The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Annual Report 2011 Page 217
knowledge verified by the Graduate Record Exam (“GRE”). Evidence for both is verified further by
personal interviews conducted by U.S. scientists. VEF Fellows are expected to meet the admission
criteria of the School for all required tests.
3.3. English Proficiency Support (for VEF Fellows). VEF pays for all expenses related to pre-academic
English language training if required by the School. VEF pays only for such training at the School
and only during the summer prior to full-time enrollment in the graduate program.
3.4. Pre-Departure Orientation, Physical Examination, and Visa (for VEF Fellows and VEF Visiting
Scholars). VEF pays for all expenses related to pre-departure orientation training and for a physical
exam in Vietnam, including required inoculations. As VEF is a U.S. government entity, the nonimmigrant
visa application fee as well as the SEVIS fee in Vietnam are waived for VEF Fellows and
VEF Visiting Scholars.
3.5. J-1 Visa (for VEF Fellows and VEF Visiting Scholars). All VEF Fellows and VEF Visiting
Scholars are sponsored on the VEF Exchange Visitor Program J-1 visas status and enter the U.S. on a
J-1 visa with a two-year home residency requirement because they are supported by U.S. government
funding. VEF works directly with the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam to ensure that VEF Fellows and VEF
Visiting Scholars can enter the U.S. in time for the start of their programs. VEF provides J
immigration advising and support for the duration of the VEF Fellow's participation in the VEF
program in the U.S. and for the duration of the program of the VEF Visiting Scholar and their
qualified dependents.
3.6. Air Ticket (for VEF Fellows and VEF Visiting Scholars). VEF pays for the air tickets for VEF
Fellows and VEF Visiting Scholars to travel from their home to the School and return home after
completion of the Program.
3.7. Settling-in Allowance (for VEF Fellows and VEF Visiting Scholars). VEF provides $500 as a
settling-in allowance to each VEF Fellow and VEF Visiting Scholar. This amount is given directly to
the VEF Fellows and VEF Visiting Scholars for personal incidental use to help settle-in at the School.
3.8. Fellowship Grant (for VEF Fellows)
During a VEF Fellowship of 5 years (for Ph.D. students), there are two consecutive one-year full
grant periods followed by three years and beyond of full financial support by the School. There are
two consecutive one-year full grant periods for VEF Fellows pursuing a master's degree, which
should be completed within two years.
3.8.1. VEF Full Grant Period (Years 1 and 2 only). For each VEF Fellow, whether pursuing a
master's degree or a doctorate, for each period of twelve (12) calendar months during the first
two years at the School, including the Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer terms, VEF provides
to the School a VEF Fellowship Grant (“Grant”) of $27,000 (twenty seven thousand U.S.
Dollars). This Grant amount is in lieu of all required School application fees and deposits;
School orientation fees; required tuition and fees for the academic year and summer session;
fees for required health insurance for the year (12 months); payments for required books and
educational equipment each term; and normal graduate stipends for 12 calendar months. If
the Fellow is enrolled only for one semester, either the fall or the winter/spring term in a
given year, then only one-half of the Grant, specifically $13,500, is paid to the School. All
withholding and reporting of Federal and State taxes on the Grant must be made by the
School as per the specific state tax regulations and federal guidelines of the Internal Revenue
Service.
3.8.2. School Supported Grant Period (Years 3, 4, and 5 and beyond). During Years 3, 4, and 5 and
beyond, until graduation, all financial support for the VEF Fellow in a doctoral program
comes from the School in the form of graduate assistantships and/or other resources of the
School, at the same financial level as is afforded other graduate students in the same program.
The financial support must be sufficient to cover all required tuition and fees for the academic
year and summer session; required health insurance for the year (12 months); required books
and educational equipment each term; and normal graduate stipends for 12 calendar months.