Opportunity Initiative 2008 - 2009
The US Department of State is pleased to announce the Opportunity Initiative, designed to support the application process to US higher education institutions for students who are highly qualified but are unable to cover the expense of applying. The Initiative provides funds to cover the costs faced by talented but financially disadvantaged international students who are not eligible for or funded by other US Government-sponsored exchange programs. Students must apply to accredited institutions independently (at the graduate or undergraduate level) and are responsible for the entire process.
The Opportunity Initiative may cover expenses including: testing fees, transportation and overnight accommodation and meals at testing sites located far from the student's home, application fees for US institutions, international courier fees to send applications to theUS, costs for translations and certifications of the student's official documents and records, costs relating to applying for appropriate U.S. exchange visitor visas, transportation and overnight accommodation and meals for the purposes of a visa interview in cases where the consulate is located far from a student's home, transportation to the U.S. to the institution where the student will study, and/or a one-time settling-in allowance to help international students cover the initial costs of living in the U.S.
Funding for selected grantees is at the discretion of the US Embassy in Kyiv and may be discontinued at any time if the student does not meet his/her responsibilities (for example, meeting test and application deadlines). The Opportunity Initiative offers no guarantee of acceptance or financial aid awards at US institutions.
Each individual student is eligible for no more that $3,000 total, which may cover allowed expenses, if the need is proven. However, some specific items such as application fee payments; test fee payments; settle-in and travel allowance also have maximum allowable
amounts (contact advisers for further information)
PROCESS and TIMELINE
Application Process
Applicants may complete Self-Nomination forms at any time. They must be sumbmitted electronically and in hard copies to Osvita Educational Advising Center.
In order to prove financial need, an applicant shall submit the Financial Need Form to an advisor. If applicant is financially dependent on his/her parents, he/she should provide information from parents' work places regarding monthly income. If applicant is employed, he/she should provide the same information. All information is confidential, and will be reviewed by the adviser and the Selection Committee at the U.S. Embassy to determine applicant's
financial need and eligibility.
Invoices (if the payment was not made yet) and receipts (when reimbursement is requested) should be attached to the Self-Nomination Form, along with an overall budget request. These documents should be provided to the adviser in both hard copy and electronically.
In order to facilitate handling, applicants will be asked to complete a Disbursement Authorization Form, providing personal and bank information. This shall be submitted to the adviser electronically only. All other forms will be completed as appropriate.
Applicants should keep in mind that they may be asked to provide additional information, and should maintain contact with their adviser. Letters of reference are not required, but may be helpful if available. In addition, (draft) Application Forms for admission to US universities are a good source for information about the applicant, and may help the adviser in the nomination process.
Nomination
The adviser will collect all required materials from applicant, add an endorsement, and forward the packet to U.S. Embassy Kyiv. Complete nominations will be sent weekly by EducationUSA centers to a committee of experts for evaluation on a rolling basis.
The Selection Committee includes staff from the US Embassy's Public Affairs Section. Experts will be selecting according to the following criteria: proven financial need; demonstrated motivation to study in the US; academic achievement; extracurricular activities and achievements; leadership qualities. No priorities are given based on racial, ethnic or geographical criteria, or field of study.
Experts will evaluate each nomination using a standard form. Nominations will be rated based on above criteria, additional information may be requested.
Final selection is made by the Regional Educational Advising Coordinator in Moscow. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv will be notified regarding final selection of candidates on a rolling basis, but the
selection process should not take longer than two weeks.
Letters informing applicants of their status will be provided to educational advisers by the U.S. Embassy. Nominees not selected for funding will receive letters notifying them of their status.
Funds Transfer
Funds are transferred from the U.S. Department of State to the Institute of International Education and then to the Fulbright Office.
Finalists will be required to confirm personal bank details in order to receive the funding directly. The Fulbright Office will transfer funds via EFT to grantees.
Reporting
If applicant is provided financial support, but has not provided anything more than invoices at the moment of grant disbursement, he/she is responsible for obtaining and providing confirmations of payments as allowed by grant conditions. Confirmation may be in the form of bank transfer; receipts; letters of confirmation from US universities; etc. These should be provided to the same adviser/Advising Center from which nomination originated. Student who
receive a grant but do not provide evidence of proper utilization of money will not be considered for further Opportunity Initiative participation.
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