Is My Fulbright Grant Renewable?

For those grantees holding cash awards administered by IIE refer to your Terms of Appointment to determine if your award is renewable. If your grant is renewable, you will receive instructions on how to apply for renewal of your grant in late January.

Should your Terms of Appointment indicate your grant is not renewable, you will receive information next spring concerning departure arrangements and/or procedures to be followed in the event your sponsor will consider continuation of visa sponsorship for bona fide exchange visitor activities.

How Do I Extend My Fulbright Grant?

For those grantees holding awards under Fulbright Program #01000, instructions are available outlining procedures to be followed in order to secure an extension of grant benefits (travel, if applicable; insurance benefits and visa sponsorship) for bona fide academic or training programs (where permitted). The Request for Extension form must be returned to your IIE Regional Center by May 1.

Departure instructions are also available.

When Am I Covered by Health Insurance?

Refer to your Terms of Appointment to determine your grant dates. These dates coincide with your health insurance coverage.

Grantees receiving health insurance coverage as a benefit of their IIE-administered award should familiarize themselves with the provisions of the policy and their dates of coverage. In the event you have not received information outlining your coverage, please contact your Regional Center or download the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges Brochure available in Health Insurance section of "Resources for Current Grantees" webpage.

For information on supplemental health insurance coverage and/or coverage for dependents contact your IIE Regional Center.

Note: Fulbright health insurance coverage is suspended whenever you travel outside of the United States. Please see the Health Insurance section of the "Resources for Current Grantees" webpage.

What Are My Reporting Requirements?

1. Academic
   1. All grantees are required to submit an official university transcript to their Regional Center each semester. A copy of the unofficial Student Grade Report is acceptable for the first semester only.
      
      Some grantees are also required, under the provisions of their grants, to submit reports which include comments from their Academic Advisor. In these instances, reports are mailed directly to the grantee by IIE with specific return dates noted.
      
      
   2. In the event you are experiencing academic difficulties please do not hesitate to contact your Regional Center. We will make every effort to ensure that you receive the assistance you require to successfully complete your academic objectives.
   
   
2. Other
   Regardless of grant classification, you may not make any change in your program (field of study, degree, academic institution, visa sponsorship transfer) without first consulting your Regional Center.

How Do I Obtain Work Authorization?

1. Academic Year
   You may not accept on or off-campus employment unless authorized by your Regional Center. Employment is rarely permitted, unless on-campus work is a part of an award offered by your university; should you hold an IIE-administered cash grant, it would in all likelihood be reduced by the amount earned should employment be authorized.
   
   Exceptional requests for work authorization must be submitted in writing and should include the following information:
   1. reason for request;
   2. itemized monthly expenses;
   3. amount and source of funds available to you; and
   4. if you have dependents with you, how they are supported.
   
   You should also submit a letter from your Academic Advisor indicating that part-time employment will not interfere with your academic performance nor delay degree completion.
   
   
2. Summer Employment
   You are eligible to apply for summer work authorization provided:
   1. you are not receiving grant funds;
   2. you are returning to U.S. academic studies in the fall;
   3. funds earned are used to support yourself during the summer and/or coming academic year; and
   4. your sponsor permits its grantees to accept employment while in the United States.
   
   
3. Should employment or internships be required as a condition of your academic program, consult your Regional Center.

Can My Dependents Join Me in the United States?

Regulations permitting dependents to join grantees studying in the United States vary with program sponsors. It is generally recommended that they remain in your home country at least during the first semester of your grant.

Should you wish to have your family join you, you should first consult your Regional Center. If you are eligible to have your family join you, you must submit verification from the Foreign Student Advisor on your campus that you have sufficient funds (independent of funds allocated to your academic program) to provide for your dependents’ round-trip international travel, living expenses and health insurance coverage. Documentation can then be issued supporting the issuance of J-2 visa(s) for your spouse and/or children.

Note: Since the United States Department of State has established minimum requirements for insurance coverage for J-1 and J-2 Exchange Visitors, you are now required to complete the declaration in the 

What If I Travel Outside the United States?

For information concerning documents required when travelling outside the United States, please see the J-q Visa Status and Travel section of "Resources for Current Grantees" webpage.

Also, should you plan to leave the United States, please notify your Regional Center for re-validation of immigration documents. For those students holding cash grants, adjustments in monthly stipends may be necessary.

Note: Fulbright health insurance coverage is suspended whenever you travel outside of the United States. Please see the Health Insurance Section of the "Resources for Current Grantees" webpage for more information.

How Do I File My Taxes?

For grantees receiving cash grants administered through IIE, GRANTAX material will be mailed to you the January following your arrival. The GRANTAX toll-free number is 1-800-282-9372 (1-800-2-TAXES-2).

For grantees receiving funds from other sources (e.g. university aid, campus employment, other scholarship organizations, etc.) you should be in touch with your funding source concerning filing of required taxes. For more information, please visit this link to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

What Is the Best Way to Communicate with IIE?

Since IIE must often discuss your individual requests with program sponsors, we ask that whenever possible you submit a written inquiry to your Regional Center. Most requests are best made in writing and, not only will your query be answered, you will also save money. Be sure to include the name of your IIE contact when addressing the envelope to IIE.

Electronic mail (E-mail) is an effective method of communicating. To reach IIE through the Internet use the first initial of the first name and the full last name of any IIE employee with @iie.org. For example, if you want to contact John Doe at IIE, the Internet address would be: jdoe@iie.org. Include your E-mail address as well as your postal mail address in any communication with IIE.

If communicating with IIE by telephone and you reach the voice mail system (operational 24 hours/day), please do not hang up. Instead leave your name, the school you attend and your telephone number, along with as long a message as necessary. Your call will be returned during business hours.