Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
Application Process
Funding
Fellowship Activities
Hosts
Travel Issues
When Traveling in the US
Q. I am a citizen of Tunisia (or another
developing country), but I am currently living in Japan (or another developed
country). Am I eligible to apply?
A. NO. Eligible applicants are BOTH citizens of AND currently residing in a
developing country. The locations of your citizenship and your current residence
may be different countries, but both must be "developing" based on the
list of
countries eligible for EWRI/ASCE discounted membership (which is based on
being eligible for borrowing from the World Bank). If you return to your home country or
move to another developing country, you can apply at that time. Also, you are
encouraged to submit an abstract and present at the conference if you have the
resources to attend.
Q. If I apply, will I receive a
fellowship?
A. Not necessarily. The VIF is a competitive program, and not all applicants
receive fellowships. We typically receive between 10 and 30 applications and
award 2 to 4 fellowships, depending on availability of funding.
Q. Must the application be sent via
email?
A. Yes
Q. Who fills out the application?
A. Both the applicant and the host can answer the questions on the application.
Q. Will late applications be accepted?
A. No. Applications will be accepted as late as the due date at 11:59 PM in the
country of origin.
Q. My abstract is already attached to the
application. Do I still need to submit it separately in the congress website?
A. Yes, and you are expected to submit a paper
approximately 3 months before the congress date.
Q. My abstract was accepted to the
congress, but I did not win a fellowship. Do I have to attend the congress?
A. You can attend the congress if you wish because your abstract was accepted.
If you plan not to attend, you must notify the congress organizers.
Back to top
Q. Does the fellowship provide enough
monetary funding for the whole trip?
A. No. The fellowship typically provides enough funding for the following: (1)
congress registration fee; (2) one-year membership in ASCE or EWRI; and (3)
hotel during the week of the congress. The registration fee and membership fee
are automatically withheld from the total cash amount given to the fellow at the
congress. Expenses typically NOT included are: air travel from foreign country
to the U.S.; travel from congress location to host location; and expenses while
visiting host.
Q. Will my host pay for expenses not
covered by the fellowship?
A. Not necessarily; it depends on the host. Most hosts provide at least partial
financial assistance.
Q. If the fellowship does not pay for the
entire trip, then who will pay for what is not covered by the fellowship?
A. Additional sources of funding could be the fellow’s employer and the fellow’s
host. Fellows may be able to apply for matching funds from another organization
(see Additional Funding page). Some fellows
personally fund the remainder of their trip.
Back to top
Q. As a fellow,
what am I required to do during the congress?
A. Two primary things: (1) participate in an international panel discussion and
talk about water resources and environmental issues in your country; and (2)
present a 20-minute talk (using PowerPoint) on the paper submitted to the
congress. Additional activities expected of the fellow: (1) attend a reception
where the fellow will be awarded with a plaque; (2) meet with other conference
attendees and establish new professional relationships; (3) write a report on
activities during the fellowship and send to the fellowship committee.
Q. What activities should I do with my
host during the cultural and technical exchange?
A. Usually the host will arrange for the fellow to give a talk to colleagues.
Most hosts arrange for tours of relevant water resources and environmental
projects. Some hosts and fellows work on existing projects and plan future
collaborative activities.
Back to top
Q. I do not know anybody in the U.S. or
Canada who can be my host. Can I still apply for the fellowship?
A. Before applying for the fellowship, you can first submit the
Application to Find a Host (pre-application) one month
before the full application is due. If a host is found for you and willing to
serve, then you can apply by having your host email the application on your
behalf.
Q. If I submit an
Application to Find a Host, will a host
be found for me?
A. Not necessarily. We will make an attempt to locate a host who meets the
applicant’s interests, but a host may not be found.
Q. I already know someone in the U.S. or
Canada with whom I’ve worked or studied before. Can that person be my host?
A. Yes, as long as he or she is an ASCE or EWRI member located in the U.S. or
Canada and is willing to serve as a host.
Q. I vaguely know someone who qualifies
as a host. Can I ask that person to be my host?
A. Yes, and that person must be willing to serve as your host and submit the
application on your behalf.
Back to top
Q. How and when do I apply for a visa to
enter the U.S. to attend the congress?
A. The fellow must look up information on the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy
in his or her country and find out how and when to apply. The Visiting
International Fellowship committee will mail a letter to the selected fellow
around October.
Back to top
Q. How many pieces of luggage can I check
in my domestic flights within the U.S.?
A. When traveling by airplane within the U.S. (for example, when going from the
congress to your cultural and technical exchange or when taking a domestic
flight between the city of entry and the city of the congress), the airlines
allow only two pieces of luggage to be checked, not to exceed 50 pounds (23
kilograms) each. Combining the two pieces into one piece exceeding 50 pounds but
still below 100 pounds is not equivalent. If you do not comply with that, you may
be asked to pay a surcharge of approximately $100.
Q. How many pieces of luggage can I take
onboard with me in my domestic flights within the U.S.?
A. You can take one piece of carry-on luggage (not to exceed dimensions of 11
inches x 14 inches x 26 inches, or a total of 51 inches [130 cm]) plus one
personal item (a purse, a briefcase, or a laptop case). These pieces must fit
in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.
Q. How can I make phone calls to contact
my family in my country?
A. Do not make direct calls from the hotel telephone because those calls
will be extremely expensive. If you have a cell phone with international call
capability, you may use it. One inexpensive option may be to purchase a phone
card at a drugstore and use it from your hotel phone by dialing the 1-800 number
on the phone card and the printed PIN number.
Back to top
