Fulbright ETA application

[katie_h17]

Hello everyone :-) I was wondering if anyone has heard back from Fulbright about the ETA scholarships. I sent in an application for Brazil. I am just trying to figure out my schedule if I do/don't get it since I will be graduating this year. My major is in education, so it would be really hard to find a job here before or after Fulbright (the school year in Brazil is different from the one here.) I am trying to look into other job opportunities here and abroad!

I have a question then: I have heard that for the Fulbright scholarship, you have to stay in your home country for two years after you complete your service abroad. Does anyone know what if these is true, or what stipulations the Fulbright scholarship entails? It would be hard for me as a teacher to get a job in December.

I just want to try to get a game plan going so I won't be unemployed.

Thanks everyone!

[TakeruK]

I have a question then: I have heard that for the Fulbright scholarship, you have to stay in your home country for two years after you complete your service abroad. Does anyone know what if these is true, or what stipulations the Fulbright scholarship entails? It would be hard for me as a teacher to get a job in December.

Thanks everyone!

 

I am not 100% sure about this but I think you might be confusing this requirement with the requirement placed on non-Americans being awarded a Fulbright to work/study (e.g. PhD programs) in the US. The reason is because every non-American who is awarded a Fulbright to come to America must be on J-1 status. It is the J-1 status that requires you to return to your home country for at least 2 years before being allowed back in the US for an immigration-class visa/status. So, in these cases, it's not the Fulbright that creates the restriction, but the US Immigration status. 

 

I am a Canadian studying in the US on J-1 status (I did apply for but did not get a Fulbright; however, there's lots of ways to get J-1 status). When my J-1 status ends (i.e. end of PhD), I will have to go back to Canada for 2 years before I can get an immigration-class status in the US, but that doesn't mean I have to return to Canada right away. I can find jobs anywhere else in the world, just not the US (until I've lived in Canada for 2 years). Also, this restriction may be waived if both countries agree to it.

 

In addition, in my opinion, it would not make any sense for US Immigration to place any travel restrictions on you, an American (I'm assuming?), traveling outside of the US. The only restriction that would make sense is if Brazil said that you must return to your home country for 2 years before going back to Brazil (similar to what I described above). It would not make sense for Brazil to prevent you to visiting other places. 

 

I would check with the Fulbright people to be certain, and also with whatever US government website has information regarding travel/visas to get into Brazil. But to me, what you are describing sounds like the J-1 visa requirement that US Immigration puts onto foreign visitors and not applicable to Americans. But even if Brazil puts the same stipulations on you as the US currently has on me, we would still be free to work anywhere else besides the country we're visiting!

[Bleep_Bloop]

Don't worry, they won't keep you from staying in the country to work or travel more after the grant. (However, if you go outside the country after then Fulbright won't pay for your return flight). When I was an ETA, a handful of fulbrighters from the year befor me stayed on. One of them was even working in the Fulbright office, so Fulbright was more than aware of their presence in the country. A handful of people from my cohort stayed on in the host country as well, others found similar work teaching English abroad. To my knowledge, the two-year rule is only enforced for Fulbrighters who come from abroad to complete a degree in the US, like TakeruK mentioned. Beat of luck! It's an amazing experience.

Edited December 17, 2013 by LKS

[katie_h17]

Thanks everyone! I think you are right, TakeruK- I am probably getting the visa regulations for foreigners mixed up with the Fulbright stipulations! And LKS, that's great to hear that people found work after the Fulbright in their host country and abroad. I still don't know if I got it, but that was one of my biggest preocupations- finding work before and afterwards during the "off years" that don't match up with the US's academic schedule.

[FingersCrossed_118]

Hello everyone :-) I was wondering if anyone has heard back from Fulbright about the ETA scholarships. I sent in an application for Brazil. I am just trying to figure out my schedule if I do/don't get it since I will be graduating this year. My major is in education, so it would be really hard to find a job here before or after Fulbright (the school year in Brazil is different from the one here.) I am trying to look into other job opportunities here and abroad!

I have a question then: I have heard that for the Fulbright scholarship, you have to stay in your home country for two years after you complete your service abroad. Does anyone know what if these is true, or what stipulations the Fulbright scholarship entails? It would be hard for me as a teacher to get a job in December.

I just want to try to get a game plan going so I won't be unemployed.

Thanks everyone!

 

 

Hello everyone :-) I was wondering if anyone has heard back from Fulbright about the ETA scholarships. I sent in an application for Brazil. I am just trying to figure out my schedule if I do/don't get it since I will be graduating this year. My major is in education, so it would be really hard to find a job here before or after Fulbright (the school year in Brazil is different from the one here.) I am trying to look into other job opportunities here and abroad!

I have a question then: I have heard that for the Fulbright scholarship, you have to stay in your home country for two years after you complete your service abroad. Does anyone know what if these is true, or what stipulations the Fulbright scholarship entails? It would be hard for me as a teacher to get a job in December.

I just want to try to get a game plan going so I won't be unemployed.

Thanks everyone!

Hi Katie_h17, I also applied for Fulbright ETA (Brazil) and will be graduating this spring as well. I haven't heard anything from Fulbright yet but we should be notified about finalist status sometime this month! I'm in the same boat - I feel like my only option is to get some sort of part-time job before the Fulbright would start in February (if I get it). It's very awkward timing. Let me know what you decide to do if you get the Fulbright!