Information for International Fellows
Check out the NIH Visiting Fellow's Committee:
 NIHVFC website
The Division of International
Services (
http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/dirs/isb/aboutisb.htm) is your primary source for help with issues specific to
visiting foreign scientists at the NIH. Their mission statement and list of services are:
Mission Statement
The mission of the Division
of International Services (DIS) of the National Institutes of Health is to
provide the highest level of professional guidance and
immigration-related services to the NIH intramural research community,
and to the visiting foreign scientists. We are also here to ensure that
the NIH maintains compliance with all applicable U.S. immigration laws
governing and/or regulating their stay in the United States set forth
by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of
State, the U.S. Department of Labor, and other government agencies
pertaining to our foreign researchers, scholars, and staff.
Services Provided by
DIS
The staff of the Division of
International Services (DIS) provides services to foreign researchers
at the National Institutes of Health related to their particular visa
status within the United States. In accordance with U.S. immigration
laws and regulations, the staff members assist non-immigrants with the
following:
- initial entry into the U.S.
- travel/re-entry into the U.S.
- transfers to/from NIH
- extensions of stay
- changes of visa status
- reinstatement of visa status
- waiver applications
- Permanent Resident petitions for senior appointees
- Accompanying dependents' issues
Staff members of the DIS
also advise and assist foreign researchers on other specialized and
individual related to their specific non-immigrant visa status.
Foreign postdocs, clinical fellows, and visiting
scientists may
find the following links useful. Please
e-mail
us with any suggestions for
additions to this page.
 J1 waiver policy
explained.
Go to Fogarty
International Center
Intramural Research Sourcebook Visa
Information.
Addresses and links for embassies
in Washington, DC.
Information for fellows on J1 visas.
The Foundation for Advanced Education In the Sciences (FAES)
administers health insurance plans for foreign scientists and their
families (as well as for any NIH scientist who is not otherwise
covered). Offers courses on English as a Second Language (ESOL), on
writing scientific manuscripts, and, for English speakers, courses on
other foreign languages, such as Chinese, French, and German.
Contact: Lois Kochanski, phone: 496-7975;
fax: 402-0174.
The International Women's Group provides support,
information, and entertainment to the group's 160 members, who include
wives of foreign scientists and female foreign scientists.
Meetings: First Thursday of the month, 8
p.m. Coffee hour, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. - noon. Events held at
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, on Grosvenor Lane off Old Georgetown Road.
Resources: Publishes a monthly newsletter
and maintains a phone list to keep members in touch with each other.
Activities include an international cooking club, a baby-sitting co-op,
field trips to famous sites in the Washington area, and meetings to
learn about international customs such as the Japanese tea ceremony.
Provides individual assistance to members who are sick or in need of
other help.
Contacts: Mirelle Lapeyre, phone: 301
424-2539; Marie-Christine Fournier, phone: 301 493-6249.
NIH Indian Association (NIHIA), serves to provide the right forum for integrating the newcomer (to NIH) into life in the US of A, in NIH and to feel right at home in this atmosphere. To create a feeling of a 'home away from home' so to speak! We know one has a million queries and doubts on landing here and this is where we hope to fill in the gaps for you, in whatever capacities, by answering queries and familiarizing you with all the necessary information and routines.
The Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America
(ASIOA) promotes fellowship among scientists of Indian origin
living in North America, acts as a scientific and educational society,
establishes open channels of communication among all scientists, and
acts as a fraternal organisation and a charitable association.
Contact: for information about the
NIH/local chapter of ASIOA, contact Mohan Srinivasan, Bldg 37 Rm 2B10,
phone (301) 496-2202, email smohan@helix.nih.gov.
The Recreation And Welfare Association (R&W)
promotes and sponsor recreational, educational, and social and welfare
activities for NIH and NOAA employees. All NIH and NOAA employees can
become members for a fee of $5.
Resources: Provides ticket service for
entertainment and sports in the Washington area, frequently at a
discount. Offers low-cost tours to other parts of the United States and
nearby islands. Maintains lists of housing in the Bethesda area.
Provides free notary service and discount privileges at some local
stores.
Contact: Randy Schools, phone: 496-6061.
Interest Groups and Miscellaneous Resources
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