Application Process and Notes

for Applications to Taiwan

Relevant Administration Institution

The Institute of International Education (IIE) works with degree or non-degree students. IIE is under contract to the U.S. Department of State to organize publicity, receive and process applications, and make recommendations to FFSB for graduate study grants under the Fulbright Program. IIE’s charge includes pre-academic training programs, placement services, renewal of grants, and information regarding the candidate’s grant status. Taiwan students must maintain regular contact with IIE.

Office Address: Institute of International Education
              One World Trade Center, 36th Floor,
              New York, N.Y. 10007             

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) works with scholars and non-academic professionals.  CIES is a division of IIE, facilitates international exchange program activities, and is contracted by the U.S. Department of State. CIES provides administrative services for all Fulbright scholars, especially in academic matters. CIES arranges or confirms all American university affiliations for Taiwan grantees, according to their research plan. CIES also provides counseling services on academic matters. Researchers, lecturers, or non-academic professional grantees must maintain regular contact with CIES regarding all aspects of the grant.

Office Address: Council for International Exchange of Scholars
              1400 K Street, N.W.,
              Suite 700
              Washington, D.C. 20005-2403

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB), composed of 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States, formulates policy for the administration of the program, establishes criteria for the selection of candidates, and approves candidates nominated for awards.

Fulbright Scholarship Application Procedure

1. Online Application
2. CIES/IIE undertakers check and put in order for the applicants’ materials.
3. Regulation Officers review the applicants’ materials.
4. Peer Review committee members make the initial screening of Fulbright Scholar/Student application.
5. CIES/IIE notifies the nomination results to applicants and Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (FSE).
6. FSE makes the second round selection and notifies the nomination result to the CIES/IIE and U.S. Department of State 
7. CIES/IIE sends the notification letters of FFSB to the approved U.S. grantees.

Application Criteria

  • All applicants must be U.S. citizens. U.S. permanent resident status is not sufficient. An applicant who has resided outside the U.S. for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application is ineligible for a grant. An applicant who has lived outside the U.S. for nine months or more during a calendar year is deemed to have resided in abroad for that year. 
  • Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment. Members, staff of a Commission, and immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) are ineligible for grants, for a period ending one year after the termination of such employment.
  • The grant is subject to approval by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).
  • All other factors being equal, preference is given to applicants who have not had extensive recent experience in the host countries Where candidates (senior researchers, etc.) are able to have more than one Fulbright in a lifetime, those who have not previously held a Fulbright award have preference.  

Visa

1. All U.S. grants travel to Taiwan under a J-type visa for academic and cultural exchange programs.

2. Visa Application Procedure:

i) The medical examination forms of all U.S. grantees (CIES (Scholars) and IIE (Students)) will be sent to the State Department medical physician for processing. All grantees should submit the Fulbright Medical Examination Form 6 months before the grant starts, and receive the required medical clearance authorized by CIES’s or IIE’s doctors. The medical examination form should be finished within 6 months before the grant starts.

ii) Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (FSE) provides official notification letter and U.S. grantees name list to MOFA for the visa application processing.

iii) After the visa file cable number has been received from MOFA, FSE will send the notification letter and this number to all U.S. grantees.

iv) Grantees start to prepare and submit the following documents for the visa application:

a) Complete the Online Visa Application Form through the website of Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of MOFA
b)Print out the completed Online Application Form
c)Grant Notification Letter
d)Visa Required Health Examination
e)Passport
f)Two Photos 
g)Signed Grant Authorization
h)U.S. Guarantees Name List

v) All U.S. grantees go to the Taipei Economic and Cultural (TECO) offices in U.S. for the visa application. 

General Grants Benefits

1. All candidates who also receive funds from other sources are required to report such grants to Fulbright Taiwan. If any of the Fulbright grant benefits are duplicated by the additional grant, the Fulbright grant may be reduced accordingly.
2. All Fulbright U.S. grantees are eligible for limited health and accident insurance coverage.
3. Fulbright U.S. grantees are eligible for Taiwan National Health Insurance coverage, if their grant period is 6 months or longer.
4. All U.S. grantees are provided up to four nights’ initial accommodations.
5. All U.S. grantees are provided one-time airport pickup service and airport drop-off service.
6. Grantees must take US or Taiwan airlines to come and go between Taiwan and the U.S.
7. All Fulbright grantees have to report their status and income to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the U.S.

Notes:

For detailed information of the Fulbright Scholar Program and the Fulbright Student Program, U.S. citizens are advised to visit the website of Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) and the website of Institute of International Education (IIE) website separately. CIES/IIE answers questions about the Fulbright Program.