners website.

ASPE Quick Reference Guide

ASPE Administrator Seven Corners, Inc. P.O. Box 3724 Carmel, Indiana 46082-3724 USA Email: [email protected] Website: http://usdos.sevencorners.com Phone: 800-461-0430 to call toll free in the United States 317-818-2867 to call collect from outside the United States

Life-threatening medical emergency outside the U.S. during grant: First contact local authorities for emeregcy response, then inform the commission/post.

Find a provider outside the U.S.: Call Seven Corners toll free in the U.S. (or call collect from outside the U.S.) for assistance in finding a provider in your host country area and to coordinate scheduling care.

When at medical provider appointment: Present your ASPE ID card and photo ID.

Pre-notification: Seven Corners must be contacted for the following: 1. To confirm coverage and benefits; 2. As soon as non-emergency hospitalization is recommended; 3. Within 48 hours of the first working day following an emergency admission; Part III | 20 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

4. When your physician recommends any surgery including outpatient; and 5. For emergency evacuation, repatriation and assistance services.

Submit claims: Outside the U.S. contact Seven Corners Customer Service to coordinate possible direct billing to Seven Corners or mail or fax them a completed claim form and copy of receipt(s) and/or an itemized bill. Refer to the online ASPE booklet details on claims; form may be downloaded at: http://usdos.sevencorners.com/forms/.

Need Durable Medical Equipment or Diabetic Supplies: U.S. Department of State has a preferred durable medical equipment and diabetic supply network provider. Order supplies through Seven Corners.

Inquire about medical bills: Call or email Seven Corners.

Check on eligibility or benefits: Call Seven Corners or go to http://usdos.sevencorners.com.

Replace your ID card: Go to http://usdos.sevencorners.com and select My Plan to print a replacement ID card immediately, to ensure no disruption in access to care. Or, call Seven Corners.

Deductible: You will not be reimbursed for the deductible. The ASPE plan requires that you pay $15 for each office visit, emergency room, urgent care and hospitalization at the time of service.

Prescription Medications: Review the information on the process for obtaining prescription drugs or a reimbursement for prescription drugs through Seven Corners in Your ASPE Guide to Health Care Coverage. Note any exclusions (such as whether applicable medications can be shipped from the United States), and confer with your U.S. physician about medication availability in the host country, as well as options to bring supplies.

If you need to be medically evacuated out of your host country: 1. Contact the commission/post; 2. Explain your need for medical care and why it cannot be provided in the host country; and 3. A competent medical authority and the U.S. Department of State must approve evacuation to the nearest, most suitable medical facility.

ASPE Identification Card and Period of Coverage

Grantees to post countries can access their ASPE identification card online at https://myplan.sevencorners.com/. For more information on how to do this, you should contact your IIE advisor. For grantees to commission countries, the commission will issue your ASPE identification card prior to or upon your arrival.

Keep this identification card with you at all times. Coverage will begin and end according to grant dates. It will be in effect when you are in the host country during the grant dates, and on approved grant related travel outside of your host country. Personal travel will not be covered by ASPE. The benefit is valid during travel directly to and from the country of assignment, immediately prior to and after a U.S. Department of State exchange program. This includes coverage for any allowed layover of up to 24 hours if the travel time by the most direct route exceeds 14 hours. If your grant terms and conditions are amended to either shorten or Part III | 21 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant extend the length of your program, IIE/CIES/commission will adjust your health benefits coverage dates accordingly.

Grantees are strongly encouraged to retain their own health insurance for the entire grant period, including all travel time.

Limitations

It is recommended that grantees obtain adequate insurance for personal property. Neither the FFSB, the U.S. Department of State, the cooperating agency, nor the commission/post assumes responsibility for any injury, accident, or illness (except as may be covered by the Grantee Health Care Benefit Program: The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE)), any loss of personal property, or any other contingency which may befall the grantee or accompanying dependents during, or as a result of, the grantee's stay abroad, travel or other activities related to the grant.

4. Additional Health Coverage

ASPE coverage is provided to the grantee only and is secondary to any other coverage you have. You will need to determine the adequacy of other coverage you will retain during the grant period and arrange for any supplemental insurance coverage, short term coverage if out of the host country or dependent coverage you may need. For these purposes, please see Supplemental Insurance Information, a non-comprehensive list of insurance companies that provide plans for residing abroad. You may also want to view the Department of State’s link on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

5. Additional Health Information

Malaria

Malaria is a significant health concern for grantees going to malarious areas of the world. Grantees should review the CDC Malaria Maps for affected regions. You must review the Malaria Information document; included in it is an Acknowledgement Form that must be returned to IIE/CIES.

Health Information for International Travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Information for International Travel, (commonly called the Yellow Book) provides extensive information for travelers and clinicians.

ASPE ASSIST 24/7 Support for Fulbright U.S. Scholars

ASPE ASSIST is a benefit for all grantees in the Fulbright U.S. Program while they are on their grants in their host countries. ASPE ASSIST is designed to augment the health benefits that are concurrently provided through ASPE. ASPE ASSIST service is operated by The ANVIL Group.

Part III | 22 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

ASPE ASSIST is accessible 24 hours a day and is available to provide support to Exchange Participants, including Fulbrighters, in urgent and non-urgent situations, including including identification and referral of mental health conditions requiring in-person or Telemedicine treatment, and crisis intervention. The medical staff responding to grantee calls are trained to handle serious situations such as sexual assaults and mental health crises. They can also provide medical advice.

Urgent Case Services • Mental health advice • Mental health crisis support • Sexual assault response • Violent Crime response • Providing advice to grantees when they feel at risk or vulnerable

ASPE ASSIST Contact Information Phone: +1-813-963-1269 Worldwide: +44-20-3859-4463

Email: [email protected]

When contacting ASPE ASSIST for the first time, please be prepared to provide your full name, date of birth, ID card number, program name (Fulbright U.S. Scholar), and your host country. This information will allow ANVIL staff to verify your status as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar grantee with the ASPE Health Benefits Plan.

If you unable to call the ASPE ASSIST line directly and need to have the ASPE ASSIST team give you a call, please email [email protected] with your name, date of birth, ID card number, program name (Fulbright U.S. Scholar), and host country and indicate that you need them to call you. Make sure to provide them with your complete international phone number, including relevant country codes and area codes.

The information provided by you to The ANVIL Group in the event of an illness, emergency or other personal crisis is considered private. However, it will be responsibly shared within organizations administrating your grant program, including Seven Corners (the implementor of ASPE), in their efforts to assist and support you.

Any questions not related to mental health support services – including benefits, claims, coverage – should be directed to Seven Corners Customer Service for assistance: sevencorners.com/gov/usdos. Seven Corners and the U.S. Department of State disclaim any and all liability for ASPE Assist, The Anvil Group or third-party services.

Part III | 23 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

6. Sources for Medical Information for Travel Abroad

Medical information for Americans traveling abroad available from:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers Information Site www.cdc.gov/travel CDC Information 1.800.CDC.INFO or 1.800.232.4636 Health Information for International Travel, Yellow Book: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/yellowbook-home-2014 • American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Website includes a list of travel clinics in the United States and around the world www.astmh.org/education-resources/clinical-consultants-directory • International Society of Travel Medicine www.istm.org

7. International Travel and Travel Documents

Travel Registration

All grantees and accompanying dependents should register with the U.S. Department of State and make sure that they provide their contact information in their host countries. Travel registration is a free service and it enables the Department of State to assist you in case of an emergency. Registration in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) can be completed online.

Reviewing travel restrictions and alerts prior to your departure will facilitate quick and safe travel. The U.S. Department of State has a wide range of research resources available for your use. Travel Warnings are issued when the U.S. Department of State recommends that Americans avoid a certain country, as well as Travel Alerts to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions that pose significant risks or disruptions to Americans abroad.

The U.S. Department of State also provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability and the location of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country.

In addition to the above resources for exchange program participants, Fulbright grantees should also review the U.S. Department of State Tips for Traveling Abroad.

Summary of U.S. Department of State Safety and Security websites: • U.S. Department of State Exchange Participants: https://exchanges.state.gov/us/safety • Smart Traveler Enrollment Program: https://step.state.gov/step/ • Travel Warnings & Alerts: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html Part III | 24 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

• Country Specific Information: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html • Travel Abroad Safety Tips: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/checklist.html

Travel Regulations

For Grantees to Post Countries

The Fly America Act requires that all U.S. Government financed air travel use U.S. flag air carrier service, except when a listed exception applies. Fulbright grantees must comply with this Act and submit the proposed flight itinerary to IIE/CIES for review and approval via the IIE Participant Portal. IIE/CIES must approve the itinerary before you purchase flights. Subsequent changes to the itinerary must also be sent to IIE/CIES for review and response in advance of purchase.

Grantees to post countries in East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, South and Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere will receive a single installment in the first grant payment to purchase round-trip travel. Grantees must submit a copy of their intended itinerary and any subsequent changes to IIE/CIES via the IIE Participant Portal before the purchase is made in order to confirm Fly America Act compliance.

All Global Scholar Award grantees, as well as grantees to post countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa will receive explicit instructions from IIE/CIES program staff for booking their international travel through HRG, the IIE/CIES-designated travel agency.

To help clarify the basic rules and regulations of the Fly America Act, IIE/CIES has prepared guidelines to assist grantees traveling on international trips being paid for by the U.S. Government. For travel from, to or through European Union countries, please refer to the section pertaining to “Open Skies Agreements”.

For Grantees to Commission Countries

Foreign air carrier service may be allowed when the costs of transportation are reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government, international agency, commission or other organization. Fulbright grantees must provide a copy of their flight itinerary to IIE/CIES via the IIE Participant Portal and also send to the Fulbright Commission.

Passports

Your U.S. passport is the most valuable document you will carry abroad. It proves that you are an American citizen. Guard it carefully. Be leery of any facility (e.g., rental agency or lodging) that requires or requests you to leave your passport with them or hold it for you in a secure place. You are the best safe keeper of your passport. Severe problems can arise abroad when a U.S. passport is lost or stolen; if you lose your passport while abroad, report the loss immediately to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or nearest Consulate.

Citizens of the United States need passports to depart from or enter the United States and to enter most foreign countries. With appropriate visas, the U.S. passport is acceptable in virtually all countries. For an individual who does not currently have a passport, we recommend that you apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure, whenever possible. Demand for passports becomes heaviest between January and June and, consequently, service is slower. We suggest that you apply for your passport Part III | 25 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant between July and December. However, even during these months, periods of high demand can occur. The grant does not provide for expenses related to passport fees.

Application for your first U.S. passport must be made in person at a U.S. Passport Agency, a federal or state courthouse, or a U.S. Post Office that accepts passport applications. If you have previously held a passport or need to renew your passport, you may apply for a new one by mail. The mail application can be obtained from some Post Offices, any U.S. Passport Agency, or online at http://travel.state.gov/passport. Grantees are responsible for obtaining passports for their accompanying dependents. Be sure that your passport, and passports of your dependents (if applicable), will be valid for at least the full period of your Fulbright grant.

Visas and Research Clearance

A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed in your passport by a foreign government that permits you to enter that country for a specified purpose and a limited time—for example, a three-month tourist visa or 12-month multiple-entry research visa. In most instances, you must obtain necessary visas before you leave the United States.

The contacts at the commission/post can advise you about the visa and research clearance process in the host country, if applicable; IIE/CIES cannot help you obtain visas. The grant does not provide for expenses related to any visa or research clearance fees required by the host country.

8. Book Shipment and Diplomatic Pouch

If authorized to do so by the U.S. Embassy in the host country, grantees may send books and educational materials to their host countries via the diplomatic pouch on a one-time (outbound ONLY) basis. The pouch may not be used for return shipments, or for personal items (clothing, medications, etc.). If authorized, country-specific instructions on book shipment and diplomatic pouch may be available from the U.S. Department of State or commission/post.

Important Diplomatic Pouch Reminders:

All packages will be shipped to Washington, D.C. before reaching the international destination. • The 20521 zip code plus four-digit extension must be used. Use of any other zip code is prohibited. • Each country has a unique placeholder address and a required full zip code plus four-digit extension. • Please choose a return address where the recipient will know how to contact you and what to do if a box is returned.

Packages can be shipped through FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS, etc. to the Washington, D.C. location. The "street address" in the address format was created strictly to meet USPS requirements for automated mail sorting; no such street address actually exists. The address is read by a machine beginning on the bottom line with the zip code. Grantees are responsible for paying domestic postage.

Sample Mailing Address: Public Affairs Section Department of State

Part III | 26 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

2010 Abidjan Place Washington, D.C. 20521–2010

The pseudo street address and the four-digit zip code extension to use are different for each U.S. Embassy location. Please check the country-specific information you receive from the commission/post to confirm whether the diplomatic pouch for book shipment is authorized for the location, and, if so, the correct mailing address to use.

In the return address (in the upper left-hand corner), indicate both the name of someone residing at the address indicated and the name of the Fulbright Scholar.

If your host country does not participate in the Diplomatic Pouch, please explore other options for shipping your materials abroad, such as USPS and DHL.

Time Requirement for Shipping

You should anticipate that once packages are received at U.S. Department of State mail center, they may take up to eight weeks to arrive in the host country. The frequency of pouch shipments is outside the control of ECA and the receiving U.S. Embassy. You may be responsible for transporting the packages from the receiving U.S. Embassy to your host location.

9. Dependents

Grantees are responsible for all associated costs of accompanying dependents. This includes passports, visas, airfare and other travel expenses, living expenses, educational costs, medical insurance and any uncovered medical bills. In some countries, grant allowances may include round-trip international travel for up to two dependents, if the grant is four months or more in length and the dependent stays in the host country for at least 80 percent of the grant period. Likewise, some grant terms and conditions include a modest dependent allowance to help offset cost-of-living expenses.

Insurance for Dependents

Grantees are responsible for ensuring adequate insurance coverage for dependents. Please refer to the Sources of Dependent, Short Term and Supplemental Insurance to identify benefits that correspond to your needs. The listing is provided for informational purposes only; the companies listed are not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the U.S. Department of State or IIE/CIES.

Dependent Education

If you will be accompanied by school-aged children, it is important to research local schools prior to your arrival in the host country. Grantees are responsible for arranging any necessary childcare or educational enrollment. We encourage you to contact the commission/post for guidance in selecting appropriate educational options for school-aged children. Additionally, Fulbright Scholar alumni who have resided in the area may be good resources for information regarding schools and enrollment details. Part III | 27 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

NOTE: If you have children who will remain in the United States in the care of someone other than a parent, ensure the caretaker is legally empowered to make decisions regarding the care of your children should a medical emergency arise during your absence.

10. Planning to Arrive in the Host Country

Host Institution Communication

Familiarize yourself in advance with the host country and the host institution’s arrangements for you during the grant period. Plan to arrive in your host country according to the date recommended by your host institution. If you do not have contact information for your host institution, the commission/post may provide it.

Housing Arrangements

IIE is not able to provide information on housing. Grantees may contact the host institution and the commission/post for additional details about in-country arrangements for lodging and in-country transportation. If housing is not provided, the best place to start the search for housing is with the commission/post, which may have recommendations based on affordability and security. Finding suitable accommodations can be challenging, so you may wish to consider your housing options in advance. It may be necessary to stay in temporary accommodations for a few days or weeks until you are able to find long-term housing. You can also contact Fulbright alumni through the Fulbright Scholar Directory to learn about their experiences and suggestions.

Customs

Become familiar with U.S. customs regulations. Foreign-made personal articles taken abroad are subject to duty and tax unless you have acceptable proof of prior possession. Documents such as a bill of sale, insurance policy, jeweler’s appraisal or receipt for purchase may be considered reasonable proof of prior possession.

Items such as computers, watches, cameras, tape recorders or other articles that may be readily identified by serial number or permanently affixed markings, may be taken to the Customs Office nearest you or your port of departure for registration before departing the United States. The “Certificate of Registration” provided will expedite free entry of these items when you return.

These precautions may also make customs processing easier: • Leave all medicines in their original, labeled containers. • If you carry medication containing a controlled substance, carry a doctor’s note attesting to that fact. However, a doctor’s note may not suffice as authorization to transport drugs to all foreign countries. • Bring prescriptions showing generic and brand names of medicines.

Part III | 28 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

To ensure that you do not violate the laws of your host country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country for precise information before embarking upon your trip. For more information, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

Computers

If your project requires access to a computer, you must bring the necessary equipment with you, make arrangements to have it shipped, or confirm computer access with your affiliation(s) in their host country.

Information on the importation of computer equipment can be provided by the commission/post. Grantees should not expect the commission/post to provide computer access to Fulbrighters. Computer, internet and email access varies from country to country. Internet and email access abroad can be costly and not as readily available as in the U.S. Grants do not provide specific funds for these services, and grantees should budget accordingly.

Each country has different regulations with regard to the importation of computers and peripheral equipment. If you plan on bringing this type of equipment with you, you should check with the embassy of your host country, homeowner’s insurance company, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to determine the procedures that must be followed.

A checklist of items you may want to include when bringing a laptop computer is in the What to Bring guide.

Electrical Equipment

Most electrical equipment made in the U.S. will require an adapter in order to be used abroad. If your adapter is not of high quality, it may ruin your equipment. Be especially careful of using adapters with computer equipment since they do not take the place of surge protectors.

Safeguarding Valuable Documents

Prior to departing the U.S. make two photocopies of the items below; leave one copy with someone in the U.S., and carry the other copy with you to your host country: • Entire contents of your wallet • Passport • Medical prescriptions (including generic drug names) • All travel itineraries • Traveler’s check numbers, if using, and bank account information • Signed Fulbright grant terms and conditions

Other Safety Measures: • In general, do not use your original passport as identification. • Do not pack your passport in your checked luggage. • Do not leave your passport in an unattended hotel room or with strangers. • Carry your passport with you whenever possible. • Carry a card with emergency numbers, including the numbers for the post/commission and your contacts in the U.S. Part III | 29 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant

Part III | 30

Part IV: During Your Grant

1. When You Arrive 2. Settling In 3. Housing and Living Accommodations 4. Money and Banking 5. Safety and Security, Information and Resources 6. Foreign Laws 7. Cars and Driving 8. Professional Enrichment Activities 9. Community Involvement 10. Travel Outside the Host Country 11. Grantee Interim and Final Report 12. Tax Information for U.S. Fulbright Scholars 13. Social Media, Press and Blogging Guidance

Part IV | 31

Part IV: During Your Grant

1. When You Arrive

Arrival and Check-In

Prior to departure, contact your host institution or the commission/post regarding any arrangements for your arrival, including obtaining the visa, local (in-country) transportation, lodging, meals and handling of excess baggage. Grantees should bring contact information for their commission/post in the event of unexpected changes during travel.

Arrival at the Port of Entry

Have the following documents and information available for presentation: • Your U.S. passport with visa (if visa needs to be obtained in advance) • Signed Fulbright grant terms and conditions • Address for your intended lodging. If you do not have a permanent address, you should have a short- term address (such as a hotel) available. • Contact information for post/commission

You may be required to clear immigration and customs in some countries.

Inform IIE/CIES, your host institution, and commission/post of your arrival.

An orientation and/or security briefing may be provided by the commission/post. Grantees may also be required to register as foreign nationals with the host country’s government, and assistance may be provided by the commission/post in this process.

2. Settling In

Fulbright alumni report a variety of experiences when adjusting to life in their new surroundings, some more extreme than others. Preparation through background reading, conversations, online forums and other means can be invaluable. There are multiple stages of culture shock, which can also be experienced upon returning home as reverse culture shock. The commission/post may have a list of additional readings.

Useful resources: • Peace Corps, Culture Matters: http://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/library/T0087_culturematters.pdf 3. Housing and Living Accommodations

In most cases, Fulbright grantees are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements. Some host institutions provide housing as part of the grant. If housing is not provided by the program or your host institution, the commission/post can advise on potential neighborhoods or best practices in securing housing for the duration of your stay. Part IV | 32

Part IV: During Your Grant

When seeking housing, keep the following in mind: • Safety and security • Monthly housing allowance budget • Distance from research site(s) • Distance from urban areas • Distance from affiliated university • Distance from K-12 education for dependents, if applicable • Access to public transportation

Contact Fulbright alumni to learn more about their experiences leasing property in the host country. In some countries, landlords may require advance payment for several months of the lease. It is best to determine what is required prior to your arrival. It may be necessary for you to stay in a hotel or short-term housing for a few days or weeks until permanent accommodations are secured. Taking time to determine a short-term housing arrival plan can be beneficial.

IIE/CIES program staff or local Fulbright Alumni Association chapters can assist in identifying former Fulbrighters who have leased apartments and homes in your host country. Commission/post staff can provide current information on housing options. Once housing arrangements are made, grantees must report their new address and phone number to the Fulbright Program staff of the commission/post. Please let IIE/CIES program staff know if your host provides housing.

4. Money and Banking

Your grant terms and conditions list the amount of your grant. In commission countries, you will receive payment on a set schedule, established by the commission and potentially in host country currency. In post countries, IIE/CIES will process your grant payment via IIEPay to your U.S. checking account on a quarterly schedule (See Part II: Grant Provisions). Most grantees will be able to access these funds using their debit card. If this is not possible, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with your bank or credit union so funds may be accessed in your country of assignment.

You may wish to open an account for check cashing or other financial transactions at a local bank upon arrival in your host country. Most U.S. embassies and consulates cannot cash checks for you. Be sure to find out about currency exchange rates and fees before a transaction takes place. Fees and rates can vary depending on the establishment.

Many countries regulate the amount of local currency you can bring into or take out of the country. Other countries require that you exchange a minimum amount of currency. If you are planning to leave the U.S with $10,000 or more, you will require a special license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country or countries you will visit before you go.

Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards are widely acceptable for general purposes and obtaining cash advances. Prior to departure, consult with your bank or credit union to confirm that your card is accepted in

Part IV | 33

Part IV: During Your Grant the country. Program alumni or commission/post staff may be able to suggest banks with locations in the host country and in the U.S. While Visa and MasterCard may be widely used internationally, some locations may not accept other credit card companies (e.g., American Express, Discover).

Try not to travel with large amounts of cash. When you do carry cash, keep large bills out of sight, and do not go through your cash in public places. Be sure not to keep all of your money in one place. This is a good practice in order to prevent the loss of all of your cash funds if you experience a home burglary. Keep a list of all of your credit card and document numbers in the event your wallet or cash reserves are lost. Leave this list in a safe place, or with someone in the U.S. whom you can call to assist in canceling your credit cards. It is also a good practice to contact your credit card companies and banks to let them know the dates and duration of your overseas travel in advance of your trip. If a credit card company or bank is not notified of overseas travel, it may put a hold on a credit card used overseas.

It is a good idea to always carry U.S. dollars with you when traveling, particularly in small denominations. U.S. dollars may come in handy in countries where cash is not readily available. Also, be sure to change some dollars into the local currency of your host country before you depart or in the airport immediately upon arrival. You may need local currency when you arrive for buses, taxis, phone calls, tips, accommodations, and other incidentals while you are settling in. While abroad, change your currency only at reputable establishments such as a local bank, travel service (i.e., American Express, Thomas Cook) or official exchange agency. Please note that services in foreign airports often are closed upon international flight arrivals (e.g., late night), and access to ATM machines may be limited.

5. Safety and Security, Information and Resources

Register with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate and, if possible, request a security briefing by their security officer. Crime is a problem worldwide; one can be a victim of crimes such as muggings, robberies, pickpocketing, burglaries, sexual assaults and beatings both in the United States and abroad. There is no way to protect oneself completely from crime. However, the following tips may be helpful: • Take control of your personal safety. • Know how to use the phone system in the country to which you are traveling. Do not wait until an emergency to figure this out. • Be discreet when traveling. Keep your cellphone, itinerary and passport out of sight. • Please be mindful of applicable laws, protocol and customs in your host country.

Emergency Contacts

The primary emergency contact for Fulbrighters abroad will be the Fulbright commission/post in the host country. IIE/CIES program staff should also be notified in an emergency situation.

In case of emergencies, and to report on individual and family safety and security, keep a list of contact information of local assistance, including the phone number of the Fulbright staff of the commission/post, colleagues at your host institution and fellow Fulbrighters in-country. As noted, when preparing for your grant,

Part IV | 34

Part IV: During Your Grant enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), so the U.S. Department of State can better assist you in an emergency.

During non-business hours, Fulbrighters should contact the American Citizens Services office at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Family members can contact the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Citizens Services: From within the United States: 1-888-407-4747 From outside the United States: 1-202-501-4444

Grantees can also contact Fulbright ASSIST. See section 5. Additional Health Information section above.

Fulbright ASSIST Contact Information Phone: +1-813-666-0012

Email: [email protected]

Harassment

Harassment can be defined as behavior that is persistent and is intended to disturb and upset. There are different types of harassment, including psychological, racial, religious, police and sexual harassment. A target can be verbally, physically and psychologically harassed and stalked; tormented, intimidated, degraded and discriminated against.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances or visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Although sexual harassment does not often put the victim in the way of physical assault, it can be used by potential perpetrators to test the boundaries of potential victims. Therefore, it is important for scholars to stay aware of the prevalence of sexual harassment and how best to respond.

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are a concern worldwide. Fulbrighters should be vigilant and cautious in the host country and try to reduce risks as much as possible. Ask questions during the security briefing and/or orientation with the commission/post that are specific to the host location. This includes information on sexual assault statistics, cultural attitudes toward sexual harassment and legal information for reporting incidences to the appropriate authorities (nationally and/or locally).

It can be challenging to reduce harassment while overseas due to language barriers, new surroundings and lack of familiar cultural signals and cues. Find an ally in faculty members, supervisors and/or neighbors. Exercise caution when meeting new people, arranging meetings in public places and/or with others when possible. Communicate clearly and be assertive. You should not sacrifice your personal safety or security for saving face—set your limits for acceptable behavior and (try to) be consistent. Take cues from locals, including co-workers and peers, and talk to fellow Fulbrighters, friends and colleagues whom you trust.

Harassment is best handled by staff in the field familiar with the cultural nuances exhibited in a particular region or country. If you are the victim of harassment, please contact the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your host country.

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Part IV: During Your Grant

Victims of Crime

The U.S. Department of State webpage on international travel provides a number of resources, including “Help for U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Overseas” and “Country Specific Information.”

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Individuals

Attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals differ around the world. While tolerance is increasing in many countries, some countries still criminalize homosexuality. You should prepare well and research your destination before you go, particularly if you intend to bring a same-sex partner with you on your Fulbright grant. Resources available include: • The U.S. Department of State issues annual Human Rights Reports for each country, which include information on abuses, discrimination and acts of violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. • The Ithaca College Office of International Programs compiled the resource LGBT Students and Study Abroad. • NAFSA is a professional organization for international educators. NAFSA’s Rainbow Special Interest Group (Rainbow SIG) is composed of diverse members of NAFSA whose goals are to support and counsel international students and study abroad students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. • The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and OutRight Action International both include country-specific information on laws affecting the LGBT community and other general LGBT concerns.

If you encounter any problems or if you are harassed or threatened due to your sexual orientation or gender identity, contact the Fulbright Commission and/or U.S. Embassy in your host country.

6. Foreign Laws

When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. If you are unsure of how to act or respond in certain situations, be cautious and do not risk your safety.

Some countries are particularly sensitive about photographs. For more information on restrictions of this kind it is always prudent to check with the Public Affairs Section, other U.S. Embassy staff or a local police officer.

Adhere to local laws. The penalties you risk when you break the law in a foreign country can be severe. The U.S. government does not allocate funds for the legal fees of U.S. citizens in need of legal aid while traveling abroad. However, the diplomatic staff can provide lists of local attorneys, even though they cannot serve as attorneys or give legal advice. Please note that the consular attorneys’ lists, although carefully compiled, are drawn from local bar association lists and responses to questionnaires; these lists should not be considered exhaustive.

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Part IV: During Your Grant

Consular officers will do what they can to provide information and assist you, but they cannot get you out of jail; American citizenship does not confer immunity. If you are arrested, ask permission to notify the consular officer at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Under international agreements and practice, you have a right to get in touch with the American consul. If you are turned down, keep asking—politely, but persistently. If unsuccessful, try to have someone contact the U.S. consul for you. If, for some reason, you have difficulties with local authorities, remember that you are subject to local laws. U.S. diplomats are limited in what they can do when Americans abroad need legal aid.

Foreign Laws and Drugs

When abroad, charges related to illegal drugs can mean interrogation and delays before trial, including mistreatment and solitary confinement under difficult conditions; lengthy trials conducted in a foreign language, with delays and postponements; extensive to lifelong imprisonment—some places include hard labor and heavy fines—if found guilty; and the death penalty in a growing number of countries.

More information is online at Special Warning About Drug Offenses Abroad, U.S. Department of State. 7. Cars and Driving

Grantees may have the opportunity to drive in their host country. Consider contacting AAA about obtaining the International Driving Permit (IDP) or an Inter-American Driving Permit (necessary for travel in Latin American countries). AAA can also supply the necessary information on insurance, customs duties and more, even if you are not an AAA member.

More information about driving overseas can also be found at the U.S. Department of State on Road Safety Overseas.

8. Professional Enrichment Activities

Some commissions/posts provide grantees with access to enrichment activities. These may include opportunities to travel, give lectures or presentations to institutions or organizations in the host country, and participate in regional conferences. These will vary by country and region; grantees may contact their commission/post for additional information.

9. Community Involvement

Furthering mutual understanding is one of the goals of the Fulbright Program. Becoming involved with your in- country host institution(s), the Fulbright commission/post and the local community during your tenure overseas will enhance your experiences and further the goals of the program. Grantees can get involved in many ways: • Participating in pre-departure orientations for visiting (non-U.S.) scholars;

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Part IV: During Your Grant

• Participating in recruitment or application review processes for visiting (non-U.S.) scholar and student Fulbright Programs; • Guest lecturing; • Volunteering with local organizations; • Participating in the host institution’s events, activities and committees; • Starting or joining extracurricular and/or intramural clubs; • Offering introductory courses in area(s) of expertise; • Giving language lessons to the local university community; • Volunteering with local/international NGOs. Other avenues may present themselves; grantees are encouraged to avail themselves of these opportunities as long as they do not interfere with their primary grant objectives or program policy.

Have some "Americana" items with you to give as small tokens or gifts. For example, postcards are easy to carry and useful to give or show. In many countries, gifts are customary, and it is appreciated when something from your home country and culture is given.

Please share with IIE/CIES any newspaper articles, media coverage, blogs or photographs related to your grant, as well as special presentations you make to university or community groups.

10. Travel Outside the Host Country

Notify the commission/post before you travel outside the host country. In cases of national or local crisis, including natural disasters and other emergencies, the commission/post will need to account for all grantees in the affected area. In some cases, grantees must travel outside the host country to renew their visa during the grant period. Therefore, before an emergency arises, participants should access the IIE Participant Portal to upload their travel itineraries and ensure contact information is correct, as well as send this information to the commission/post.

According to the grant terms and conditions, time spent out of the country may result in an adjustment of the Fulbright grant period and grant payments. Please read the grant terms carefully and consult with your IIE/CIES contacts (or commission, if applicable) with questions.

Prior to traveling outside of the host country, check the visa entry requirements to ensure that you can re- enter the country with your current visa. Be sure to also check the visa requirements of the country you will visit.

11. Grantee Interim and Final Reports

As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, if your grant is six months or longer you are required to submit an interim report online for the first half of your grant. The interim report may differ from what is requested by the commission.

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Part IV: During Your Grant

If your commission requests a report, you should complete it and return it, in addition to completing the online report for IIE/CIES.

In addition, Fulbright Scholars are required to submit a Fulbright final report online at the end of the grant period. The final report may differ from what is requested by the commission. If your commission requests a final report, you should complete it and return it, in addition to completing the online report for IIE/CIES. Some commissions may require submission of the IIE/CIES final report in order to receive final grant benefits. More information about the final report is in Part V: Upon Completing Your Grant.

12. Tax Information for U.S. Fulbright Scholars

Fulbright U.S. Scholar grants are generally subject to U.S. income taxes.

Neither IIE/CIES nor the U.S. Department of State is required to issue a Form 1099 or Form W2, nor to withhold taxes from grant payments.

The Fulbright grant terms and conditions you signed before starting your grant should outline the funds you will receive during your grant period. Bank account statements will reflect the amounts deposited in a given tax year (January 1 through December 31).

The IRS website contains a section specifically on tax filing for Fulbright grantees: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Fulbright-Grants.

You may also wish to consult the International Division of the IRS by phone at: 267-941-1000. Also see IRS publications, including No. 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad and No. 970, Tax Benefits for Education.

IIE/CIES staff members are not permitted to give tax advice. If you are uncertain about your tax obligation, we encourage you to contact the IRS directly or speak with a tax professional.

13. Social Media, Press and Blogging Guidance

With the growth of blogging and social networking sites in recent years, Fulbrighters have many opportunities to share their experiences. This brings positive attention to the Fulbright Program and its impact, not only on the Fulbrighters, but the host community as well.

Recognizing the reach and impact of these media, the U.S. Department of State has provided these Fulbright Social Media Blogging Press Guidelines on social media and blogging. You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We encourage you to use #Fulbright when sharing your Fulbright experiences on social media.

Online Safety and Security

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Part IV: During Your Grant

The U.S. Department of State also provides the following guidance regarding online safety and security. Although social media tools such as Facebook and Google+ have security settings to limit who is able to see certain information, these tools can still be hacked and misused and certain information can still be seen by people outside of approved circles or lists.

When traveling, it is good to keep some general social media safety and security tips in mind. • Do not broadcast movements. Be aware of applications (apps) and programs that track and/or publish your current location without your consent or knowledge. • Do not post everything. Private information may not need to be shared with anyone, much less everyone. • Use and check security settings. Security settings are helpful but not failproof, and they occasionally change with little or no notice. • Protect passwords. Use strong password practices to help prevent people from hacking your accounts.

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Part V: Upon Completing Your Grant

1. Return Travel 2. Health Benefits After the Grant Period 3. Final Report and Fulbright Certificate 4. Publications Resulting from Grant

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1. Return Travel

Grantees preparing to return to the United States should refer to the International Travel and Travel Documents for details on international travel. Please keep in mind that travel itineraries must be submitted to IIE/CIES program staff via the IIE Participant Portal and on file with commission/post for each grantee.

Should changes be made to return itineraries, grantees are required to notify IIE/CIES program staff, commission/post, as well as host institutions of those changes, if applicable.

Once again, the Fly America Act requires that all U.S. Government financed air travel use U.S. flag air carrier service, except when an approved exception applies. Fulbright grantees to post countries must comply with this Act and submit an itinerary to IIE/CIES for review and response before purchase. Subsequent changes to the itinerary must also be sent to IIE/CIES for review and response in advance of purchase.

2. Health Benefits After the Grant Period

Fulbright grantees are enrolled in the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), which is intended to cover medical expenses related to accidents, sicknesses and emergencies that occur while participating in a U.S. Department of State-sponsored exchange. (See Part III, Section 3: Grantee Health Care Benefit Program)

ASPE coverage will begin and end according to grant dates and will only be in effect when you are in the host country during the grant dates. This travel benefit is only valid for travel directly to and from the host country, immediately prior to and after a U.S. Department of State exchange program. This includes coverage for any allowed layover of up to 24 hours if the travel time by the most direct route exceeds 14 hours. Therefore, any personal travel following the grant period will not be covered by ASPE, and grantees are strongly encouraged to retain their own health insurance for the entire grant period, including all travel time.

3. Final Report and Fulbright Certificate

The Fulbright Program, including the posts, commissions, IIE/CIES and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, depend on the valuable feedback provided by grantees for the evaluation and improvement of the program for future participants. Fulbright Scholars are required to submit a Fulbright final report online at the end of the grant period.

For commissions, the final report requirements may differ. Some commissions may require submission of the IIE/CIES final report in order to receive final grant benefits. If there are any difficulties in accessing the IIE/CIES final report, please contact the IIE/CIES program staff for the region.

Following submission of the final report, grantees will receive a Fulbright certificate acknowledging the completion of their Fulbright award. Certificates are printed and mailed quarterly.

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4. Publications Resulting from Grant

The FFSB welcomes the publication and dissemination of content resulting from the usual channels of research and educational activities financed under the Fulbright Program. Scholars should take care to avoid any impression that the U.S. Government (and any agency representing it) or foreign governments has endorsed the conclusions or approved the contents of published work.

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Part VI: As Alumni of a Fulbright Grant

1. Continuing Involvement 2. Sharing Your Fulbright Story 3. Alumni Networking Opportunities

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1. Continuing Involvement

Peer Review Committee Membership

The peer review process, a hallmark of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, ensures that applicants will be evaluated on academic, scholarly and professional criteria. IIE/CIES coordinates the initial screening of Fulbright Scholar applications, known as peer review. The majority of peer reviewers who comprise the over 200 committees convened each year are Fulbright U.S. Scholar alumni. More information about peer review, including on ways to participate, is online.

The work of the peer review committees is vital to the success of the Fulbright Scholar Program. It provides committee members opportunities to: • Continue their Fulbright experience by learning from applicants in their field and giving back to the Fulbright Program; • Engage in a deeper way with the Fulbright Program and Fulbright Scholar alumni; • Evaluate applications that will expose them to ongoing projects in their field and help ensure the competitiveness of the Fulbright Scholar Program.

IIE/CIES Fulbright Scholar Liaison Network

Fulbright Scholar Liaisons are a network of approximately 1,900 committed individuals across the United States and its territories crucial to the promotion of the Fulbright Scholar Program within the U.S. higher education community. Participating in the Fulbright Scholar Liaison Network can help campus internationalization efforts, raise your institution’s profile, and help faculty members increase the impact of their research and teaching.

Throughout the year Fulbright Scholar Program liaisons attend and offer information at a variety of professional and academic conferences. If you have not already done so, please take the opportunity to meet the Fulbright Scholar Liaison on your campus or in your area by consulting our web directory. If your campus does not have a liaison, contact the IIE/CIES Outreach staff for more information on becoming a liaison on your campus.

Hosting a Fulbright Visiting Scholar

Fulbright Visiting Scholars further internationalize U.S. campuses by introducing students and faculty to new ideas and contacts. There are multiple opportunities for U.S. institutions to host Fulbright Visiting Scholars – faculty and professionals from abroad. Programs include: • Outreach Lecturing Fund (http://www.cies.org/program/outreach-lecturing-fund) • Fulbright Visiting Scholar Core Program (http://www.cies.org/program/core-fulbright-visiting-scholar- program) • Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (http://www.cies.org/program/fulbright-scholar-residence- program) • Faculty Development Programs (http://www.cies.org/program/faculty-development-programs) Part V | 45 Part VI: As Alumni of a Fulbright Grant

Sharing the Benefits of Your Fulbright Experience Upon Return Home

Listed below are some ways in which you can broaden the benefits of your Fulbright experience in academic and community settings after your return to the United States:

• Speaking to classes or student interest groups about your experiences abroad. • Discussing with colleagues and administrators innovative teaching techniques you observed. • Revising course content and developing new coursework based on what you learned. • Introducing new teaching techniques and educational practices to the classroom. • Presenting to civic groups. • Coordinating programs with local and state school systems. • Volunteering with international visitors organizations. • Participating in professional associations — steering committees, presentations and activities at state, regional and national conferences. • Publishing articles in professional association newsletters and journals. • Undertaking joint research projects with colleagues at home or abroad. • Keeping in contact with your host institution, organization, and colleagues. • Developing exchanges — for example, student exchanges between home and host communities.

Other Opportunities for U.S. Alumni

Administrators at your home institution may be interested in developing or deepening partnerships with institutions abroad through the International Education Adminstrators Program.

2. Sharing your Fulbright Story

The Fulbright experience is very powerful when it is captured in the words of alumni.

Contribute your scholar story to the Fulbright Scholar Blog. This is a great way to showcase the impact the Fulbright experience has on grantees, their families, home/host institutions and their work. Please review the Blog Submission Guidelines for Scholars for details on how to submit your story and pictures.

IIE/CIES also knows that you may be eager to share your thoughts through your own blogs or informal presentations. Recognizing the reach and impact of these media, the U.S. Department of State has provided these Fulbright Social Media Blogging Press Guidelines on social media and blogging. You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We encourage you to use #Fulbright when sharing your Fulbright experiences on social media.

Share photographs that highlight your experience abroad through our online uploader: https://fulbright.netx.net/uploads/.

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Stay in contact with your IIE/CIES program staff for other opportunities to continue to share information with your colleagues.

3. Alumni Networking Opportunities

Fulbright alumni have many opportunities to continue their involvement with the Fulbright Program upon their return to the United States and IIE/CIES encourages returning grantees to take advantage of the resources noted below.

International Exchange Alumni

The U.S. Department of State offers Fulbright grantees access to an online network of ECA alumni. International Exchange Alumni is open to current and previous participants of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs – including the Fulbright Program. Through International Exchange Alumni, alumni can: • Join the Fulbright alumni community. • Request a FulbrightMail.org email account (valid for lifetime use). • Network with thousands of alumni from diverse exchange programs representing all regions of the world. • Participate in Q&A live discussions with experts on a variety of current issues. • Find grant and job opportunities. • Post your curriculum vitae/résumé, academic articles, or photos. • Access free academic journals, newspapers, and more. • Share your books, articles, multimedia or blogs in the Fulbright Library. • Develop plans for your alumni association, or find an association to join. • Share your experience with a global audience. • Read alumni success stories, perspectives and ideas.

To request an account for International Exchange Alumni, click here.

Fulbright Association

The Fulbright Association engages current and former Fulbright exchange participants in lifelong experiences that advance international understanding through volunteer service to communities, people-to-people diplomacy and dialogue on global issues. Fulbright Association members form the active constituency for Fulbright exchanges to ensure that they continue to benefit future generations. Established on February 27, 1977, the Fulbright Association is a private, nonprofit organization whose members are Fulbright Program alumni and friends of international education. The Association supports and promotes international educational and cultural exchange and the ideal most associated with the Fulbright name—mutual understanding among the peoples of the world.

Information about registration and fees for the Fulbright Association is online.

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GLOSSARY

Allowance: the portion(s) of the grant designated for specific costs such as travel, excess baggage, settling-in, etc. ASPE: Accident Sickness Program for Exchanges, a limited health benefits program for grantees; administered by Seven Corners. Award: an opportunity listed in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Catalog that describes the activities for which a scholar can apply for a grant Base Stipend: Funds received by grantees based on a monthly calculation, payable in dollars or local currency. The amount generally varies for different grant categories. Benefit: an allowance or other element of the grant package, such as the health benefits program. Candidate: an applicant whose application has been forwarded to the post or commission and the FFSB following the U.S. peer review stage. IIE/CIES: The Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of IIE; provides administrative services, through a cooperative agreement with ECA, for the Fulbright Scholar Program. Commission: also known as Foundation; administers the Fulbright Program in some countries. Consulate: in larger countries, a representative of the embassy located in a major city outside the capital. Dependent: a spouse or a relative (child, grandchild, parent or sibling) who is financially dependent on the grantee. Eligible accompanying dependents are those who spend at least 80 percent of the grant period with the grantee abroad. Distinguished Chair: a teaching and/or research award category for which an eminent scholar applies and is awarded a particularly prestigious type of grant, which generally has a higher stipend than other scholar grants. DOS: U.S. Department of State: the federal agency that receives the Congressional appropriation that sponsors the Fulbright Program. Early Career: awards open to applications from scholars who have recently completed their Ph.D. or other terminal degree (typically within the last five years). Some awards so designated are open to scholars at all levels of experience, including early career; others may be open only open to early career scholars. East Asia and the Pacific (EAP): world region per U.S. Department of State; note: not all countries may participate in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. ECA: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, under the direction of the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, administers the U.S. Department of State’s exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program. Embassy: the permanent diplomatic mission, government representation in a foreign country, typically located in the capital city. Europe and Eurasia (EUR): world region per U.S. Department of State; note: not all countries may participate in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

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Flex: Grant option supporting multiple visits to participating countries over two to three years to accomplish research objectives. FFSB: Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board; Presidentially appointed policymaking entity overseeing the Fulbright Program. Foundation: also known as a commission; administers Fulbright Program in some countries. Fulbright Core Scholar Program: encompasses the Fulbright U.S. and Visiting Scholar Programs, the central program IIE/CIES administers for ECA . Fulbright Senior Scholar: former name of program; the Fulbright Core Scholar Program continues to be known in some countries under this name. Grant: the Fulbright Program for which the applicant has applied and been selected; may be for teaching and/or research Grantee: scholar who has been offered and accepted a grant signed and returned grant terms and conditions to IIE/CIES and submitted a medical report that has been cleared. The grantee stage continues as the scholar proceeds to the host country for their grant and ends when the grant period is completed. Housing Allowance: if housing is not provided by the host country government or institution, an allowance is provided to offset the cost of housing and related costs. IEA: International Education Administrators; a Fulbright scholar seminar program for university administrators. IIE: Institute of International Education. IIePay: method by which grant funds may be issued directly to grantee’s U.S. checking account. Living Allowance: this allowance is designed to offset food and other local costs. Maintenance Allowances: In some countries, the housing and living allowances together are known as Maintenance Allowances. Middle East and North Africa (MENA): world region per U.S. Department of State; note: not all countries may participate in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Also referred to as Near Eastern Affairs (NEA). Peer Review: the process by which applications for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program are reviewed in the U.S. Post: Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Selectee: scholar who has been offered a grant, following the peer review and selection process; the selectee stage precedes the grantee stage, while medical clearance and grant terms and conditions are pending. South and Central Asia (SCA): world region per U.S. Department of State; note: not all countries may participate in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Sub-Saharan Africa: world region per U.S. Department of State; note: not all countries may participate in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language Visiting Scholar: faculty or professional in the United States on a Fulbright Scholar grant from another country. Western Hemisphere: world region per U.S. Department of State; note: not all countries may participate in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

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