What happens after I receive the letter from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board notifying me of my selection as a Fulbright grantee?

The Commission will send you a congratulation letter containing instructions on how to proceed with the documents enclosed therewith: Terms and Conditions and Grant Authorization. You have to sign and send a copy of those documents to the Department of State, the Institute of International Education and the Fulbright Commission. Your selection is contingent upon Medical Clearance and upon your providing to the Institute of International Education (IIE) an official copy of your final transcript indicating that you have been awarded a bachelor's degree.

How do I get medical clearance?

IIE will provide you with a Medical Certificate that must be completed by your physician and submitted to IIE. Refer to IIE for more instructions

Are there any restrictions regarding when I can begin my project?

We encourage students to come in early March, since the Uruguayan academic year runs from March to November. We dissuade students from arriving in December, January or February for during these months all private and public universities, as well as most public and private institutions, are closed.

Do I need to make arrangements for an extended visa or “research clearance” before my departure? 

No. American citizens do not require a VISA or Special documentation to enter Uruguay. When you arrive in the country, you will be cleared automatically for a stay of 90 days. At the end of each 90-day period in Uruguay, you will need simply to request an extension (which carries of fee of between $15 and $20) from the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones. The Fulbright Commission will provide you with the address, phone number, and hours of operation for the Direccion Nacional de Migraciones when you arrive. If you travel to one of the neighbouring countries, you will be cleared automatically upon re-entering Uruguay.

How and when will my travel arrangements to Uruguay be made?

Before the Commission makes any travel arrangement, you should have received Medical Clearance. Once you have obtained medical clearance and your plans are definite, you need only to inform the Commission of the date on which you would like to arrive in Uruguay. The Fulbright Commission will book all of your flights to and from Uruguay with a private travel agency, and payment will be made directly by the Commission on your behalf. You will then receive confirmation of your travel request, and your ticket will arrive to your U.S. address within a week or so.

What sort of preparations should I make for the Uruguayan climate?

If you plan to be in Uruguay between the months of December and February, be sure to pack light-weight clothing, as summertime temperatures often climb well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and most buildings and busses are not air conditioned. On the other hand, you should also make preparations to avoid being caught off guard by the cooler temperatures of fall and winter! Although snow and frost are extremely uncommon in Uruguay, cooling ocean currents and persistent sea breezes can necessitate long sleeves or a jacket even in summertime evenings; and if you plan to be here during the coldest months of June, July, and August, sweaters, scarves, and a heavier coat will be indispensable!

Will I need to bring or purchase voltage converters for all my appliances?

Yes. All Uruguayan outlets run on a 220 Volt current, so your U.S. appliances will not function without voltage converters. These types of converters are widely available for purchase in Uruguay, but converters purchased in the U.S. are likely to be less expensive and more compatible with your appliances. This is especially the case with converters for such electronic devices as CD players and computer equipment. You need NOT worry about obtaining simple plug adapters before you leave; these are inexpensive and available at any hardware store.

What sort of arrangements will be made for my first few nights in Montevideo?

The Fulbright Commission will reserve a room for you at a mid-price apart hotel. Your hotel’s name, address, and contact numbers will reach you in the U.S. by email well before your departure. Apart Hotel costs will be covered by your relocation allowance (see the “Finances” section for more information).

Will I need to arrange for my own transportation from the airport to my hotel?

No. The Fulbright Commission will send a driver to meet you at the international airport in Carrasco and convey you to the apart hotel. The ride takes approximately 20 minutes.

When can I make my first visit to the Commission?

What kinds of housing do Fulbright Fellows usually find in Uruguay?

U.S. Fulbright Fellows to Uruguay customarily rent one-bedroom or studio apartments; dormitory housing and “host family stays” are not part of the program.

And how will I go about finding an apartment?

Before arrival, the Fulbright Commission will ask you about your housing requirements and ask one or more real estate agents to start the search for apartments that meet those requirements. When you arrive in Uruguay, the Fulbright Commission will place you in contact with the real estate agent to look for the apartments best suited to your preferences and needs. If you do not like any of those, we will help you start a new search. You will also receive more information on the rental process, apartment upkeep/administration, and other housing-related issues. The Commission staff will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns at any point in your apartment search and will definitely read your leasing contract to make sure that your rights as a tenant are preserved.

Landlords usually ask tenants for a one to three-month deposit as an insurance against possible breakage, etc. If at that time the Commission has funds as its disposal, we will be willing to advance that amount and deduct it accordingly from your future monthly payments.

 Note: Many U.S. students have noted the advantages of arriving in Montevideo on a Monday or Tuesday, so as to devote the maximum amount of time possible to the apartment search before the arrival of the weekend (when real estate agents are generally less accessible).

What are my grant benefits?

Your grant benefits include:

• Monthly stipend
• Relocation Allowance
• Book Allowance
• Travel-within-Uruguay Allowance
• International travel
• Health Insurance

ACTUAL FIGURES ARE DESCRIBED IN YOUR GRANT DOCUMENTS

If you have accompanying dependants, you are entitled to an extra monthly allowance of $ 100.-

How and when will I receive my stipend money?

On your first visit to the Commission, you will receive your first monthly check as well as the grant benefits’ payment schedule, establishing the dates when you will receive the subsequent checks and their respective amounts. As a grantee you can either choose to cash your checks or ask the Commission to open a bank account for you. In the latter event, the bank will provide you with an ATM card which you can use to withdraw the stipend that the Commission will deposit on a monthly basis.

What is this “Relocation Allowance?”

The Relocation Allowance is a one-time cash payment which will be included in your first stipend check. This money is intended to cover expenses incurred during your first few days/weeks in Uruguay, including: hotel lodgings, real estate commissions, initial acquisitions for your household, etc.

What is this “Book Allowance”?

The Book Allowance is a one-time cash payment which will be included in your first stipend check. This money is intended to cover the purchase of books and educational materials related to your grant project.

What is this “Travel-within-Uruguay Allowance”?

This allowance may be used for travelling-within-Uruguay in connection with your grant project. You should keep all the invoices and receipts and the Commission will reimburse you up to $100.

Is my Fulbright Scholarship subject to U.S. income taxes?

Fulbright Grants are subject to U.S. income taxes, and if your project in Uruguay is not directly related to an official university degree program in which you are already enrolled, the entirety of your stipend moneys will most likely be taxable. It is your responsibility to ascertain any and all tax responsibilities arising from your grant, and the Fulbright Commission will not be in a position to assist you. Neither will you receive 1099’s from any branch of the Fulbright Program administration. You should, therefore, maintain accurate records of funds received and how they are expended.

For more information on tax issues related to your Fulbright Grant, please refer to IIE’s “U.S. Fulbright Fellow Orientation Handbook.” You might also find it helpful to consult IRS publication 520, “Scholarships and Fellowships” to ascertain your specific responsibilities.

Does the Fulbright Program provide me with medical insurance while I am in Uruguay?

Yes!  As a U.S. Fulbright Fellow, you are covered for the entirety of your stay under the United States Departmet of State’s Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE).  This medical insurance policy is provided to you at no cost, and covers your basic medical expenses (including routine doctor visits and prescription drugs) up to a maximum of $50,000 per injury or sickness, with a per-case deductible of $25. When you arrive, you will receive an ASPE identification card, claim forms, and a full description of program benefits.  You are responsible for securing additional/supplemental insurance policies, based on the limitations and restrictions of coverage under the ASPE. 

Where will I receive medical attention?

The Fulbright Commission recommends that you seek any needed medical treatment at Montevideo’s private Hospital Britanico, which is the health care provider for the U.S. Embassy.  When you arrive in Uruguay, you will receive contact information for the Hospital’s many English-speaking doctors.

How and with what frequency should I keep in contact with Fulbright program administration during my project?

You are required to submit a Mid-term and a Final report which can be completed on-line.

If you would like to begin exploring certain aspects of Uruguayan life or society before you depart, the following online resources might give you a good start.  Please let us know if you find good additions to this list.

• The U.S. Library of Congress server contains one of the best English-language overviews of Uruguayan history, politics, economics, culture (etc.). Entitled “Uruguay-A Country Study,” it can be found at: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/uytoc.html
   

Spanish-language electronic resources on Uruguay are, of course, far more abundant. Some of the most informative of these sources are listed and described briefly below:

• www.uruguay.org.uy: This is a search engine to look for any Uruguayan web site.
   

• www.rau.edu.uy/uruguay:  This summary of Uruguayan topics is part of the “Red Academica del Uruguay,” which is administered by the Universidad de la Republica. This page contains summaries of Uruguayan geography, history, climate, and more, as detailed by some of the best-known Uruguayan scholars in each field.
   

• www.eltimon.com One of the best exclusively Uruguayan internet search engines, with categories for national and local news, business, nightlife, tourism, political humor, computing resources, etc
   

 

• www.diarioelpais.com: "El Pais Online," the electronic version of one of the largest Uruguayan daily newspapers, with reportage on politics, economics, society, culture, etc.

• www.observa.com.uy:The electronic version of a Uruguayan daily newspaper, with reportage on politics, economics, society, culture, etc.