U.S. Embassy in Lebanon: Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2019

Deadline: 3 December 2018

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon is currently seeking applications for its Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2019 – 2020 which is the U.S. Government’s flagship international educational exchange program.

The mission of the Fulbright Scholar Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. It aims to provide educational exchange experiences to a maximum number of individuals not previously afforded such an opportunity. The experience should be of intrinsic value to the scholar, the recipient’s home institution, its faculty and its students, as well as to the U.S. host institution. Fulbright Scholars serve as cultural ambassadors and should be prepared to speak about their countries, cultures and research to academic and community groups.

Lebanese scholars may seek affiliations with U.S. institutions of higher learning for a period between 3 to 10 months. The 2019-2020 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program will start at the beginning of the 2019 academic year, in August or September 2019, depending on the institution.

Eligibility Criteria

Lebanese Passport Holder or Long-Term Palestinian Residents. Those selected for a Fulbright must submit a copy of their passport data page. United States citizens or Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs or green card holders) are not eligible. Dual U.S. citizens are also ineligible. Fulbright Scholars enter the United States on an Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa as a participant in a U.S. Department of State program and are subject to the two-year home-country residency requirement associated with the J-1 visa. The two-year rule restricts Fulbright grantees from obtaining an immigrant visa, a temporary worker (H), intracompany transferee (L), or fiancé (K) visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Grantees subject to two year-rule can still apply for the tourist (B) visa.
- NOTE: Scholars and their dependents who have held J visas with sponsorship of more than six months are not eligible to reenter as J-1 researchers or lecturers for 12 months following the program sponsorship end date. In addition, scholars who have previously held a J visa in the professor or research scholar category are not eligible for sponsorship again in those two categories for a period of 24 months following the program sponsorship end date.
Doctoral degree or equivalent professional training or experience and teaching at an accredited Lebanese institution of higher education at the time of application.
Proficiency in English appropriate to the proposed teaching and/or research project to be carried out in the United States. Applicants may be required to take an English proficiency examination.
Those selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be finalized.
In addition, applicant should note the following conditions affecting review and selection of candidates:
- Applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, sex, age, and/or physical impairment.
- Preference is given to those without recent experience in the United States.
- Applicants should be representative and responsible citizens who can contribute to a full and fair picture of the culture of their own countries and thereby contribute to understanding between the people of the United States and their country. They should also demonstrate the cross-cultural sensitivity and flexibility needed to adjust successfully to life in the United States.