International Postdoctoral Scholars

What to Expect from the Visa Process

HR and International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) have extensive experience on-boarding international scholars. Most international postdoctoral scholars come to UNC as J-1 Research Scholars. The lead times for J-1s is 3-4 months. For more information, please visit the ISSS website.

Relocation Fees

As per the relocation policy and procedures of the university, postdoctoral fellows joining UNC are eligible to receive relocation payments. When appointed, principal investigators/departments have the option to offer a lump-sum payment for relocation, which is taxable and cannot exceed 10% of the postdoc’s annual base salary. Any relocation amounts must be mutually agreed upon before starting and explicitly stated in the appointment letter.

Housing Recommendations

When surveyed in 2022, 74.6% of internationals chose to live in apartment complexes in either Chapel Hill or the nearby town of Carrboro. Both are walkable and offer easy access to the free UNC-CH bus transit lines, which runs to and from campus. Postdocs have reported using Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Zillow and Apartments.com as useful resources for finding accommodation. A list of rental websites and popular neighborhoods can be found here and a map showing local apartment complexes can be found here. Below is an image showing that 54% and 20% of international scholars reported choosing to live in Chapel Hill and Carrboro respectively.

Note that in the U.S., breaking a lease agreement can be expensive. Unless you are sure about your potential accommodation, you may want to sublease until you can view your potential new home. Sublets can be found on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Airbnb. You can also check with property management whether student or affordable pricing options apply to you. Apartments and houses in the U.S. typically come unfurnished, but there are a number of excellent thrift stores around the area, in addition to resources such as Facebook Marketplace, Letgo.com, and Craigslist.

Benefits

A full list of the benefits available to UNC’s postdoctoral scholars can be found here. We recommend that you read through these carefully, especially the details of your medical/health insurance plan. As a postdoc, you are entitled to a minimum of 12 vacation days, and 12 days of sick leave. However, the number of days you ultimately take is at the discretion of your PI. In addition to these, a calendar listing UNC public holidays can be found here. Postdocs are also eligible for six (6) weeks of paid parental leave, and can sign up for a voluntary retirement plan.

Understanding U.S. Healthcare

UNC-CH contracts with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), a health insurance company, to provide coverage for all postdoctoral scholars at UNC-CH. Full details of this plan can be found on the OPA webpage for Medical Insurance. Monthly premiums for postdoctoral scholars are covered by PIs/Departments, but the cost of insuring dependents (partners and children) on the healthcare plan must be covered by postdocs. Coverage begins on the first of the month after your start date at UNC-CH. Until that point, J-1 Exchange Visitor Program participants and their dependents are required by the U.S. Department of State to have medical insurance in effect during the period of time they are in the program. UNC has contracted with the insurance company, GeoBlue, to provide scholars with a health insurance option that meets the U.S. Department of State’s requirements for J-1/J-2 visitors. Visit this page to learn more about enrolling in GeoBlue.

Navigating the U.S. healthcare system can be difficult for international scholars. This document can help clarify some of the different terminology that is frequently used across the US healthcare system.

Checklists for New Postdocs

New Postdoc Starter Guide for International Scholars: Developed by the National Postdoc Association, this guide contains a number of useful checklists to help you keep track of the things you should be thinking about as you begin your new journey as a postdoctoral scholar in the US. This includes checklists for: ‘Living In The US’, ‘Onboarding To-Do List’, ‘Finding A Community’, ‘Immigration Matters’, and more.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is the central and sole authority for processing UNC sponsored immigration benefits and advising for International Scholars. If you have any questions regarding your visa or status, you should contact ISSS at ISSS@unc.edu or 919-962-5661.

Additional Support for International Scholars

International Postdoc Alliance (IPA). The IPA is a volunteer group of postdocs that meet monthly to discuss international issues; anyone is welcome to attend their meetings. In addition to being a social group, IPA is very knowledgeable on international affairs and works to provide resources for international postdocs at UNC-CH. IPA also have a dedicated Slack channel where you post any questions that you may have. To attend a meeting or receive a slack invite, simply email one of the chairs.

UNC Writing Center The Writing Center is an instructional service that provides writing assistance for postdocs. They offer both face-to-face and online consultations, proof-reading, practice presentations, English language courses, as well as a collection of online resources.

Career Coaching Free one-on-one career coaching sessions are available for all UNC postdoctoral scholars. Our career coaches can help you to clarify your career goals and assist with your job application materials (including resume review).

CAPS Counseling and psychological services are easily accessible and available for all UNC postdocs (covered by the Campus Health fee which is paid for by your PI/Department).

UNC Visitor’s Center Visit UNC’s Visitor Center to learn more about UNC and schedule a tour of the campus.

Additional Resources: A list of helpful resources to assist internationals in adapting to the USA, developed by Sina Safayi.

DS-2019 Extensions

DS-2019 Extensions: The length of DS-2019 extensions will be based on the duration specified in your reappointment letter, (i.e., the length of your employment contract). While UNC postdoc contracts are typically renewed annually, the specific length of your contract and reappointment is at the discretion of your PI. An overview of the extension request process can be found on the ISSS website.

Grant Opportunities for International Scholars

Grant writing experience is an important skill that postdoctoral scholars should learn during the postdoctoral phase of their careers. You are encouraged to incorporate grant writing into your IDP and to work with your mentor to obtain experience applying for funding.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the U.S. However, due to the temporary nature of visas, federal funding agencies like the NIH and National Science Foundation (NSF), typically do not provide funding for international scholars (with the R00/K99 being a notable exception).

However, many private foundations and organizations offer grants and fellowships for postdoctoral research in specific fields. A list of foundations that offer funding for international scholars, developed by Phil Clifford, can be found here. The UNC Postdoctoral Association surveyed UNC postdocs in 2022 to ask what funding sources they are using; the results can be found here. Johns Hopkins University has also curated a comprehensive database of funding opportunities for postdoctoral scholars. Additionally, we encourage you to network and stay connected, and pay attention to how others in your field secure their funding (for example, by searching acknowledgement sections of research papers for funding sources).

Filing Taxes*

Filing taxes in the U.S. differs from many other countries primarily due to its self-reporting system. Instead of an employer or a government agency withholding taxes directly from your paycheck, in the U.S., individuals are responsible for annually calculating their own tax liabilities, reporting income from all sources, and claiming deductions.

International scholars working in the U.S. must determine their residency status, file the appropriate tax forms (e.g., Form 1040 for residents, Form 1040-NR for nonresidents), and report all income earned within the country. The annual tax deadline is typically April 15th, before which scholars must pay owed taxes or claim refunds accordingly. Most international scholars will be considered “Non-Resident Aliens” for tax purposes by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during the first two calendar years in the U.S. Your home country may have a tax treaty with the U.S., which may entitle you to claim tax treaty benefits.

You have the option of hiring private tax preparation services to help you file tax returns, but most scholars will use an online tax preparation software. UNC students/scholars can get a code for free access to Sprintax for Federal Tax filing. More information about filing taxes for international scholars can be found on the ISSS website.

*Note: This is general information intended to provide a very basic introduction to U.S. tax system, and does not constitute legal tax advice. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs does not advise on any personal income tax requirements or issues.