Promoting Mutual Understanding through Exchanges

Once the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) approves your candidacy, CIES will send you a selection letter on behalf of the FSB. Then, USEFP will follow up with communication regarding the next steps in the award process which will include: complete passport information, biographic information sheet, updated project description of what you are planning to do in Pakistan, and confirming grant dates. Once this information is provided, USEFP applies on behalf of the scholar.

It can take from 3 to 6 months to receive the NOC. The NOC is granted at the discretion of the Government of Pakistan.

No. Visa fees are the responsibility of the scholar.

Many grantees decide to visit India following the completion of, or during their Fulbright grants. For grantees intending to travel to India, it is strongly recommended that you get an Indian Visa in the U.S. It is considerably more difficult and time-consuming to obtain one in Islamabad. More information is online at https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage.

The Fulbright Guest House is a spacious five bedrooms house. Two on the ground floor and three on the first floor. Each scholar is assigned a bedroom with an attached bathroom. It has a kitchen, lounge and dining room. The ground level floor is designated as the communal area apart from the bedrooms from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm. Each scholar will have his/her own room.

The Fulbright Guest House is equipped with a wireless connection

The Fulbright Guest House is equipped with basic amenities. It is furnished simply but comfortably. Bed linens, towels, dishes and other items required for daily living are provided. Grantees should feel free, however, to purchase or bring any additional items that they deem appropriate. Each room is equipped with reversible (heat and cooling) air conditioners. Each floor has a television, cable, wireless internet connection, and printer. The Fulbright Guest House does have a generator that ensures that all lights and electrical appliances will work during the daily scheduled power outages. (Please note: while this is a clean and well maintained residence, it is not a luxury accommodation. Grantees should not expect to live at the same standard as their own homes.)

The Fulbright Guest House employs a cook who will provide breakfast and dinner daily. If you plan to reside at the Fulbright Guest House for the duration of your grant, please note that $300 dollars per month will automatically be deducted from your grant. Lunch is the responsibility of the grantee.

Each grantee receives a monthly maintenance allowance in Pakistan. The grantee residing at the Fulbright Guest House for the duration of his/her grant, USEFP will automatically deduct $600.

Yes, local guests residing in Pakistan are welcome to visit you at the Fulbright Guest House; however they will not be allowed to stay the night.

No. Unfortunately at this time, no spouses or other dependents (children) are allowed to come to Pakistan as your dependent J-2s or as visitors during your Fulbright US Scholar Program in Pakistan.

If you are in Islamabad, a shared car and driver are provided by USEFP. Transport will need to be coordinated in advance through the USEFP office.(Please note that although USEFP will work to ensure that grantees have transport to all official appointments and engagements, we cannot guarantee the availability of the car at all times, given there may be two or more grantees in country at the same time.)

The Fulbright Guest House is equipped with a wireless connection

If the grantee is not in Islamabad then the host is expected to arrange the housing and transportation of the scholar. At this point, due to security concerns in the country, grantees are only allowed to go to Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.

No. For security reasons, we do not permit grantees to drive.

You will be able to teach but not in a regular class that meets on a set schedule on a university campus. It is possible to plan a regular class to be held at USEFP. Please make sure that you keep your program officer up to date with your plans.

You are strongly advised against visiting churches, mosques, or shrines other than those located in the secure diplomatic enclave.

The grantee is required to stay at approved accommodations or at the Fulbright Guest House in Islamabad as it is laid out in the Pakistan Fulbright Addendum to the Terms and Conditions for US Scholars which all U.S. Scholars must sign and agree to before their grant is written.

Yes. It is mandatory for all U.S. citizens on a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant to Pakistan to abide by the Fulbright U.S. Scholar terms and conditions as well as Pakistan Fulbright U.S. Scholar addendum to the terms and conditions.