Participant Terms & Conditions

Transcription

1 I as participant in the Professional Fellows Program (PFP), agree to all of the terms and conditions, as set forth below: I. PARTICIPATION A. PFP is a professional experience. Participants are expected and required to take the entire PFP experience, including the pre-departure orientation, arrival orientation, fellowship position, and the Professional Fellows Congress seriously and to perform the duties required in a conscientious and professional manner. Participants are expected and required to work regular hours in keeping with those worked by others in the fellowship site. Participants are expected and required to attend and participate in all sessions at the Professional Fellows Congress at the end of the Program. B. Maintain positive relations with your hosts. American Councils is responsible for providing participants with adequate housing. Participants will be housed with host families and are expected to treat their hosts with thought and respect. If any problems or concerns arise during the home stay, participants should discuss them immediately with their host family and American Councils. Every effort should be made to resolve the problem as soon as possible. Please be mindful of the hospitality and goodwill that the host family shows by opening their home to participants. If a host family is not available, American Councils will provide alternative housing arrangements. C. Keep the lines of communication open and communicate with respect. Please inform American Councils of any problems, concerns, comments or successes that occur over the course of the program period. The earlier we are aware of a problem, the sooner we can work with you and the involved parties to solve the problem. Please keep in mind that you should always communicate in a professional manner with the staff of American Councils, and that we expect fellows to maintain the level and type of communication befitting a mid-career professional. Participants should inform American Councils of the highlights of their experiences, which are regularly shared with the U.S. Department of State. D. Complete program reports as requested. Participants are responsible for completing program-related online surveys. The reporting process will be fully explained upon arrival to the United States. Failure to submit a report will be considered a failure to participate in the program and will have consequences. E. Know the laws and obey them. 1

2 Participants must obey all U.S. laws including but not limited to J-1 visa regulations. In particular, under the terms of the grant and under the laws governing the J-1 visa required for participation in the PFP program participants must return to their home country immediately upon completion of the fellowship. F. Usage of recreational drugs and other controlled substances The possession, sale, or use of marijuana and other controlled substances is illegal under U.S. Federal law, and these activities are proactively discouraged. Even in jurisdictions where such activities are permitted by State or local law, violation of Federal laws regarding marijuana and other controlled substances can jeopardize your future eligibility for acquiring a visa to the United States. In addition, violation of Federal laws regarding marijuana and other controlled substances may result in cancellation of issued US visa, suspension of visa status, termination from a program, and/or removal from the United States. G. Obtaining a U.S. visa is required for participation. Participation in this program is conditional upon the participant's receipt of the necessary visa authorization (J-1) for entrance into the United States. American Councils staff will provide necessary instructions on completing the visa application. American Councils will reimburse participants for travel and accommodations (for participants who live outside of the capital) to acquire a U.S. visa. Booking of travel and hotels must be coordinated with the American Councils staff to be eligible for reimbursement. American Councils will not cover the cost of obtaining a passport or photographs to obtain a passport or visa. H. Working a job other than your fellowship is prohibited. Participation in the PFP program carries an obligation for holding a full-time fellowship in a U.S. state legislature, Congressional office, city council, business accelerators, incubators or other government or non-profit office. As J-1 visa holders, participants are not permitted to be otherwise engaged in any form of employment while in the United States. I. You are not allowed to travel independently without American Councils advance permission. Participation in fellowship assignments, seminars, excursions, meetings with mentors and local coordinators, participation in Internet-based communication with other fellows via the PFP program web site, and other program activities is mandatory. If participants wish to travel, they must receive approval from American Councils, their worksite and host family (if applicable). If travel is on a weekend, only permission from American Councils and the host family is required. Permission to travel must be requested from American Councils using the Travel Request Form, at least 4 days prior to departure date. Only work-related travel will be permitted during work days. Participants must receive approval from their fellowship supervisor (if travel is on a weekday) and final approval from American Councils. J. American Councils has the right to remove you from the program if your behavior is unacceptable. 2

3 American Councils reserves the right to withdraw a participant from the program if it decides that such action would be in the participant's best interest or in the best interests of the Program. American Councils will initiate withdrawal actions only for the following reasons: (1) gross nonperformance of professional responsibilities; (2) breakdown of physical or mental health that would seriously impair the fellow's participation; (3) evidence of dishonesty with regard to some material fact or withholding of obviously relevant information in dealings with American Councils whether before or after selection for participation; (4) violation of a U.S. law or (5) other action that might damage the reputation of American Councils, the U.S. Department of State, or the host organization, which includes speaking publically in a manner that is either unbefitting of the fellowship or could damage the reputation of American Councils, the Department of State, or the host organization. K. You are responsible for filing your own taxes. Each participant agrees and understands that she/he will be responsible for filing an income tax return for money received both from American Councils and from outside sources during their stay in the United States. Participants should be aware that U.S. tax law is subject to change, and policies affecting participants may vary depending on their home country and existing tax treaties. Participants should understand that if they earn more than $10,000 during a calendar year not including tuition and book allowances, the income is taxable and the participant may be required to pay taxes on the amount before leaving the United States. Each participant must understand that American Councils staff are neither qualified nor permitted by law to answer questions regarding taxation. Participants may obtain all pertinent information at an office of the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or at a public library. L. Family members are not allowed on the program. Family members, including but not limited to spouses, children or others will not be permitted to join participants on the program. Under no circumstances will family members be permitted to stay with US host families. M. Obligation not to engage in dangerous activities or to drive an automobile while in the United States. Don t engage in activities posing significant risk to life and health. Participants agree to avoid life-threatening activities including, but not limited to: parachuting, gliding, bicycling without a helmet, skateboarding or roller-blading without safety guards. Participants understand that the health, and accident insurance provided by American Councils does not cover injuries or death due to the aforementioned activities. Participants will receive a detailed description of the insurance policy to learn the full list of activities not covered by the insurance. Fellows may not drive automobiles while in the United States. Exceptions may be made for participants who can obtain appropriate insurance coverage, have a valid driver s license compliant with US Federal and State laws, complete the Driving Waiver Form, and have written approval from American Councils. American Councils can not be held liable for any death, injury or damage sustained while driving. Failure to obtain appropriate 3

4 insurance and authorization from American Councils can result in termination from the Program. N. Participation in follow-on program activities is mandatory. The two post-u.s. program components are as important to the PFP program as the U.S.- based work experiences. As such, all PFP participants are required to submit a competitive application for participation in the Outbound American portion of the program, as well as participate in general post-fellowship activities. See Section III for more details. II. REPORTING TO AMERICAN COUNCILS Each participant is required to inform American Councils immediately of: 1. Prior to departure to the U.S., any change in address and contact information. 2. Participants must inform American Councils about any of the following: a. Changes in address or telephone number in the U.S.; b. Accidents, serious illness, or hospitalization; c. Circumstances interfering with further program participation; d. Changes in marital status; and e. Arrests or violations of U.S. law. 3. Participants have to inform American Councils office in Washington, DC (work hours phone number: ; off-work hours and holidays phone number ) immediately about the following: a. Accidents, serious illness, or hospitalization b. If a participants becomes a victim or suspect in a crime. III. POST-INTERNSHIP PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM A. PFP Fellows must agree to the following statement: I agree to share my PFP fellowship experience, as well as my broader exposure to the U.S. political system economic empowerment concepts and social innovation, with my peers on my return to my home country. I agree to make presentations about my fellowship and explore with other fellows opportunities to communicate about my experience. This might include conducting conferences, discussion groups, and mock legislatures with members of my peer group, as well as representatives of the local and regional government. B. American Councils and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, which sponsors the PFP program, require that publications which are related to participation in the program carry an acknowledgment as follows: "Participation in this fellowship was supported by American Councils for International Education, with funds provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Neither of these organizations is responsible for the views expressed herein." In addition, PFP Fellows are required to send American Councils copies of any such publication that is a direct outgrowth of participation in the exchange. 4

5 C. Participants of the PFP program grant American Councils and the U.S. Department of State the right to use their names in promotional materials, press publications, and TV broadcasts connected to the program. Moreover, participants grant American Councils and the State Department the right to reproduce or use in any other way written or photographic materials provided to or collected by American Councils about the participants without additional permission. These materials may include letter fragments or quotations or pictures acquired during the program, outbound project, or other events administered by American Councils. IV. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS A. Travel: The participant will be provided with one ticket for round-trip international transportation from his or her home city to the United States. American Councils will pay for the round-trip ticket from the point of entry to the participant's city of placement and for travel to any other locations of required program activity. No stopovers will be allowed. NO CHANGES WILL BE MADE FOR PERSONAL TRAVEL. B. Pre-Departure Orientation & Visa Interviews: American Councils will arrange or reimburse for expenses associated with travel from the participant s home city to his/her capitol city or other designated location, as well as meals and accommodations, so that participants may participate in a pre-departure orientation and visa interviews. C. U.S. Orientation: Participants will participate in a short orientation program to be held in Washington, D.C., prior to embarking on the professional fellowship. D. Medical Insurance: Participants are required to obtain and submit a medical health certificate with doctor s signature, to be reviewed and approved by American Councils prior to departure to the United States. American Councils will not reimburse participants for the cost of completing the health form. Participants are covered for emergency medical treatment by the health benefit plan. Medical insurance does not include the cost of routine eye examinations, eyeglasses, contact lenses, or any dental work. If participants require dental treatment, they must pay for all the costs from their own funds. Be sure to complete treatment for the above ailments before departure for the United States. Health benefit plan does NOT cover pre-existing conditions, dental work or any cosmetic treatments. E. Reimbursement of funds to American Councils: If the participant has received airline tickets from American Councils and subsequently withdraws from the program before arriving in the United States, the tickets or their equivalent value in U.S. dollars must be returned to American Councils. If, after arrival in the U.S., the participant's program is shortened, she/he must return to American Councils money received for any purpose prorated for the period of non-participation, and settle all obligations to American Councils before departure from the United States. F. Excess Baggage: American Councils is unable to provide funds to pay for transporting extra baggage between the United States and the participant s home country or within the United States. Extra baggage fees are the sole responsibility of the participant. Please plan 5

6 accordingly. Please check the regulations of your airlines for luggage policies. Please note that domestic flights usually allow only one checked bag per person. G. Financials: Participants will receive a stipend for incidentals and weekday lunches while on-program. Participants will be provided accommodations and meals in homestays or an alternative living situation for the duration of their fellowships. Per diem may be provided during the pre-departure orientation, arrival orientation and Washington, D.C. workshop if meals are not being otherwise provided. H. Dependents and relatives of participants: The program does not support dependents or relatives of participants in any way. American Councils cannot assist them in making travel, visa, accommodation, or insurance arrangements. V. LIABILITY American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS and its officers and representatives assume no responsibility for any injury, accidental illness, loss of personal property, or other contingencies which may befall the participant during, or as a result of, her/his participation in the program. The Participant agrees and understands that there are inherent risks involved with traveling abroad which are beyond the control of American Councils. These include risks involved in traveling to and within, and returning from a foreign country; foreign political, legal, social, and economic conditions; different standards of design, safety and maintenance of buildings, public places and conveyances; local medical and weather conditions, and the possibility of emergency evacuation as a result of these various conditions. Therefore, the participant agrees to assume all such risks thereby releasing and forever discharging American Councils of and against any and all liability and responsibility for any claim or cause of action on account of any personal injury, accident, damage, expenses, or other loss caused, suffered, or incurred by or to myself, arising out of or in any way associated, directly or indirectly, with any living arrangements incident to my participation in the program. VI. FORCE MAJEURE The participant understands that fire, earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornado, explosion, accident, strike, act of God, war, or other catastrophic event over which either the participant or the program has no control, may cause either party to be delayed or prevented from fulfilling its obligations under this agreement. If such an event occurs, every attempt will be made to reschedule participation in the program. If rescheduling is not feasible, program participation will be terminated. VII. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION This agreement is in all respects governed by the law of the United States. Jurisdiction lies in a United States Federal Court located in the United States. 6

7 I have carefully read and I understand all of the provisions of the American Councils Terms and Conditions contract. If I am invited to travel to the United States as a participant in the Professional Fellows Program I will agree to all of the terms and conditions outlined above. Date: Name: Signature: 7