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Freeman ASSIST |
FAQ |
Citizens of which countries are eligible for the Freeman ASSIST Program?
Citizens of all countries in East and Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam) are eligible for this program. Citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States are not eligible.
Are dual citizens eligible?
Applicants can hold dual citizenship with any of the eligible Freeman ASSIST countries. Applicants holding dual citizenship with a non-eligible country (e.g. Canada, U.S.) are not eligible for Freeman ASSIST.
I am a graduate student. May I apply for Freeman ASSIST funds?
No. The Freeman ASSIST Program only provides financial support to undergraduate students who have at least one academic term remaining in their undergraduate program after completion of the internship.
What does good academic standing mean?
The term “good academic standing” is defined differently by each university or college. Your International Student Advisor will need to certify on the Advisor Certification Form that you are in good academic standing as determined by your university or college.
Are Freeman ASSIST awards limited to students of specific majors?
No, students pursuing all majors may apply.
My internship involves research. Am I eligible?
No. Students whose internships are primarily for the purpose of conducting medical or academic research are not eligible for Freeman ASSIST.
Do I need to find my own internship or will IIE find an internship program for me?
It is the applicant’s responsibility to apply for and obtain a summer internship offer, with the help of your campus-based career services or “coop” office. IIE will not find internship positions for applicants, but offers helpful information on our website about resources you can use in locating internships.
Will IIE help me make housing and transportation plans for my internship?
It is the applicant’s responsibility to make his/her own housing and transportation plans for the summer.
I have not been offered an internship position yet. May I still apply for the Freeman ASSIST program?
Yes. While priority will be given to applicants who have already received an internship offer, we will consider applications from students who have applied for internships but have not yet confirmed an offer. You may also apply for the Freeman ASSIST Program if you are planning to apply for an internship and have identified the organization(s), but have not yet applied. However, you will not receive any Freeman ASSIST funds until after your host organization confirms your appointment.
What do public service and nonprofit sector mean? What types of organizations are eligible under the terms of the Freeman ASSIST Program?
In the U.S., a nonprofit organization is defined as any group that has been classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The following types of organizations are eligible hosts for Freeman ASSIST interns:
• local or national nonprofit organizations
• community-based groups
• schools and educational organizations (excluding the host campus where you are studying)
The following types of groups are not eligible hosts for Freeman ASSIST interns:
• private corporations/private-sector companies (e.g. banks, investment firms, IT companies, law firms)
• political parties or advocacy groups for U.S. candidates running for office
How long may my internship be?
Internships must be a minimum of 8 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks. You must work as in intern for at least 25 hours per week.
How large is the educational allowance that the Freeman ASSIST award provides?
Freeman ASSIST recipients receive $375 per week for each week of their internship.
May I use my Freeman ASSIST award for tuition, tuition-related expenses, or books/materials if my university is awarding academic credit for my internship?
If you are receiving academic credit for your internship, you may use your Freeman ASSIST award to help defray tuition or tuition-related costs, or to help pay for books and materials related to your internship experience. You may also use it to cover other costs related to the internship.
My current visa status expires before the start of my internship. Will IIE sponsor my visa for the duration of the internship?
No, applicants must have valid student visa status through one academic term beyond the internship end date (i.e., through December 2005). Your visa status must be verified by your International Student Adviser as part of the Freeman ASSIST application process. IIE will not provide visa sponsorship to Freeman ASSIST award recipients.
What sort of documentation is required to prove that I have the required health insurance?
• Verification from the International Student Adviser and/or
• Copy of medical insurance policy document with effective dates faxed to IIE
Will my Freeman ASSIST award be taxable in the United States?
If you are a citizen of China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines or Thailand there will not be any tax liability in the U.S. because a tax treaty exists between the U.S. and each of these countries. If you are a citizen of another country, you are required to pay U.S. taxes on income earned in the United States. You should check with a local tax adviser to clarify your tax situation.
What kind of reporting is required of Freeman ASSIST award recipients?
• Interns must submit an internship report and evaluation within one month following the completion of their internship. IIE will provide a format for the internship report/evaluation for applicants to complete or follow as a guideline.
• Freeman ASSIST award recipients are also required to share their experiences with fellow students on their U.S. home campus during the academic term following their internship. Award recipients may arrange a presentation, speak at a career fair, organize a brown bag lunch or develop other methods to share their experiences and provide information about this unique aspect of American culture. Fellows must submit a Final Service Report within the academic term following their internship describing their on-campus sharing of the experience and giving an estimate of the number of people involved in the outreach effort.
By what date must I submit my Freeman ASSIST application?
The deadline for the Summer 2008 competition has been extended to May 15, 2008. |
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