[Fulbright 2009-2010]

I was under the impression that Fulbright does not cover transportation separately, but includes a stipend for traveling in your base amount. Under my terms and conditions of the grant, it reads:

5. The initial payment under the grant will include a base amount for round-trip transportation on an American carrier, a one-time or initial start-up expenses payment and three months of grant benefits.

Will someone please clarify how funding for transportation to the host country is handled? Whether it is covered separately or included in your grant money. Thanks.

I had to search for the lowest one-way airfare from my permanent address (Seattle) into Brussels. Then I had to send them a copy of the potential flight, which they then approved (or could've denied). I bought the ticket, and they sent me a check in US dollars the next day. I'm sure this varies from country to country, but it was efficient and painless. Hope this helps.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

So, has anyone found a good way around the Fly America Act? If it were just me going, I wouldn't care since Fulbright will cover the whole thing for us, but I want to travel with my husband & baby, and Fulbright doesn't pay for them. Flying with Scandinavian Airlines is about $750 per person, roundtrip (we're booking to come home in December for Christmas, that's why its so cheap -- already checked and the commission will gladly cover that instead of the "final" trip home). The cheapest American carrier (Continental) is about $1000 per person. Kind of a pain in the neck. SAS sometimes codeshares with United, but not on these flights (grr!)

I emailed the Fulbright Commission in Sweden (since they seem responsible for this stuff), but I'd like to get your collective wisdom on the matter! :-)

Is SAS a Swedish carrier, or from a different scandinavian country? For my grant to Belgium, I had to follow the Fly America Act or fly with a Belgian carrier. You might have that same benefit.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

I just booked my ticket and here's a tip: For the ticket I booked, you have to be a student or 25 or under when you return. He said that you don't have to take classes full-time to be considered a student, and you don't have to have any proof of being a student either. Just so you all know...

All I had to pay for was the ISIC card but I read that this is reimbursable. Good luck to everyone else!

Were you able to find a ticket that accommodated your return date? I'm supposed to be in Belgium through June 30th and can't find anything yet. Does STA go that far out if you go into the store? Online it won't let me search that far in advance.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Aww, that stinks. Thanks for the answer and good luck finding a flight (that doesn't go over the allowance)!

The good thing, though, is that the Fulbright Commission in Belgium just told me to find the cheapest flight, show them the receipt, and they'll reimburse me in euros when I get to Brussels. The euros should be helpful in getting a flatshare and initial move-in things.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

German ETAs:

Does anyone know if we have to follow the Fly America Act? I thought that we did but then I read somewhere else that we had to check on that.

I really hope that we don't. The cheapest flight I can get with an American carrier is $1300. That's just silly, especially considering I could fly with British Airways for $603...

I called Mr. Restrepo about it, so if nobody here knows, we'll know soon enough

For Belgium, we have to fly either US or Belgian carriers. Maybe it's the same for whichever country you're going to...

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Hi, everyone. I received a really obscure message from the Fulbright commission. Hopefully, someone here can help decipher. I'm an alternate for Thailand.

"Dear Fulbright Applicant,

My name is [name] and I am the Senior Program Officer at the Institute of International Education responsible for the Asia-Pacific region. Please give me a call at the number in my signature at your soonest convenience to discuss the status of your Fulbright application."

I called, but no one answered. Has anyone else received this message?

I'd think that Mkurti is right; you have probably been removed from the alternate list and been awarded a grant. Let us know what happens!

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Hi All,

I have a visa question. I was accepted for an ETA to India, and the research visa processing time is a minimum of 6 weeks. Research visa processing cannot begin until letters of affiliation are sent out (they have not yet). I am visiting India this summer from mid May until the third week of June. My passport will be with me during this time, and, as we cannot apply for research visas in-country, I will not be able to start the research visa application process until I return to the States, roughly four weeks prior to the date I must leave again for Fulbright orientation.

The four week window I will be back in the States does not seem wide enough to allow time for the minimum research visa processing time. Does anyone know of any options I have at this moment to ensure I can obtain a visa by the orientation date?

I appreciate any help offered, thank you.

I went to India back in Fall of 2005 and my visa was processed and back to me within three weeks. I remember sending the papers in just around my birthday (August 6th) and it was back to me by the time I went on a family vacation late-August (I'd say around August 24th). If you send it there overnight and give them an overnight envelope (about $20) to send it back to you, you should have it quickly. They say it takes forever, I think, for formality's sake and in case there is something wrong with your application.

The other option is flying to the nearest consulate, applying in person, and having your visa within a few hours. I'm in a similar situation. I am going to Egypt for two months this summer and will have roughly 6 weeks to get my visa for Belgium. I called and they suggested I fly down to LA and process it all in person as you can have the visa right away.

Hope this helps.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

now i found out that my alternate position is "either #1 or #2." but i'm scared to give up this job, because what if the second round of funding in May never happens and no Nepal principal grantees turn it down... but then again, #1 or #2 are the best possible alternate positions... if i apply again next year, i should have a pretty good shot, right?? i'm just nervous that the number of applicants to Nepal will continue to increase (there was a 65.5% jump in applications this year; i assume this is because of the (rocky, somewhat abrupt) transition from monarchy to 'democracy' in March - May 2008 that has led to the perception that Nepal is now safer), and then maybe my chances really aren't so great next year. should i still take the job if i know i have a good alternate position? i'm leaning towards yes...

My vote: YES, DEFINITELY. Take the job, nemolover. Fulbright is not going anywhere but that job might never be an opportunity to you again.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

I just got back from the doctor setting up my medical clearance. Eeeek. With all the required tests and physical (none of which is covered by by student insurance), the total cost is over $350.

I am curious whether Fulbright helps out at all with this? I think probably not...

I know I've posted this before, but check with your university. My university told me to have the doctor bill me as though I had no insurance and then just give them the bill. Universities relish in having fellowship winners, especially international fellowship winners, so they don't want you to become indebted due to this. Just express some concern and maybe they'll help out.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

I don't know much about non-academia, sorry! But I don't know if anyone suggested this, but it seems like this is just the kind of thing that the Peace Corps is looking for. Have you looked into that?

Hey everyone-looking-for-abroad-experience:

An old professor just e-mailed this to me. The Foundation for Sustainable Development is looking for two Program Coordinators, hired as a fellowship, to work in Kenya. It seems solid entry-level international development experience. Here is the link for more information: http://www.fsdinternational.org/about/jobs/fellowships

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Any rejected or alternate-ed finalists in the Seattle area looking for a job? I will have to leave my job come mid-June, and I've been put in charge of finding my replacement. Check out www.teacherswithoutborders.org and let me know if you may be interested in working with the organization. I can answer any of your questions if you send them my way. It's a chill place to work, lots of neat international programming, and a nice location in Pioneer Square. I thought I'd check here since Fulbright applicants tend to be good workers, take initiative, all the good stuff. Okay, let me know!

- zach

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Hey mkurti, I just called Rachel Holskin's office. Some lady picked up (assuming a secretary?) and I asked for Rachel and she that Rachel was on the other line. I've had more luck talking to secretaries than with the actual program managers so I decided to ask her for info about Albania. She told me that she would be glad to look up that information and asked me for my last name (?!!!). I totally froze...I didn't know what to say...and very awkwardly told her that I didn't want to share that information but just wanted general information about Albania's letters. She said that if I wanted specific information I should talk to Rachel Holskin and that Rachel wouldn't give out that information unless she "had the applicant's name directly". By that time, Rachel had gotten off the phone and I was transferred to her. Rachel was very sweet and said that the letters for Albania will NOT be mailed out this week but will most likely be mailed out next week. I asked when it would be mailed out next week and she said that it would Wednesdays because, as we all know, they only mail out letters on Wednesdays. I asked her if they would for sure be mailed out next week and she said that it's never for sure. I then asked her if she would give me a percentage estimate to which she started laughing and reluctantly said 80% chance that they will be mailed out next week. She said that the letters to Albania have been ready for a really, really long time but they're just waiting for "go ahead" from the State Dept to mail them out. She even used the phrase "poor Albania".

I did think it was weird that the secretary asked for a name.....hmm...

You know, I'm sure Rachel and the other Program Managers peruse this website from time to time. I know if I were them I would. They're probably all expecting a bunch of phone calls. The good news is that Rachel, I believe, had a Fulbright to Morocco, so she can empathize. But man, I feel like we all know that we will most likely get a letter Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday. For as much as we've all been heckling them, I give them all lots of credit for still being friendly with us! Haha. Anyway, keep up the good work guys. The Fulbright community is already working for each other!

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Just out of curiosity, could anyone who has already received notification list the location the notification was received at and how many days the letter took to arrive after it was postmarked? Particularly anyone in the Southeast.

Thanks, and congrats to all of ya'll who've gotten the good news.

Not from the Southeast, but from the Northwest. It would probably take just as long if not longer to reach me. Anyway, it was postmarked April 9th and I got it on April 13th. Not that bad, actually. Hope this helps...

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

I just got my manila envelope sending me to Belgium on an ETA. So glad the wait is over!!

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Hey guys, what other medical tests did they require? I don't actually have health insurance and all these lab tests sound expensive. Oh boy!

I'm in a similar situation. I haven't yet received news from the Fulbright, but I also got a fellowship for the summer which requires medical clearance, so I need two forms completed. I contacted the fellowships advisor at my university and they said the university will cover the medical expenses. Having fellowship winners is good for a university, so they don't want to lose you to something which is a pretty minimal expense to them. So contact your fellowship advisor; maybe they could help you out.

[When to lose hope?]

Just got my acceptance letter yesterday! I need to call them on Monday to talk about funding, but the admission definitely feels good.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

So I just got off the phone with a really nice lady at Rachel Holskin's desk in NY. I applied for an ETA to Belgium, and she said the letters are in the mail tomorrow, April 9! I'm not sure if this is just for Belgium, or if it will be for other European countries too. Though, Belgium only has 2 ETA spots, and I believe 5 research grants, so I'm assuming other people will be notified in tomorrow's mailing. I'm in Seattle, so I probably won't hear until Monday or Tuesday of next week. Sad.

Good luck!

[Middlebury MA programs]

Hi,

I've been accepted to Middlebury College's MA in French program in Paris. I would most likely specialize in Language, Culture, and Society, or Linguistics. Has anyone done this program? Or has anyone completed the master's degree at any of Middlebury's overseas programs? Any information about how they are run or how the programs stack up as prep programs to PhD programs would be helpful. How quality are they? I know the summer institutes are raved about, but I'm unclear as to the reputation and quality of the complete MA program. Thanks!

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

And does anyone know - do all accepted Fulbright fellows attend the orientation in Washington D.C. prior to going to the host country? I know Spain requires a mid-September orientation in Madrid, but I wasn't sure if there was something else.

I'm curious, too. I will be abroad this summer until mid-August and don't want that to interfere with anything related to the Fulbright, especially considering orientations are generally mandatory. The Belgium ETA program only has 2 spots, so I'm hoping it's pretty flexible. So anxious to get any kind of information. I called Rachel the other day to change my mailing address, and she didn't say things had already been mailed out, so I'm guessing no news on Belgium ETA for at least a week.

[When to lose hope?]

I contacted my number one grad program today, and they told me that letters will be sent out at the end of the week. That means that I will probably get the letter around April 10th...that means 5 days to weigh all options and get decisions to the schools. Would a school really admit someone at the end of the wire like that, or should I expect a rejection? Just curious to see what has happened in the past.

[Fulbright 2009-2010]

Has anyone else gotten finalist status for an ETA to Belgium?

It's good to hear that most things are done via post. Anyone know who I should contact to update my address with the Fulbright people? My advisor at the university hasn't gotten back to me yet...