Finally, El-Yurt has announced the
scholarship winners for the first contest of 2024. I congratulate all the winners! For those who didn’t win, don’t give up; you can apply for the scholarship again as many times as you like.
I have been receiving many requests about the next steps after winning the scholarship, so here is a simple guide for you:
1.
Travel Passport: You will need an international travel passport to leave the country. If you don’t have one, apply for it; processing takes about 7 to 21 days.
2.
Documents from Organizations: You need two documents from two different organizations (such as an agency, ministry, university, or school):
- The first document guarantees your financial backing. It states that if you need to cancel your contract with El-Yurt for any reason, the parties who provided your financial support will reimburse the government for all expenses incurred on your behalf.
- The second document is a contract for future employment. After graduation, you must work for the country (the duration varies by program: 5 years for bachelor's, 3 years for master's, and 3 years for PhD). You will need a contract with an organization that guarantees employment after graduation. Don’t worry; you can change employers later, meaning you are not obligated to work for the organization that signed your initial contract.
3.
Document Copies: Bring copies of the documents you submitted on the El-Yurt application page during the first stage:
- Application for participation (ariza)
- Passport copy
- Acceptance letters from universities
- Motivational essay you wrote for El-Yurt
- High school diploma
- Reference letter (объективка)
After completing all the above tasks, you will receive two support letters from El-Yurt:
- One for your university, stating that all your expenses (tuition, housing, textbooks, and living costs) will be covered by the government of Uzbekistan. This will help you obtain your I-20 and other necessary documents for your visa.
- The second letter will be for the embassy. While winning the El-Yurt scholarship does not guarantee you a student visa, it makes the process smoother. Your answers to questions such as “Who will cover your expenses?” and “Who will hire you after graduation?” will clearly indicate the government.
4.
Requesting Your I-20: You must send the support letter for your university to the institution, informing them of your scholarship and requesting your I-20. Regardless of being an EYUF scholar, they might ask you to pay an enrollment fee (this varies by institution). Personally, I paid a $450 enrollment fee at UofA and later received a refund from El-Yurt. Some universities may waive this fee for sponsored students.
5.
Visa Process: Once you receive your I-20, you can begin your visa process. As indicated on your I-20, you will need to pay the SEVIS fee ($350) and bring the receipt to the embassy along with other documents.
6.
SEVIS Confirmation: After payment, you will receive a confirmation with your SEVIS ID. I advise you to keep this confirmation letter. While I’m not sure how it works in other countries, for a U.S. visa, you will need to renew it every year, and you’ll require that number each time you apply for a visa renewal.
7.
Completing the DS-160 Form: This form is for the United States; I am not familiar with processes in other countries.
Reminder: The U.S. visa renewal process changed last year. I’m not sure if this affects first-time applicants, so it’s best to do some research before applying.
8.
Quadrilateral Agreement: The last and most important document is the quadrilateral agreement (to’rt tomonlama shartnoma), which includes you, the foundation (EYUF), your two guarantors (who guarantee your job and finances).
©️ the post was inspired by
Jahonabegim Madrahimova.@withmohinur
