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Posted

So it seems like we CAN travel? Maybe the stipulation is more like, we're not allowed to stay on on our long-stay visas without permission? I was told that basically, since the plane tickets expire a year from our flight out. So if I fly out to Taiwan on Sept 1 2015, I have until Aug 31 2016 to fly back. Since it's a 10 month grant, then supposedly if my grant term ends on June 30th, I could travel around Asia all I want to visit friends and family as long as I return to Taiwan to take my flight back to the US as ticketed. Anything beyond would be forfeited. I asked if I could go to other areas of Asia to visit family, and they didn't seem to think it was a problem. Although, also, Taiwan seems to have a thing where even though the grant period ends in 10 months, I am allowed to stay an extra month on my visa, as long as I pay my own expenses (no more grant money).

 

Ah, this is good to know. So it looks like I might not have to pay my own flight back to the states after all. I'm planning on remaining in TW for the summer (even though it'll be bloody hot) and return around mid August.

Posted

Booked my orientation travel plans! AHHHHH!!!! IT'S HAPPENING!!!

 

YAY!! So glad you got it.

 

I'm a bit confused because its been over 3 weeks and I have gotten no word about orientation travel plans which is on June 28-30 for us Sub Saharan Africa people. Anyone have any ideas why?

Posted (edited)

Hey sabrinamichelle,

 

East-Asia Pacific here and we've yet to get an email and our orientation is the week before the SSA's (Jun 24th-28th). The program coordinator at IIE mentioned that the invitation email will get sent out this week or next so I imagine yours should be coming after that - aka - around next week or the week after?

 

Hope this helps!

Edited by nsnotable
Posted

YAY!! So glad you got it.

 

I'm a bit confused because its been over 3 weeks and I have gotten no word about orientation travel plans which is on June 28-30 for us Sub Saharan Africa people. Anyone have any ideas why?

 

 

Hey sabrinamichelle,

 

East-Asia Pacific here and we've yet to get an email and our orientation is the week before the SSA's (Jun 24th-28th). The program coordinator at IIE mentioned that the invitation email will get sent out this week or next so I imagine yours should be coming after that - aka - around next week or the week after?

 

Hope this helps!

Our orientation is the first one, which is June 10-14! So that's probably why we've gotten our stuff already.

Posted

Our orientation is the first one, which is June 10-14! So that's probably why we've gotten our stuff already.

Hey jadesg1,

 

How does it work with making orientation travel plans? Did you book your own flights and they reimburse up to a certain amount? I'm hoping to book sooner than later, and I emailed asking for details and was told I'd find out in a few weeks...

Posted (edited)

Hey jadesg1,

 

How does it work with making orientation travel plans? Did you book your own flights and they reimburse up to a certain amount? I'm hoping to book sooner than later, and I emailed asking for details and was told I'd find out in a few weeks...

Actually, you'll "register" via and online survey, and then they'll send you to the portal of their travel agency. There, you'll put in your dates (ETA and Research dates differ by a day or two) and they'll give you a few flight options of which you'll choose what best works for you. They'll reserve that ticket request with a "ghost credit card" and then officially confirm your itinerary one or two days later. 

Edited by jadesg1
Posted (edited)

Actually, you'll "register" via and online survey, and then they'll send you to the portal of their travel agency. There, you'll put in your dates (ETA and Research dates differ by a day or two) and they'll give you a few flight options of which you'll choose what best works for you. They'll reserve that ticket request with a "ghost credit card" and then officially confirm your itinerary one or two days later. 

 

This is great news. I was worried they wouldn't be paying for this so thanks for the info! Did you get any information about accommodations also or just flights?

Edited by nsnotable
Posted

Actually, you'll "register" via and online survey, and then they'll send you to the portal of their travel agency. There, you'll put in your dates (ETA and Research dates differ by a day or two) and they'll give you a few flight options of which you'll choose what best works for you. They'll reserve that ticket request with a "ghost credit card" and then officially confirm your itinerary one or two days later. 

That's really helpful, thank you!

Posted (edited)

I don't mean to eschew the conversation taking place about notifications, but I'm wondering if anyone here is going to be leaving behind a significant other for the duration of the Fulbright. If so, what is your plan? If you've already done this and are simply checking out the thread, feedback would certainly be helpful! For my circumstances in particular, we're trying to save up some money to allow her to come over once or twice. Apart from that, Whatsapp seems to be the best bet for text/audio/video messages and international calling.

 

We're gonna do the long distance thing, too. We've done it before (I was in China for 9 weeks in 2013, and we lived an hour and a half apart for two years until moving to the same city this past fall), but it's going to be a challenge because it's such a long time. We're planning to save money to see each other two or three times, alternating visits. I'm hoping to hammer out the dates before I go for my own sanity, but it's hard since he's an accountant who works like crazy during tax season and I probably won't be out for winter break till January (I have to audit classes at a Chinese university and the academic calendar is determined by the date of the Spring Festival). We might do something like: he visits in October, I visit in January, and we meet halfway in April.

Edited by Oliebollen
Posted

Got all the info for the SSA orientation! Just waiting for them to approve my chosen itinerary.

 

Can't wait to meet all you SSA people!

 

 

Same! Looking forward to meeting you all. :)  Has anyone made a Fulbright SSA Facebook page or anything of the sort, or am I just getting ahead of myself? Lol.

Posted

Hi I am a fellow lurker and I got the P for Italy ETA! Very excited  :D Does anyone know for getting a visa whether your passport needs to be present?

 

Also if the other Italy ETA wanted to get in touch feel free to FB me (Simone Khouzam)! Since there are only 3 of us, I don't think a FB page is necessary lol.

Posted

Hey guys! 
One of my friends just declined the Macau ETA, so a spot could be opening up! FYI. 

Posted

Oh my goodness! As a Macau alternate, I'm keeping my fingers crossed! And since there's only four grants this year, I'm trying to stay calm!

Posted

Does anyone know about transport if you're not planning on flying to orientation? I am going to be coming from my family vacation at the Jersey shore, and the best option to me seems like it will be driving, but I'm not sure if parking is an option. Otherwise, I will take a train but I won't really be near any Amtrak stations...

Posted

Same! Looking forward to meeting you all. :)  Has anyone made a Fulbright SSA Facebook page or anything of the sort, or am I just getting ahead of myself? Lol.

 

This sounds like a good idea.  Does anybody know how to set it up?

Posted

Does anyone know about transport if you're not planning on flying to orientation? I am going to be coming from my family vacation at the Jersey shore, and the best option to me seems like it will be driving, but I'm not sure if parking is an option. Otherwise, I will take a train but I won't really be near any Amtrak stations...

 

They have information about driving to PDO in the Travel Arrangements link on the Fulbright PDO website, although it is not clear if they reimburse for parking.  It might be worth asking the contact that they provide in the email. I would be curious to know myself.  Please share if you find out!

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