PRACTICAL
INFORMATION FOR VISITING SCHOLARS
Please be advised that the information herein is
general and that the Hebrew University is not liable
for the content or applicability of the information on this and related
websites. Individual visitors or scholars should verify their status and
requirements or rights with the appropriate offices or government agencies.
The Office of the Advisor to New and Visiting Faculty
will be happy to answer any specific questions visiting scholars may have.
Please contact:
E-mail: judyg@savion.cc.huji.ac.il,
Tel: 972-2-588-2924
Fax: 972-2-588-3021
For useful information, especially regarding subjects below, consult our Guide for New & Visiting
Faculty.
Visas
There are several
categories of entrance/residence visas to Israel:
·
A-2
(Student or Post-Doctoral Student). Valid for one academic year, and can be
extended for the period of a student's studies up to one additional
academic year. Granted at the request of the institution. This will
probably be the required visa for the period of your stay at our
institution.
·
A-4
(Accompanying family members of A2 and B1 visa holders), given only to
husband or wife , and children, of trainees, guests and visitors of our
institution.
·
B-1
(Authorization to work temporarily). Granted to persons possessing a signed
contract with an Israeli employer. In our University, this visa is
requested for guests and visitors who have been officially invited by the
Rector of the University, the Dean of one of the Faculties, or the head of
one of the research institutes. Valid up to 54 months.
·
B-2 (Tourist).
Granted to participants in short-term programs, such as conferences, Ulpan
(Hebrew school), academic meetings, etc. Valid up to one or three months,
and can be extended every three months up to a maximum stay of 27
consecutive months.
Please check whether you need a visa before departing
for Israel, and if necessary, allow enough time to apply for the
appropriate visa (at least two months). Work or student visas are usually
required for stays longer than three months. Applicants should obtain the
appropriate visa from the nearest Israeli consulate (see address below),
prior to arrival. Many European nationals can receive a 3-month tourist
entry visa at port of entry; however, this does not include a work permit.
Visiting or temporary faculty members or scientists
require a work permit (see below).
Recipients of fellowships require a type A2
(student) visa, with an option for multiple reentry, which should be
obtained at an Israeli consulate abroad, prior to departure for Israel.
Visa applications should be made to the nearest Israeli consulate. (See
Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa
- look for “About the Ministry” – Diplomatic Missions – Mission
Contact Information); or:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/ASPX_DIR/BalmasOnBoardEN.htm
).
Work Permits
Visitors employed by the university need to apply for a B1 (work) visa; this type of visa permits multiple
entries into the country and the possibility of maintaining a household in Israel
(including custom clearance for household shipment).
If you have any doubt regarding your status, please
verify with your contact person, or with our Advisor's Office (judyg@savion.cc.huji.ac.il).
Visiting faculty and fellowship holders need to arrange
overseas health insurance prior to arrival (in their country of origin), or
join a local insurance plan, upon arrival.
Dental insurance is not ordinarily included in
health plans and requires supplementary insurance.
Accident and Disability Insurance
Visiting Faculty and Post-doctoral fellows
(non-immigrants) are not ordinarily covered for accident and disability
insurance. It is strongly advised that they come with accident and
disability insurance prior to their departure to Israel. Visiting faculty
members, whose salary is paid directly by the Hebrew University, are
covered for work injury insurance. Immigrant faculty members will be
covered under the National Insurance once they begin employment in Israel.
Maternity Costs
Post-doctoral fellows or visiting (non-immigrant) faculty,
and their spouses are not insured for maternity benefits. Supplementary
coverage for yourself or your spouse is required, and you should ensure you
have adequate insurance for maternity hospitalization. Please note:
Pregnancy and delivery-related care and hospitalization, are not included
in any local health plan for visitors, and you are advised to arrange for
such coverage in your own country.
Social Security
Many European countries have bilateral social security
conventions with Israel. Scholars or visitors from these countries may be
eligible for benefits, or may continue to accrue rights, during their stay
in Israel under the terms of these agreements. However, each case is
considered on its own merits and dependent on the relevant agreement
provisions.
Taxation
Visiting scholars
from countries with whom Israel has bilateral treaties which prevent double
taxation, are exempt from income tax in Israel (for a period of up to two
years), but pay in their home country (usually at the end of their visit).
European countries that have concluded treaties with Israel to eliminate
double taxation, include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania,
Sweden, and the United Kingdom. You may want
to consult your local authorities before departure for Israel.
Where international
agreements do not apply, salaries may be subject to tax, depending on the
status of the employee: in general, regular track jobs are usually taxable;
post-doctoral fellowships are usually exempt. Immigrant faculty members are
usually entitled to special tax credits for up to the first three years of
settling in Israel.
Visiting faculty
members, whose salary is paid by the Hebrew University, will have
approximately 1% of their salary deducted for work injury insurance in Israel
(under the Israeli National Insurance). Health (and maternity) insurance,
however, is not covered, and visitors are advised to bring health insurance
coverage with them, or arrange for private health insurance upon arrival
(See below).
Customs
Visitors should acquaint themselves with the latest
customs regulations applicable regarding personal or household belongings
(and especially cars). It is advisable to declare video cameras, personal
computers and other electronic equipment upon arrival, and these may need
to be taken out of the country when you leave. (See www.mof.gov.il/customs and
(English site) http://www.mof.gov.il/customs/eng/mainpage.htm).
Certain visa categories may entitle you to exemptions or reductions in
customs on imported items.
Before arrival, you may want to consult your Israeli
university host, department, or advisor, or your own personal contacts.
For short-term visitors and post-doctoral fellows
invited by the Hebrew University, a limited number of university furnished
apartments are available for rent (at subsidized prices).
The faculty clubs maintain small hotels on campus where
short-term rooms are available for a fee:
a) Belgium House, Safra Givat Ram Campus, Jerusalem
(See: http://www.huji.ac.il/huji/eng/info_guest_belgium_e.htm).
b) Maiersdorf House, Mount Scopus Campus, Jerusalem
(See: http://www.huji.ac.il/huji/eng/info_guest_meir_e.htm).
c) Reisfeld Residence, Rehovot Campus: Agricultural,
Food and Environmental
Quality Faculty (See:
http://www.agri.huji.ac.il/hutz/reisfeld-eng.html).
Post-doctoral fellows may also apply for the small number
of furnished apartments available in the students' dormitories.
New faculty members may apply for a subsidized
university (unfurnished) apartment for a period of up to two years (on
availability basis).
Private apartments are available for rent throughout the
city, but you should consult a lawyer before undertaking any legal
commitment. The Hebrew University maintains a bulletin board for rental
apartments which you may find helpful, at:
http://www.huji.ac.il/huji/eng/apartment_about_e.htm.
(University
contact: judyg@savion.cc.huji.ac.il)
Israel has a well-developed pre-school educational
system, including crèches and day-care centers, as well as private
caretakers, for infants and toddlers, nursery school and pre-kindergarten
and kindergarten (private or partly private).
Compulsory free education begins at age 5. Although
primary and secondary education is generally free, most schools require a
nominal annual payment to cover incidental expenses.
The school year begins on September 1, and ends on June
30 (elementary schools), and on June 20 (secondary schools, usually from
grade 7). Many crèches continue through early August, and most are
closed during the last two weeks of August.
Summer camps or summer sessions are almost always
private, and require payment.
If you have school-aged children, it is advisable to
consult the Visiting Faculty Advisor, as early registration may be
necessary. (E-mail: judyg@savion.cc.huji.ac.il;
Tel: 972-2-588-2924; Fax: 972-2-588-3021)
Post-doctoral fellows, and visiting professors, need not
learn Hebrew. Regular track faculty who choose to make Israel their home
will be expected to master the Hebrew language. Information on available
Hebrew language courses can be obtained from the Office of the Advisor to
New and Visiting Faculty (see above).
Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, is a
unique city, offering dozens of historical, religious and cultural sites,
including the Old City of Jerusalem, museums, cultural institutions.
Visit the Jerusalem Municipality website for a listing
of some of the many attractions and places to visit in this both ancient
and modern city:
http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/
and (English site):
http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/jer_main/f1_main.asp?lng=2
Further information can be obtained from Municipal
Information Offices at the City Hall (Safra Square, Jaffa Road, Jerusalem),
or at the Jaffa Gate, just inside the Old City Walls, as well as at the
websites of the different institutions.
(See also Israel Tourism and Recreation Website: http://www.infotour.co.il/ ).
Touring Israel: See
http://www.tourism.gov.il/tourism/default/
For additional information about Israel, see: Israel
Government Gateway
http://www.israel.gov.il/eng/h_index.asp
Contact Us:
For Practical Information for Visiting or New Faculty
members, at the Hebrew University,
contact: The Office of the Advisor to New and Visiting
Faculty
E-mail: judyg@savion.cc.huji.ac.il
Tel: 972-2-588-2924; Fax: 972-2-588-3021
For Information regarding Job and Research Opportunities
other than stipulated in the posted position, contact:
The Authority for Research & Development
E-mail: moph@vms.huji.ac.il
Tel: 972-2-658-6633; Fax: 972-2-652-0421
For Information regarding Doctoral Programs (at the Hebrew
University), contact:
The
Authority for Research Students
E-mail: rachela@savion.cc.huji.ac.il
Tel:
972-2-658-4742; Fax: 972-2-561-9872
For Information regarding Graduate and Overseas Students
Programs, contact:
The Hebrew University Rothberg International School
E-mail: irisa@savion.cc.huji.ac.il Tel:
972-2-588-3184
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