Preparing for CASA

This section of the website contains important information for fellows who are preparing for the CASA program.

Admissions Forms and Documents
Upon acceptance to the CASA program, recently selected fellows must submit the Admissions Packet containing various forms and supporting documents. The Admissions packet is updated in March each year. Part I of the Admissions Packet is due March 19, 2010. Part II is due April 23, 2010.

Egypt

Permanent Residents & International Students: Apply for an Egyptian Visa immediately. For some citizens of some countries, i.e. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the visa procedure is very arduous and time-consuming. Permanent residents must have a valid Egyptian visa before departure.

Visa: You need a valid passport in order to apply for a visa. You must contact the Egyptian Consulate nearest to you to obtain your visa. Check the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet to locate the Egyptian Consulate you should apply to. Their website contains information you will need about obtaining a passport and visa. They also have travel information for travelers, and advice for students. If you are currently living or studying overseas, please contact the Egyptian Embassy in your country to learn how to obtain a visa.

Some additional suggestions for completing the visa application: type or print using black ink. Use TOURISM as the reason for visiting Egypt, and the Center for Arabic Study Abroad, American University in Cairo as the reference in Egypt. No visa will be for the entire length of your stay in Cairo; please apply for multiple entry visas. If you are a full-year fellow, the CASA office in Cairo will assist you in obtaining “iqaama” or residency once you are in Egypt. The dates of your stay will be as follows:

Full Year Fellows:
June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011

Send the completed visa application, together with the requirements listed on the application to the Egyptian Consulate nearest you. Please use certified or express mail. In the past, visas for American citizens have usually been processed within one to two weeks. We anticipate no difficulty in your securing the required visa, but CASA cannot be responsible for any denial of a request for a visa by the Egyptian Consulate or for any delays in processing.

Damascus

Visa: You need a valid passport in order to apply for a visa. You must contact the Syrian Consulate to obtain your visa. Please visit the Syrian Embassy's website for more information. It contains information you will need about obtaining a passport and visa. It also has travel information for travelers, and advice for students. If you are currently living or studying overseas, please contact the Syrian Embassy in your country to learn how to obtain a visa.

Some additional suggestions for completing the visa application: type or print using black ink. Use “Study of Arabic” as the reason for visiting Syria, and the Center for Arabic Study Abroad, Arabic Language Institute, University of Damascus as the reference in Syria. No visa will be for the entire length of your stay in Syria.  Please apply for multiple entry visas. The dates of your stay will be as follows:

Full Year Fellows:
June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011

Send the completed visa application along with a return envelope, together with the requirements listed on the application to the Syrian Consulate. CASA will also send a letter to the consulate with your names in order to expedite the process.  We will email you a scanned copy of this letter.  Please include it with your application. Please use certified or express mail. In the past, visas for American citizens have usually been processed within one to two weeks. We anticipate no difficulty in your securing the required visa, but CASA cannot be responsible for any denial of a request for a visa by the Syrian Consulate or for any delays in processing.

Medical Insurance

CASA fellows are required to have comprehensive medical insurance that provides coverage in the U.S. AND abroad for their entire fellowship period. The minimum policy requirements are as follows: $250,000 medical care $100,000 medical evacuation $50,000 repatriation of remains.

• Option A (existing coverage, U.S. and abroad) –
  If you already have existing coverage in the U.S. and abroad that meets or exceeds these requirements, you will need to submit proof of insurance coverage by May 1. Documentation must provide name of insurance provider, policy number, effective dates of coverage and specific details regarding the benefits as outlined above.
  
  
• Option B (CASA policy, U.S. and abroad) –
  If you do NOT have the required coverage for the U.S. and abroad, then you may purchase coverage through a special policy recently finalized for CASA fellows. It exceeds the minimum requirements outlined above and the cost of the CASA policy is as follows:
  
  CASA policy premium:
  Full Year: $432.00
  Partial year coverage, prorated for CASA I summer only fellows, CASA II fellows, CASA III fellows, etc: $36 per month
  
  
• Option C (AUC policy, abroad only; proof of U.S. coverage also required) –
  If you already have coverage in the U.S. but need to purchase coverage for abroad, then you may purchase the approved AUC policy. It exceeds the minimum policy requirements for abroad, but it does not provide coverage in the U.S. This policy alone is not sufficient; you will also have to submit proof of additional coverage for the U.S. Documentation must provide name of insurance provider, policy number, effective dates of coverage and specific details regarding the benefits as outlined above The cost of the AUC policy is as follows:
  
  AUC policy premium: (only coverage abroad, not in the U.S.)
  Full Year (includes summer): $276.00
  Summer Session Only (2 months): $46.00
  
• Partial year coverage, prorated for CASA I summer only fellows, CASA II fellows, CASA III fellows: $23 per month

If you want to purchase either the CASA policy or the AUC policy, you must include a separate check payable to “CASA/UT Austin” for the appropriate premium amount, along with the other admissions packet materials due April 23rd.

In addition to the above comprehensive insurance policies, CASA fellows are required to subscribe to the AUC basic group health care plan. It is intended for minor medical concerns and provides a maximum of 12,000 LE at Al-Salam Hospital. The cost for this plan will be paid from your CASA Program Fee, so you will automatically be enrolled upon arrival in Cairo. AUC has a clinic on campus and also works with Al-Salam Hospital, pharmacy, and out-patient clinic. For more information, see: AUC insurance.

** Please note these rates are only guaranteed to the 2010-2011 year and for students signing up for insurance to start before August 2010.