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Visas
Host organizations sponsor trainees
on B-1 business visas, which do
not allow for the receipt of an
honorarium or salary. In order
to apply for a visa, the trainee
needs a letter of invitation issued
by the U.S. host institution,
a valid international passport
with at least one blank page,
two passport-size photographs,
and a completed visa application
and fee. Letters of invitation
are first sent to the designated
SABIT Program Officer. The trainee
can either pick up the invitation
from the Eurasian-based SABIT
representative or have it sent
by fax after he/she has been interviewed
and accepted into the program.
Under the terms of a SABIT award,
the host organization is required
to reimburse the trainee upon
his/her arrival to the United
States for the visa fee. Please
note, however, that SABIT cannot
reimburse host institutions for
this expense. In addition, the
issuance of visas is a Department
of State, not a Department of
Commerce, function. Therefore,
the Commerce Department and SABIT
must accept the State Department's
decision on denied visas as final.
Airline Tickets
The host organization is responsible
for the initial expenditure of
funds for a trainee's international
airline ticket. Airline reservations
and ticket purchases can be arranged
through the SABIT Program Officer
in Washington. However, if flight
arrangements are made by the host
organization, they must be cleared
through SABIT and adhere to the
Fly America Act, which requires
the use of American airline carriers.
Host organizations are asked not
to purchase tickets prior to the
issuance of visas.
Housing
The host institution is responsible
for arranging and paying for the
trainee's housing. SABIT will
reimburse host institutions for
this expense at the end of the
training. Housing (utilities expenses
are non-reimbursable) will be
reimbursed up to $750 per month.
Trainees may be housed in apartments
or hotel suites, or with a local
family. Regardless of where the
trainees are housed, the local
market rate will be determined
by market survey to establish
a rate of reimbursement. If a
firm is hosting more than one
SABIT trainee, then arrangements
may be made for them to share
an apartment. In all cases, however,
each trainee must be provided
with a private bedroom. If a shared
living space arrangement must
be made, then all trainees must
be informed about the accommodations
prior to arrival.
Health Insurance
The host firm must arrange to
provide the trainee with appropriate
health insurance coverage. The
policy must include an accident
and comprehensive medical insurance
program, as well as coverage for
emergency medical evacuation,
accidental death, and repatriation.
SABIT does not specify the necessary
amounts of coverage for each item.
Prior to each trainee's arrival,
host firms must fill out, sign,
and send to the designated SABIT
Program Officer the "Trainee
Insurance Form." This form,
along with a list of insurance
carriers specializing in short-term
coverage for international visitors,
is provided to selected host firms
as part of the original award
documentation.
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