Scientific visa: some issues from our experience

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Scientific visa some issues from our
experience
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Ulg Euraxess Centre in a few words
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ULg Euraxess Centre

• - Created in 2005 at the initiative of the
  university
• - Motivations priority set by ULg on
  internationalisation, suggestion of the EU
  Commission (People programme, FP6-7)
• - Human ressources 2 FTP on 4 campuses,
  adressing various publics
• - Liège , Sart Tilman, Gembloux, Arlon
• - researchers IN and OUT, Post-docs, PHD
  students from developing countries, Erasmus
  mundus,
• - Integrated in international (FP7) and regional
  (FRS, Greater Region) networks

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EURAXESS Services ULg

• -Personalised assistance
• -Welcome pack
• -Database about funding sources for
  researchers mobility  SI4PP-Financer mon
  projet personnel 
• -Statistics on researchers mobility 
• -See http//www.ulg.ac.be/euraxess
• ULg is developing the HRS4R and plans to
  introduce its Action plan to the EU Commission in
  December 2010. 

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Some figures

• 2006 /2 216 interventions
• 2007 174 interventions
• 2008 521 interventions
• 2009 742 interventions
• 2010/1 201 interventions
• 60 IN (visa)- 40 OUT (funding)

2006 /2 216 interventions 2007 174
interventions 2008 521 interventions 2009
742 interventions 2010/1 201 interventions
60 IN (visa)- 40 OUT (funding)
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Scientific visa a success story

• Ekaterina T. is PHD in medicine of Georgian
  nationality. At the end of her contract in Japan
  she gets a proposal from the university hospital.
  
• She cannot wait too long for the visa Japan is
  expensive and her residence permit expires.
• Thanks to the hosting agreement she did not need
  to go back to Georgia.

Workshop on Scientific Visa- 8 Nov 2010- Euraxess
Centre - Université de Liège
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A nice suit, but a little tight

• In the CF universities, 191 researchers were
  hosted thanks to a Scientific visa in 2008-2009
• GxABT0
• FUCAM0
• FUNDP16
• FUSL0
• UCL67
• ULg21
• ULB 51
• UMONS 35

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A nice suit, but a little tight

• Even if the idea is good, the scientific visa is
  not so widely used. Why?
• - Lack of information ?
• - Uncertainty about the terminology, the
  exceptions ?
• - Restrictive definitions for applicants?
• - Limited advantages ?

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Aims of the EU directive

• Facilitate the Belgian markets access to non EU
  researchers by giving them a permit to enter,
  stay and work with the purpose of carrying out
  scientific research.

Workshop on Scientific Visa- 8 Nov 2010- Euraxess
Centre - Université de Liège
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How?

• The visa is delivered directly by the embassy on
  the basis of a document (hosting agreement)
  provided by the research institution.
• This one is responsible for the non EU researcher
  during his/her stay on the Belgian territory
  (duration of the agreement 6 months).
• No work permit needed.

Workshop on Scientific Visa- 8 Nov 2010- Euraxess
Centre - Université de Liège
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A specific perspective

• The following issues are raised by Euraxess
  Services Centres of universities (not of research
  centres, or companies).
• They were discussed among Belgian universities.
  They try to reflect their joint point of view.
• They are raised in the perspective of improving
  the clarification and extension of the legal
  provisions governing the scientific visa in
  Belgium.

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With a little help from my friends

• The figures will rise if
• - the questions raised get an answer
• - the issues are adressed in a positive way
• - we gain experience from our neighbours

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• What are the issues?
• FAQ about the scientific visa
• this workshop is a key opportunity to list them,
  to find answers together,
• in order to publish them on the Belpo website.

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PHD students?

• Research professionals can apply for a scientific
  visa, but not students.
• Questions
• Can we apply the EU recommandation to consider
  the PhD students as early stage researchers (see
  Charter and Code)
• What about their status when they have fellowship
  grants including social security or a work
  contract?

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Professors or assistants?

• Could the universities deliver a scientific visa
  although they come mainly to teach?

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Kind of legal relationship?

• If they have a fellowship and not a work contract
  ?
• If this fellowship is paid by their country of
  origin?

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Lower salaries ?

• If they earn less than than the minimum salary
  for a work contract in Belgium ?
• (it may be the case in Africa or far East)

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Equivalence of social security rights ?

• If they do not get a full social security
  coverage in Belgium ?
• (non-EU citizens do not get coverage for pension
  or unemployement, except if their country has
  signed a bilateral agreement with Belgium)
• Or if they get a social security coverage from
  their home country that does not match Belgian
  standards?

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Short term stay, extension ?

• If they are coming to do research for less than 3
  months?
• Can the duration of the host agreement be
  extended for 1 or 2 months ?
• Are they allowed to stay on the Belgian territory
  after the research contract ended to organize
  their return home ?

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What about the family ?

• If they wish to come with their spouse,
  companion, children ?
• Should the family stay behind and wait for a
  reunification visa?

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The institutions responsibility

• Not easy to assess the researcher request from
  far away
• The risk seems to be limited, mainly if there are
  links with their home institution
• Could it be covered by an insurance?
• Could there be a special scheme to provide full
  social security coverage to non EU researchers?

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Portability of the scientific visa

• If a researcher has a scientific visa to come to
  Germany or France, can it be recognised in
  Belgium ?

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• Thanks for your attention!
• Now lets find the answers

Centre de Mobilité Euraxess de lULg
Administration Recherche et Développement Place
du 20 Aout 7, bât A1 Contact Brigitte
Ernst brigitte.ernst_at_ulg.ac.be 32 4 366 53 36